Day 16 – Linnea

When I was little, I loved my Linnea books.  Linnea in Monet’s Garden and Linnea’s Almanac were two of my absolute favorite books.  I loved the little French girl who loved art and nature.  I wanted to wear a straw hat and pinafore just like her.  I wanted to eat peas dipped in butter in the moonlight and create sardine-can-picture-frames.  I wanted to live in France and be Linnea.

In 4th grade I did a book report – complete with a slide show (yes, real life slides) and pastel reproduction of Monet’s lilies – on Linnea in Monet’s Garden.  I think it was this book that really perked my interest in art and impressionism in particular.  I think I was especially astonished by the possibility to go see in real life where Monet worked and lived with his wildly interesting family.