Three times I drove by the consignment shop down the road before we stopped & asked about this painting. I don't know why, but something about her intrigued me. I think it was her eyes. I see my Sophie in her eyes. I love that she is a pioneer girl. To me, she looks as if she is standing on the verge of the unknown, yet she is steady. She looks as though she is confident in what is out there & sure that she can tackle it - and those the are the qualities I see in my girls & want my girls to have. Plus, I love her blue dress. (Thanks to Life in Grace blog, This is how I'm planning on decorating S & E's new room; the blues will look wonderful together!)
When we got it home, Brock & I began a 30 minute internet search for the artist & any info we could get on the painting. After several Google searches & some misspelled names, we figured out the artist name is F.W. Benson. A few more searched later . . . we found her! She was painted in 1901 and her name . . . Eleanor. Now, if you know us then you probably just made a small gasp noise --- Why? Others may ask -- Remember how I said I saw Sophie in her eyes, well Sophie's middle name is . . .you guessed , Eleanor.
What began as a little glimpse as I drove by the thrift store has turned into a priceless treasure in our home. She'll be around for while. When we move into out new place (and we WILL move into a new place because God is faithful!) you'll have to drop for visit & see her :)
