Comfort Closer to Home

Photo © JRH - Glenview Wagner Farm

Glimpses from Neighborhoods

When the nearby fields change for winter, I’m reminded how beauty is often hidden in familiar scenes. This photo of the local Wagner Farm captures one of those moments we might overlook in daily passing. It reminds us of the historic resources and traditions that root us in community, and of the wonderful facilities we’re blessed with in Glenview.

Moments to Pause

This Autumn season and Thanksgiving brings gratitude for those enduring places and moments that invite us to slow down. We’ve been fortunate to spend time in the Connecticut countryside at the peak of Fall, including pumpkin-picking with kids of all ages. And then lucky to return home to an extended color display here in Illinois.

Shifting the Focus

In that same spirit, I’m gradually shaping my updates and posts into more personal reflections. Not just travel photos, but adding thoughts on beautiful places closer to home. From suburban tree-lined streets and forest preserves to rarer architectural gems, I’m focusing more on the local sources of comfort and inspiration that surround us.

Places Across Generations

The historic Wagner Farm Museum is a time capsule of the 1920s - and my father’s family experience growing up on a farm in Illinois.  In her book “Secrets of the North Shore,” Ellen Shubart summarizes that for 135 years the family grew grains and raised animals for produce trucked to Chicago markets. The farm today on smaller acreage captures those traditions, with a mission of understanding past and present.

Threads of History

The experience can be appreciated more deeply onsite today through visiting the buildings and seeing the equipment as adapted over time. There are also creative contemporary exhibits, including a full-size replica of a 1930s general store. A walk-up 2 story silo explains this historical landscape and architectural feature which is rarely seen in the suburbs today. And the weekly summer farmers market literally brings the whole experience to life!

With Gratitude

I hope these glimpses and reflections brighten your days — and invite you to look around with renewed appreciation.

~ John