I'm sure you're wondering where this obsession/love came from, considering that I grew up in the big city life on the other side of the United States which couldn't be any less "country". Now that I have had time to adjust to this big change, I've realized that this is where I belong. It's the piece to my puzzle that has been missing for a long time. It feels like "home" to me. Open fields, forests and wildlife does it more for me than that of the concrete jungle back in Cali. Don't get me wrong. Cali is beautiful and I will always be a Cali girl at heart but I am my most happiest outdoors in the beautiful Midwest. I am my happiest driving through the countryside passing cornfields and barns.
When I see a barn, it reminds me of how life used to be back in the day. The simple life. When families would sit down every night and have dinner. When kids would spend every afternoon after school and all weekend playing outdoors instead of inside on the computer or playing video games. It reminds me of the whole family going to church every Sunday, wearing their Sunday best. It reminds me of good ole family values. And most of all it reminds me of my childhood. When my sister and I would spend our Sunday at church with our family. Then we would have lunch together whether it be a home-cooked meal or a delicious meal from the local diner. Later that day we would run through the sprinklers and build blanket forts in the backyard. Oh, how I miss those days.
You see why I love barns so much? They remind me of so many good things. When I see one I picture a family back in the day, where the dad would be plowing the field. The kids would be chasing the dog out back. And then later that evening they would all sit down for a delicious gourmet meal that the mother had made with love.
It's crazy how things have changed so much. Most people don't have dinner with their families anymore unless it's Easter or Thanksgiving. Kids spend their days inside playing Wii and neglect their bikes, skateboards, kites & frizbees. I'm determined to spend as much time outdoors while it's warm out with my son and fiance'. I don't want life to pass me by and have me regret not spending more time doing the things that are most important. I want to look back when I'm an old lady and say ahhh, those were the good ole days. :)
Here are some of my favorite barn shots I've taken since I moved to Illinois in 2010. What do you think of when you see an old barn?
I believe that EVERY barn has a story to tell. All you have to do is listen...
