Noelle Mays says it’s “unreal” that she will meet her idol – Martha Stewart – this week.

And the Auburn resident has a pot of burned beans to thank for the once-in-a-lifetime trip she will take.

“It’s so unreal,” Mays told the Journal this week. “I just can’t believe I’ll be in New York City for one thing, plus, she’s my idol.”

On Thursday Mays and her family will fly to New York City and will be featured on “The Martha Stewart Show” to tell the story about how the burned beans and the pot that contained them helped her family find some humor during a devastating time.

The taped episode is scheduled to air Dec. 14

On Aug. 30, Mays and her family lost their home when flames from the 49 Fire decimated their neighborhood.

In total, the blaze leveled more than 60 homes and businesses and scorched 350 acres of North Auburn land.

When the Mays family returned to find piles of ashen debris where homes used to be, they were surprised to see Mays’ bright blue Dutch oven sitting inside their charred stove.

“Here was this blue pot and it was the only bit of color in the whole neighborhood,” Mays said. “It was hilarious.”

The Dutch oven was from Martha Stewart’s kitchen collection and was a brand new – and a long awaited - addition to Mays’ kitchen.

If there’s one place Mays says she loves to be more than almost anywhere it’s her kitchen.

“One thing that’s important to me is my kitchen,” Mays said. “It means everything to me.”

Mays said she makes everything from scratch and was so excited when she was able to expand her culinary wizardry to incorporate a Dutch oven she had saved for and was finally able to afford one.

The blue pot was taking its second or third turn in her oven the morning of the 49 Fire when she left to go see a movie at the State Theater in Downtown Auburn with her son, Adam.

She left her husband, Dave, with instructions to stir the beans in two hours and she would be back soon.

In those two hours their world changed.

Dave Mays was able to rescue the family turtle, dog and laptop before flames consumed their home.

He called his wife and told her the news.

“One of the first things my husband said to me was, ‘The house burned down and your beans are probably done,’” Noelle Mays recalled. “He had turned off the oven as he was leaving the house.”

Even before they saw that the pot in their burned stove, the family found some humor with their would-be meal.

The Mays family took pictures of the now unusable pot in the stove the night they were able to return to what was left of their home. Dave Mays posted the photos on facebook.com and Noelle Mays said the jokes have been coming ever since.

Noelle Mays’ friends and family also encouraged her to write to Martha Stewart to tell her the story of her pot.

About a month after the fire, Noelle Mays sent a letter telling her idol her family’s story and the story of her community’s devastation.

She said the days and weeks went by and she didn’t hear back.

However, last week that changed when a producer from the show called and initially told the surprised Auburn woman that Martha wanted to talk to her live via phone during her show.

A few days later Noelle Mays got a second phone call saying that they wanted her to appear on the show where it’s filmed in New York City.

Noelle Mays said she idolizes Martha Stewart because she made it acceptable for women to want to take care of their home.

“I basically said how inspiring Martha has always been over the 20 years of my marriage and how she made it OK for women to be domestic,” Noelle Mays said. “The letter was very cathartic.”

While Noelle Mays is excited to meet the woman who helped her feel good about taking care of her home, she said there’s another reason she’s glad her story is being told in the national spotlight.

She said her story is also that of the community’s shared loss.

In her letter, Noelle Mays tells Martha Stewart that she is looking forward to using Martha Stewart ideas as she rebuilds her home.

“The pot is now at our rental and will assume a place of honor at the house when we rebuild,” Noelle Mays wrote. “It is legendary for making our darkest house a little brighter. Thank you.”

Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com.

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Don’t miss it

Noelle Mays and her family will fly to New York City Thursday to be featured on The Martha Stewart Show. The episode will air in Auburn at 11 a.m. Dec. 14 on channel 3.

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