I fell in love this weekend!

I had the blessing of getting to see my in-laws last week and part of the fun was going to Chicago. We spent the first two days here at our local town then the next two days in Chicago which I have to say Is the most beautiful city I have ever seen, and I fully intend to go in to more detail of how fabulous this trip was,

Us at the bean.

but my complete attention and devotion was taken when we visited the Chicago Art Institute, this was a bucket list item for my husband due to his love of Ferris Bueller's Day Off and a need to spend some time just like the movie in aw of Seurat's A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. So the hunt was on and we went there with a purpose and a drive, but along the way of asking no less than five museum attendants where the Seurat was,

Bryan after his movie moment.

I got caught up in the scathing beauty, the minute detail to the three story painting, all with a story.

This painting was about 12ft up and about 6ft tall, oh and breathtaking!

So many eye-catching wonders in their color, pain or sheer pleasure these people gone so long ago, or mythical to start with brought to suspended life, just on the verge of speaking to you, though at the same time clearly communicating profound thoughts, even if that thought is mystery.

Now keep in mind I am no stranger to museums, but for the most part as a child we only went to the ones my dad liked sooo A LOT of aeronautical museums and though the grace and fortitude needed to master the air does not escape me, to my eyes the miracle of flight is not to compare to the sheer amazement of walking around a very quiet corner and seeing a fire so glorious in light it seems to be illuminating the whole room, the mind plays tricks and asks why you can not feel the heat on your face.

Then to the next room where simple brush, paint and canvas are an education on the human experience. In some form of cruel fate flash photography is not permitted so try as you might there is little you can take home with you, though I tried, to the point of running my camera battery completely out and using my phone as a back up. Sorry for the bad photos they do No justice to these master works of art. Beyond the classic works in paint there are sculptures from around the world, a nice show of shining knights armor and weapons, then down stairs an entire exhibit in miniature on the dressings of houses at different points in history, a whole wing of photography and so, so much more.

This whole room is about 1sq ft.

If running was permitted I still don't think you could see it all in a day, though we really tried. In the future I don't think I could ever be so rushed there again and If, I at some point get to see my new love again I think I will not only bring my camera with extra batteries, but also a note pad for taking down observations on new(to me) styles of painting, ingenious forms of carving, down right impressive styles of armor and some points on how they were assembled... Just everything! There is so much to be learned from quiet observation of classic pieces of history, preserved by the people so passionate about them, they made it last for our eyes to see. Really I think it would almost be rude if I tried going there with friends, I might be too absorbed in the drama of each new discovery... To that point, I can not thank my Father in-law enough for his patience and kind drive to get us to see it all, to absorb as much as we could and even after my husband and I(mostly I) ran him for hours still saying "don't let me slow you down" and "theres More!"

The Champions of the museum.

and of-course my loving husband that takes so much pleasure in seeing my eyes light up in aw, that as soon as we got home, and the time, he took me to the hobby store and got me a set of oil paints(I've been a acrylic girl my whole life) so to honor him I tried a Seurat style for my first oil painting.

Please don't laugh this is my first try with oils

So please take time in your life to fall in love with the incredible, and if you're not sure just how to do that I highly recommend the Art Institute of Chicago <3 PS get the audio tour, so worth it!