Gleanings by the Way - a rediscovered travel journal from 1849. A trip by foot, boat, stage and iron horse from Newton NJ to Wisconsin and back.

This travel journal, titled Gleanings by the Way, provides a rare and rich window into the rhythms of 19th-century travel, the texture of American life, and the spirit of a man both observant and deeply reflective. Through the travelers eyes, we witness a country in motion — physically and ideologically — as he encounters new towns, sermons, scenery, visits family and fellow travelers.

This short preview offers just a fragment of a travelers account, presented in its original handwriting alongside a transcription and lightly annotated for clarity. It invites you to step into his shoes, feel the dusty jostle of the stagecoach, hear the whistle of the Iron Horse, and reflect on how much — and how little — has changed since 1849.

I’ve been working on a really big “canvas” this year!

The project was to restore a room-wide mural in an historic home. The mural had been water damaged and after structural repairs, it had been lost.

The story has been posted on my artists facebook page: Portraits by ShawnaLee where you can follow along with each step of the way. It may take time for me to figure out how to get that information documented here! Thanks for your patience!

Our church has created a beautiful recipe booklet.

Created for a Variety show held in October 2025, this recipe booklet boasts the meal served that night along with a few time tested and congregation loved treats and favorites. The meals are handmade by our own Ellen Aronheim who creates kitchen magic with fellow volunteers and family. It always amazes me how many opportunities this bunch finds to nourish our community! I had been wanting to do some food illustrations and this little booklet gave me just that. If you’d like to purchase one of your own, visit the church office or ask during coffee hour after service on Sundays.

I am on the board of Stewardship at the Middlebury Congregational Church. It’s so much fun to collaborate on a theme and then illustrate the parable that is written by fellow members. This years theme is “On the Trail” . I created an illustration of the church to give the feels of walking through the dark woods and coming to a clearing where you see the welcoming church. More posts are on my artist’s facebook page: Portraits by ShawnaLee