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"Blue Caboose"

5"x7"
acrylic on hardboard
I married into a family that loves their trains, most of the males in the family have their own train board. Ours happens to be taking up half of our garage. Our kids love going out and running the layout that they created with their dad, but he tends to avoid his creation (did I mention the garage was not heated or air conditioned?) Usually several times a year they manage to pump up their dad long enough to add another few buildings or train engines, usual just before his dad comes to visit so he can show off what he's done. My daughter loves to take the miniature cows and horses from the fields her dad has strategically placed. I can't help but laugh every time he finds them discarded somewhere in the house. Long story short, trains are a passion for the men in my family. I have just discovered that my own father has a special place in his heart for them as well. His father worked on one which should have been no surprise to me considering he lived in a town that had a train stop or depot or whatever technical term it was called. He shares a story of he and his brother as young boys traveling from their home in central Texas to Houston to visit relatives. Because my great grandfather worked for the railroad they traveled free and were always well looked after "We felt like royalty" he commented.
After a relatives funeral in Illinois we happened upon a train museum of sorts, nothing formal just several trains that had seen better days sitting out for whomever wanted to admire them, of course we had to admire them up close. After I finished this painting. My husband proudly asked if I knew what the B&O stood for on the side of the train. Of course I didn't I was just impressed with my little painting. "Baltimore and Ohio" he proudly announced to me. So now you know too just in case you were wondering.
Gifted
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