"Coming Home"
By, Cheryl Harwell Bailey
THE OKLAHOMA GIRL
She's lived in shacks and dug-outs,
But that's in day's gone by.
Now there's a healthy, roomy cottage,
that lifts it's gables to the sky.
All within is neat and tidy,
Ever cozy, even the squirrels,
At last upon the throne of her labors,
Sits the " Oklahoma Girl."
Written by,
"My Grandmother, Nancy Harwell"
"Grandma's Cottage"
House #1
Why do we love certain houses, and why do they seem to love us?
T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
I like all the houses I've lived in, through- out my lifetime,
with the exception of three.
These house's I cherish! I love them!
I need a professional to analyze my deep affection for them.
Allow me to tell you the story of
"Three Houses."
with the exception of three.
These house's I cherish! I love them!
I need a professional to analyze my deep affection for them.
Allow me to tell you the story of
"Three Houses."
House # 1.
"Grandma's Cottage" was a generational home.
My "Dad was still a young boy when his family moved into this cottage.
They owned several acres, along with the cottage,
in the middle of the"Sunkist" orange groves.
816 Park Drive was on the crest of the foothills of Bakersfield, California.
This area was, and is, a "Cowboy" community.
Most everyone had horses, some cattle, and of course chickens.
Plenty of room for all the boy's, car's, horses, and friends.
They grew up here, and this is where they departed to begin life's journey.
"Grandma's Cottage" was a generational home.
My "Dad was still a young boy when his family moved into this cottage.
They owned several acres, along with the cottage,
in the middle of the"Sunkist" orange groves.
816 Park Drive was on the crest of the foothills of Bakersfield, California.
This area was, and is, a "Cowboy" community.
Most everyone had horses, some cattle, and of course chickens.
Plenty of room for all the boy's, car's, horses, and friends.
They grew up here, and this is where they departed to begin life's journey.
My parents were married in the cottage,
and indeed it was here in this same cottage
I brought my future husband to meet my big family.
Most of the "Harwell" grandchildren spent a good portion of our childhood here.
All these many years later, I can describe every detail of this precious little cottage.
No matter where I lived in the U.S.A. or Europe,
I would go back to see it,
even after Grandma passed.
and indeed it was here in this same cottage
I brought my future husband to meet my big family.
Most of the "Harwell" grandchildren spent a good portion of our childhood here.
All these many years later, I can describe every detail of this precious little cottage.
No matter where I lived in the U.S.A. or Europe,
I would go back to see it,
even after Grandma passed.
In 1991 I felt compelled to do something odd regarding the old place.
I got in my car, drove 5 hours straight to the cottage.
It looked the same as last year, horses in the back, dogs & little boys playing.
I noticed a handy-man working on the house, said hello, as I knocked on the "door,"
through which I had walked so many many times.
The lady of the house answered, said they were renting, & gave me
the owners name & phone number.
I called him! He was a D.J. at KUZZ radio, and knew all about our family,
"The Harwell's!"
I then asked him, if I could purchase the "Front Door" of the cottage,
replacing it with a door from the same era & style?
The handy-man piped in with, "and I'll do it for you."
The owner then replied, "Miss Cheri, you can have the door."
"Grandma's Door!"
Of course I thanked him, paying for the door anyway.
I headed to the salvage shops on Edison Highway,
and found a door exactly like "Grandma's," in much better condition.
Within 2 hours, I had "Grandma's Door"
wrapped and securely tied, to the top of my car! Yes!
It was up & opening to family and friends the next day.
Everything happened so smoothly. And fast!
I do have witnesses to back me up on this.
Are you ready, to get your socks knocked off?
Are you ready to get goose bumps?
Tragically,
two weeks later "Grandma's Cottage" burned to the ground!!!
My family and I were heartbroken.
I felt like a loved one had died.
A new modern house stands in it's place.
But
"Grandma's door?"
I open & shut it everyday.
I got in my car, drove 5 hours straight to the cottage.
It looked the same as last year, horses in the back, dogs & little boys playing.
I noticed a handy-man working on the house, said hello, as I knocked on the "door,"
through which I had walked so many many times.
The lady of the house answered, said they were renting, & gave me
the owners name & phone number.
I called him! He was a D.J. at KUZZ radio, and knew all about our family,
"The Harwell's!"
I then asked him, if I could purchase the "Front Door" of the cottage,
replacing it with a door from the same era & style?
The handy-man piped in with, "and I'll do it for you."
The owner then replied, "Miss Cheri, you can have the door."
Of course I thanked him, paying for the door anyway.
I headed to the salvage shops on Edison Highway,
and found a door exactly like "Grandma's," in much better condition.
Within 2 hours, I had "Grandma's Door"
wrapped and securely tied, to the top of my car! Yes!
It was up & opening to family and friends the next day.
Everything happened so smoothly. And fast!
I do have witnesses to back me up on this.
Are you ready, to get your socks knocked off?
Are you ready to get goose bumps?
Tragically,
two weeks later "Grandma's Cottage" burned to the ground!!!
My family and I were heartbroken.
I felt like a loved one had died.
A new modern house stands in it's place.
But
"Grandma's door?"
I open & shut it everyday.
"Forest Lane Cottage"
House #2
"Forest Lane Cottage" the house, where we raised our family for almost 20 years.
It was a "Church Parsonage."
It was the home in which our youngest daughter lived from the age of "1,"
Our oldest daughter, age "10."
Both girls went out to begin life's journey from here.
It was, and is, in a sub-division, built in 197l. The same year we were married.
On the corner of Forest Lane and Southwood Drive in Vacaville, California.
