My inspiration for choosing Robert Le Roy Ranch as appose to the magnificent Chicago skyline…
I’ve lived just a mile from this ranch for the past 14 years. I drive by it just about every day. Whether it’s Winter or Summer, it takes my breath away and captures my heart every time.
There is such a peace and tranquility about the ranch from a distance and it always raised my curiosity. I was told the ranch is about 300+ acres, horses, beautiful swans in the summer–adorning the jet blue pond, cascading willows and large oak trees cover the grounds, a hidden vineyard, luscious greens, flowers and bushes. It’s like a little Garden of Eden.
The windy path leads you on what seems to be an adventure (not knowing what is at the top of the hill behind the large oak tree). Once at the top of the hill, another magnificent view….acres of land hidden where the horses can run free and wild.
How do I know this? Last Spring, after 14 years of driving by, I decided to muster up some courage to pull up into the gated driveway and introduced myself to the lady who came out right away when she saw me. I thought she was the owner, but she was one of the tenants on the property.
I asked her about this ranch and she graciously gave me a tour, sharing bits and pieces of the history. I ended up spending the whole afternoon with this stranger who then said when leaving that I could come anytime.
I was in awe and couldn’t wait to come back again; and I did. I introduced the kids to the ranch over the summer. They used to look towards the ranch thrilled at the site of horses and the swans. It was a also the perfect place to take pictures. I selected one of them to use in our Christmas photos this year.
When I decided to participate in this project, I called the owner, Mrs. Le Roy and asked her if I could use her property for my photo shoot and she welcomed it generously and She told me to just to let her property manager know what I was doing if I saw him. Seriously, that’s it?
I spent over an hour on this day taken photos for this photo challenge.
My #1 Choice: Photo Challenge Submitted
I still didn’t know much about the ranch except the little bits from the tenant who lived there but after much Googling and searching, it would’ve made the caption too long (that’s why I’m sharing this in a note now).
What I learned about the late Robert Le Roy was remarkable. Mr. Le Roy was a holocaust survivor. He lost both of his parents and his 2 year old brother to the diabolical acts of Hitler. He came to America in 1949 and has been a resident of Elgin, IL for many many years.
He lived to inspire people and spoke to children at schools to
“live with out hatred in their lives.”
After all that Mr. Le Roy has been through as a holocaust survivor, this is a powerful message.
Now I understand why driving by the ranch always captured my heart and exuded such a sense of a peace.
I would love your vote (no info required, just click next to Acadia Denali, by Duong Sheahan at bottom)
Voting Ends Wednesday, February 9th, 2011. Thank you.
My #2 choice: This photo almost got submitted
