Old Kentucky Home....

 Nestled in the heart of Kentucky, members of my extended family still live and farm a homeplace property that's been in the family since the early 1800's. As when my Mother visited in the 1920's, the fields are once again planted in wheat.

 This humble old horse barn, likely built 3 generations ago or more, housed the saddle horses they raised.

 A new little boy is being raised on the farm now, but 110 years ago, this could have been my grandfather.

 When my cousin decided to have the interior of the original log cabin part of the house restored, a professional analyzed the basic construction; it was put up in the 1790's as a one-room shelter with only one door and no windows--a tiny fortified place for safety in wartime. Everything else was added as time passed.

My great-aunt's piano and various photos and mementos.

My cousin's wife came home one day to hear noises in the house! But the intruder was only a large black snake sprawling on the top shelf with the white china. She could not catch it; it slithered back into the ceiling!
The joys of country living, I guess.

Book Report Time: What's another word for "focus"?

Ordinarily, I enjoyed historical novels by Jeff Shaara; I've read a couple (tho he is writing faster than I can read them.) However, "The Glorious Cause", from 2002, was a load. The book is about the progress of the American Revolution, seen thru the eyes of several of the most important principals, such as George Washington, General Cornwallis, Ben Franklin and so on. Not that I am anyone to criticize the writing of a published and saleable author's work, but this book seriously needed better editing; example: the word "focus" or some variation appeared on nearly every page.Someone is focusing on something, or trying to, or shifting focus. I try not to give up on a book once I've committed to it (got thru the first 30 pages or so); once I decide the damn book needs editing, I start doing it! Yes, I finished it, but No, I didn't really enjoy this one.

Happy Fathers Day....

For Fathers Day, I've idealized a WW2-era training camp photo of my own recently deceased Dad. It nearly matches the one I made for Mom on Mothers Day.  Good daughter.

King's Mountain SC

Kings Mountain is one of a group of steep peaks on otherwise flat land in the central Carolinas. The site is part of the National Park system since back in 1780, the mountain men of the Carolina's, Virginia, Tennessee and probably Kentucky issued the British a hard and unexpected beating on these woodsy slopes. Now it is a monument-filled pleasant park with interesting natural and staged things to enjoy. Above is a tree which grew around a large boulder so you can't tell which is which.

Re enactors gave us a LIVE FIRE demonstration of colonial, revolutionary war, civil war, Spanish-American War, WW2, Vietnam and Desert Storm arms and show of gear.  The dog was not part of the show and highly resented the thundering guns.  The gent in the center made his own long rifle and outfit.

Pretty. And thanks to our nice "Carolina Kids" for the visit and field trip!!

Tiny Frog...somewhere in the grass....

Smaller than the tip of Hubsy's finger. Near Matthews, NC.

From a Sweet Old-Fashion "Cozy" Novel about the South....

like one of the "Mitford" Series?

you know, Father Tim goes to the village hardware store and chats, has a soft drink....

admires and blesses the infant of one of his flock....

cherishes the sunshine on the old brick wall ( no, that's me)

... is glad the store is still vibrant...

or could it be William Faulkner?? (no, it's Mitford)

"Slice" Photos in Matthews, NC...

The town restored and preserves it's old rail freight depot as a museum; tho it was not open the day we walked by. If you spend a lovely Saturday morning in Matthews, you might like the Royal Creperie, just a short walk away; great place!