Our Hopeful Home: Revisiting Ode to Fall in a Small Town (and some special photos)

I'm sharing a post that I wrote last year around this time for those of you who might not have been followers then. It's the same post, with a few additions. So even if you remember, it's worth checking out again!

Have you ever been to a flea market, antique store or estate sale and found a treasure that makes your heart go thumpety-thump? And then your heart drops because you see the asking price? This has happened to me more times than I can count. But sometimes I’ve been able to haggle the price down and bring that baby home.

The first time I saw this painting at a local church barn sale it was way too expensive for my wallet. I left without it and hoped that it would be there the following week at a reduced price. My prayers were answered because against all odds it was! Well, the price hadn’t been reduced, but I knew they wanted to unload it so I haggled them down to a third of the asking price! And it's HUGE, exactly what I've been waiting for to hang above our family room fireplace.

We live in a “Village” of around 2,900 people. This bucolic and historic village is known for its horse properties and 76-year-old riding club. The village itself will be 177 years old this year. Each fall, fox hunts are a mainstay in these parts (don't worry ~ no foxes are injured!). It’s quite common to see the riders in their red or black blazers trotting down the street or on one of the many horse trails in town. A few Sundays ago was the annual Blessing of the Hounds ~ an event where the pastor of the village church blesses the hounds who participate in the fox hunts. The blessing is always followed by a hunt, and that's how we know that fall is officially here! This painting portrays polo players but the overall homage to horses remains the same.

Look at the open book, the wire-rimmed glasses (which may be hard for you to see), riding gloves, riding hat and the vintage clock.

You can also see "paintings within a painting" as well, which I think makes it all the more unique. Below I've added some pictures of the Village we call home.

The Hunt

Riding Club

The Main Drag

Country Store

Little Home Church

Village Hall

Christmas swags are still made every year by the Wayne Garden Club and placed on EVERY street sign in the Village! All photos courtesy of The Village of Wayne. Wayne is beautiful in any season. We are very blessed to live here.

Well, that's it for today, friends. I hope you enjoyed

my little walk down memory lane and the

beautiful photos of my small town.

Don't forget to Pin it!