It had been a model home, with 1 previous owner.
An officer, from Travis, Air Force Base, and his family.
In 1981 it looked brand new.
The prior owner was a gifted gardener.
Flowers of tiny purple orchids, lily of the valley, an orange tree, a lemon tree,
miniature pomegranate trees, a soft cushy green lawn
wrapping around the entire corner.
There were 2 huge perfect maple trees,
and one little persimmon tree in the big front yard.
The house was yellow siding and colonial red brick,
with white window shutters, and trim.
We planted English Ivy, cuttings from Bob & Lynn garden,
which covered the front porch and arbor over the garage.
A weather-vane, Randall attached atop the gabled garage added even more charm.
I planted a gardenia bush beside the front porch for it's sweet fragrance.
The pink baby roses I planted every year, reminded me of "Grandma's Cottage."
We packed the Window boxes with "English" garden favorites.
I was a constant gardener.
This generic track home was given so much soul,
cars would drive by to see it,
some even coming to the door, asking to buy it.
We had a giant copper roofed birdhouse full of birds singing for joy
as we watched from the park bench, on the little red brick porch.
It was cozy and warm on the inside too.
1640 square feet, all done in English country style, with Cabbage Rose chintz ,
Laura Ashley fabrics and wallpaper.
It was a "Church Parsonage."
It was the home in which our youngest daughter lived from the age of "1,"
Our oldest daughter, age "10."
Both girls went out to begin life's journey from here.
It was, and is, in a sub-division, built in 197l. The same year we were married.
On the corner of Forest Lane and Southwood Drive in Vacaville, California.
It had been a model home, with 1 previous owner.
An officer, from Travis, Air Force Base, and his family.
In 1981 it looked brand new.
The prior owner was a gifted gardener.
Flowers of tiny purple orchids, lily of the valley, an orange tree, a lemon tree,
miniature pomegranate trees, a soft cushy green lawn
wrapping around the entire corner.
There were 2 huge perfect maple trees,
and one little persimmon tree in the big front yard.
The house was yellow siding and colonial red brick,
with white window shutters, and trim.
We planted English Ivy, cuttings from Bob & Lynn garden,
which covered the front porch and arbor over the garage.
A weather-vane, Randall attached atop the gabled garage added even more charm.
I planted a gardenia bush beside the front porch for it's sweet fragrance.
The pink baby roses I planted every year, reminded me of "Grandma's Cottage."
We packed the Window boxes with "English" garden favorites.
I was a constant gardener.
This generic track home was given so much soul,
cars would drive by to see it,
some even coming to the door, asking to buy it.
We had a giant copper roofed birdhouse full of birds singing for joy
as we watched from the park bench, on the little red brick porch.
It was cozy and warm on the inside too.
1640 square feet, all done in English country style, with Cabbage Rose chintz ,
Laura Ashley fabrics and wallpaper.
What I love & miss most about "Forest Lane Cottage" is the
"living and loving"
we experienced while living there.
The many meals, prepared in the small galley kitchen.
The family table always had room for one more.
The times we had as many as 30 or more packed in for supper.
Family, friends, and lonely soldiers.
But more than anything I love the time with my babies, and my preacher man.
"living and loving"
we experienced while living there.
The many meals, prepared in the small galley kitchen.
The family table always had room for one more.
The times we had as many as 30 or more packed in for supper.
Family, friends, and lonely soldiers.
But more than anything I love the time with my babies, and my preacher man.
"Castle Petite"
House #3
"Castle Petite" has been our home for 5 years.
Yes, when I was a little girl,
I really did dream of what my house would be like "someday."
" Well, "someday" is now.
This is "the house" I drew, in the dirt, on the playground so many years ago.
It was a dream, I never imagined would actually come true.
I would not presume to dare and ask "God" for a home like this.
Why does He give us the desires of our hearts,
when we are afraid to ever dream of asking?
Because.....
He is "God!"
A week after we moved into "Castle Petite," my mother exclaimed,
"Blessings are chasing you!"
There was nothing man-made, on this piece of land, when we found it.
"Castle Petite,"
emerged slowly from the ground, as we poured our blood,
sweat and tears into every inch of what you see standing today.
Mindful of the majestic natural landscape, we left every tree,
blade of clover, and daisy, completely in tact.
"Castle Petite,"
looks as if it has always been here.
In the mind of "Our Heavenly Father," it has!
We hope it will always be "home central," in the hearts of
our grandchildren and family.
Yes, when I was a little girl,
I really did dream of what my house would be like "someday."
" Well, "someday" is now.
This is "the house" I drew, in the dirt, on the playground so many years ago.
It was a dream, I never imagined would actually come true.
I would not presume to dare and ask "God" for a home like this.
Why does He give us the desires of our hearts,
when we are afraid to ever dream of asking?
Because.....
He is "God!"
A week after we moved into "Castle Petite," my mother exclaimed,
"Blessings are chasing you!"
There was nothing man-made, on this piece of land, when we found it.
"Castle Petite,"
emerged slowly from the ground, as we poured our blood,
sweat and tears into every inch of what you see standing today.
Mindful of the majestic natural landscape, we left every tree,
blade of clover, and daisy, completely in tact.
"Castle Petite,"
looks as if it has always been here.
In the mind of "Our Heavenly Father," it has!
We hope it will always be "home central," in the hearts of
our grandchildren and family.
This is the Spot!
Today, just like my Grandma, I am outnumbered by guys.
My husband, my Dad, his Dad, our grandsons, their friends, my nephew.
Even the dog.
It is still a work in progress.
We finally have enough room for everybody.
"Grandma's" door too!
It is home!
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