Dd and I were fortunate enough today to run into a craft show today. There was an artist there who did oil paintings of the past. By the past I mean homesteads, old time equipment (tractors & horses and pull plows), graineries and such. Old Victorian homes!

It was like stepping into the past and I could have stayed there the day and looked at those pictures. I would have purchased one as well, but at $1100.00 - $1500.00 per picture, well I just had to dream.

Have you ever stepped into the past through art?

I love the antique pictures of small children. I am captivated by them. I know some people don't like artwork of "strange" people because they feel like the eyes follow them all over the room. lol BUT I love those children pictures.

We visited the St. Louis Art Museum in August. There is a painting there of an old fashioned lady - pink skirts with ruffles, bonnet and so on. She is standing in the kitchen next to an old wood cookstove.

I stood and looked at that small painting for a very long time. I wondered what the girl was thinking. . . . what was cooking on the stove. . . . .about the pictures on the wall. . . . about what was through the door. . . . .

So many wonderful paintings in that museum- including Monet's "Water Lillys", but that tiny painting by an unknown artist captured my heart.

Sunshine, those excursions as a kid were my faves! I loved the art museum, the natural history museum! One of my very fave places though, was Shaw's garden! I loved walking through the rooms of his house, seeing his sisters clothes laid out on the bed as if at any moment she would slip them on and join the tour. I always wanted to LIVE there!
My favorite things, wonderful old home and acres of gardens!
I loved the trips to ST. Charles too, the old state capitol, there was a store there that sold old tyme penny candies, of course they cost much more than a penny when I was there!
And I had a blast in Jr High when my english class went to see Mark Twains old home! We saw the Tom Sawyer caves too, the ones Mr Twain wrote about.

One thing I have missed with my boys was showing them the things like that. I wanted to show them the places I saw as a kid! At least here they do get to go to the old calvary fort. Supposedly my great great (great?) uncle was a commander here with the 9th calvary. I know the man was a commander but only have my dad's word on it that we are related!

I love pictures of the Amish and of their daily chores. I also love Trisha Romance prints. I could spend hours looking at one of her pictures, they are so detailed and yet simple! I could just step into her pictures. My Mom has three of her prints and has them in her farmhouse in just the right spots. I picked up one of her books with most of her prints in them so I dream through this book! :)

I have a picture that my Mom had framed for me and it's "my" place! I saw this print years ago and told her that I was going to live there someday. Well, not quite but I have the print to remind me.........it's a pale yellow farmhouse with a wrap around porch, lots of gardens, flowers and a barn in the background. Farm animals and children helping their father..........ahhhh~!!!!!!!!

Sunshine..I would love to see that picture! If I'm ever in St.Louis lol I'll have to go to the museum.

I like watching the old shows like Little house on the prairie, and The Waltons (My ALL time fav show). I love anything old....old houses,old cars,old stoves,sinks, bathtubs etc...I HOPE one day I'll own a Hoosier cabinet :)

And I also love Trisha Romance(the print "The Enterainer" reminds me of Jackson and Katie...The mom is hanging sheets/quilts on the line and looks like a little boy playing in the sheets....Just like my little man and Katiebug do :D ) and anything Amish :)

I love pictures of the past. I feel like I could just step through the frame and live with them.

I LOVE Shaw's gardens. I can't wait to take my dkids there this spring. (hopefully this spring anyway) I also enjoy Lincoln's home in Springfield IL. and Lincoln's New Salem.