Illinois Gallivant and Updates.

When I took my artwork to The Open Gallery last week, I decided to celebrate with a gallivant in Illinois.  One of the first towns I came across was Bird.  It was sort of a ghost town, but still lovely and every street had a bird name.

Road Signs in Bird, Illinois.

I also drove through Palestine, and they had (at one time) and Opera House, how amazing is that?!

Fife Opera House, Palestine, Illinois.

My favorite part about any gallivant are the forgotten and rundown places.  This church wasn't as dilapidated as most that I photograph, but I thought it was interesting.

Abandoned Church on a Back Road in Illinois.

This grain elevator caught my eye from clear across the town of Palestine.

Grain Elevator, Palestine, Illinois.

On the home front, Joelee is growing like a weed.  She has matured so much these past few months.  Most days now she can be found (usually barefoot) outside playing on her swing, or hauling her poor kitten around under one arm.  It is amazing how much I love this no-so-little girl.

Joelee a little over four and a half years old.

And I don't think I ever wrote about it, but directly after my grandfather passed away last year, this Hollyhock started growing near our kitchen door.  It might not be that shocking, except we don't have ANY Hollyhocks on the property or nearby that I know of, and Hollyhocks were one of his most favorite flowers.  It's looking like it might bloom on the anniversary of his death.

My mysterious Hollyhock.

And it happens to be my favorite time of year.  The Catalpa trees are blooming.  They have always been my favorite tree, and seeing them bloom every year makes me so happy.

Catalpa Trees are blooming.

In one week and one day is my Art Show's Artist Reception.  It is such a dream come true to have a solo show, and I'm really looking forward to getting to witness other people looking at my artwork.

If you are in the Vincennes area next Friday, stop by The Open Gallery at 329 Main Street, Vincennes, IN from 5-8pm.  I'd love to see you.

A Life-Sized Dollhouse.

The farmhouse from a recent gallivant.

If I ever had extra money.  I mean a ton of extra money.  This beauty would be mine in a heartbeat.  I would fix it up and visit on the weekends.  It'd be a superb guesthouse even if it happens to be about 10 minutes away from my farm.  It would be a showpiece after I'd get done restoring every inch.

I love the summer kitchen.  I love the two-story porch.  I love the extra long windows.  I love the rolling pastures that surround it.  I love the must-be-ancient tree that grew up beside of it.

I don't know anything about it.  I think it's sitting vacant, but perhaps someone lives there.  I do know that someone keeps cattle back behind it, but there never seems to be any vehicles in the drive or other signs of someone living there.  They keep the grass mowed and that's about it.

Sigh, someday.

What does it mean?

"I Can't Be Dreaming" by Me.

From as far back as I can remember I've had this strange pull, this pang in my heart, that randomly happens when I'm going down the road.  It can be triggered by lots of different things--a woodsy smell, sunlight filtering through the trees and onto the road, the way a certain road curves out of sight, a fencepost.  It's such a strange feeling, as if I'm remembering something, but I only get flashes.  Blips of pictures.  I don't know what it means.

I'd love to find the place that I long for.  It seems be in the middle of nowhere, forgotten, with that perfect rustic, wild, just rained, woodsy, dirt smell.  The winding road falling at it's feet.  An overgrown driveway.  A farmhouse grayed to perfection.  Perhaps it's just a dream I've had that realizes itself every once in a while in real life.

What do you think?

A Couple Gallivants to Mention.

Two weekends ago, my best friend since forever ago (Margie) and I kept up our annual tradition of Birthday Gallivants and hauled my daughter along for the ride. She doesn't ever seem to mind.Nobody has a cooler kid than me.
We ended up in Leavenworth, Indiana. An itty-bitty town next to the Ohio River. Joe was itching to get out for a bit and so were Margie and I.
We took a posed-corny 'town sign' picture.
They had a really neat antique store with these giant jacks (I'll try to look it up and see if I can find an example on the internet), but I WILL go back and buy one someday. The owner gave Joe a little cheap-o ring that she talked about ALL the way home along with a marble that I bought at the Stephenson's General Store.
This General Store was wonderful. We had ice cream cones and it looked like they had incredible food for lunch. There was all sorts of stuff to buy, but I didn't bring any spending money. Overall it was a nifty gallivant, but we need to go on a birthday gallivant for my birthday soon.

Last weekend my mom and I went down to retrieve my camera (because Margie accidentally took both of our cameras with her when I dropped her off). So, after I had my camera back we drove around a bit before coming home.

Got a GREAT photo of a windmill to add to my shop.
And these triplet fawns were 'stuck' in a pasture and were separated from their momma. They bleated and ran and bleated and ran. It was really something to see. They were about the size of a dog. I've never seen triplets before. Pretty cool.

So gallivanting as always has produced some memories.