italianate

i drove by this old italianate home when i was visiting rural illinois this summer. even though it was rough around the edges, it's beauty made me pull over for a closer look.

photographs and words by kristin karch

bird specimens

Recently I visited rural Illinois to see family and happened upon the lake shelbyville nature center. they had all these amazing bird specimens lying on the window sills, as well as lots of other educational taxidermy.

drive by barn

photograph by kristin karch

aged windows

photograph by kristin karch

summer fair

photograph by kristin karch

corn for miles

photograph by kristin karch

family barn

i recently took a trip to central illinois for a family reunion. one of the best parts of the trip was driving around these farm roads, paved with gooey tar, to see where my grandparents and great-grandparents lived. most of their homes are not standing anymore, but this barn remained next to the site of my great-grandmothers old home. my mother and grandmother with me, and it was so interesting to hear their stories and memories from this old barn. whoever owns it now will probably let it sit here to rot and disappear into the corn fields like so many other old structures in rural illinois.

photographs and words by kristin karch

queen anne's lace

photograph by kristin karch