My view from my childhood bedroom.
These are the original windows in my parent’s house that was built in the late 1800’s in Urbana, Ohio, a small, charming town. They don’t make glass like this anymore. You may not be able to really see it in these pictures, but it’s a wavy type of glass.
Lucky me. I can still go back to that same house and find comfort all these years later. My mother never moved from the time I was three and my brother a baby. Even after my father died thirty years ago. It’s always been a sanctuary.
I decided on a recent visit to my hometown to share a few snapshots of my mom’s house and some of my other favorite homes in the historic town.
Since its early days, this section of Urbana (seen below) has been a public square. Among the buildings in this area are examples of the Federal, Georgian, Italianate, Richardson Romanesque and Second Empire styles of architecture. In 1984, the district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its architecture and contribution to local history.
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The man in the monument is a full length bronze figure of a dismounted Union cavalry officer with head bowed in grief for his fallen comrades. 578 men lost their lives from Champaign County during the Civil War.
So back to the houses around town. Some of my favorites include my grandparent’s home where we spent countless evenings eating dinner with them, and during the season, picking cherries for homemade pie.
I think I’ve always been attracted to white houses because I loved this charming home, complete with a white fence and a tiny balcony off the bedroom where my brother and I stayed as kids. So many fond memories made here.
This is another house that’s been well maintained by its
current owners down the street from my grandparent’s old
place.
My mom has always loved the view from her bed. The sun comes up on the front of the house, which is so pretty as it streams through the green glass bottles that line the window sills.
My mother’s style has always influenced me. Of course there are other influences that have shaped my taste from moving to different parts of the country, but at my core is home and the older houses that speak to me.
Many of my mom’s antiques came from either the family or her shopping expeditions. She also has a green thumb! Especially with ferns.
Whenever I’ve moved, she would always suggest I get a palm or two to add a touch of green, her favorite color.
And she loves these child figurines we found in Nashville years ago.
The front porch is a favorite hangout when the weather is cooler in spring and fall.
We’ve shared many a laugh on this porch. I love the feeling I get at home, and isn’t that what we all want?
Whenever I add things to my own new home, I often wonder, what would Mom think of this? I’m lucky she can tell me when she visits. I’m so grateful that she’s been there through every move to help organize me, and add her touch to each home I’ve enjoyed living in. Thanks Mom, for all your help from my first apartment to Keith’s and my dream home in Nashville!
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