Shaker customs were in part unusual and surprisingly progressive. In a time of great civil unrest, women were considered equals to men and those of African heritage were considered free. Working together within the community allowed Shakers to accumulate and…
Shaker Village teems with life, including resident cats, horses, cattle, visiting geese and small birds, as well as a cacophony of insects day and night (mostly at night). The black and white cat is Boomer, who showed up regularly during…
Shaker Village hosts an hour-long riverboat cruise down the Kentucky River and back. It’s a relaxing way to spend an hour, learn more about the area and enjoy the lush and wild landscape. About a 5 minute drive from the…
My traveling companion wrote this lovely haiku during our trip across the United States. Visit to Pleasant Hill, Kentucky hawks high in a Kentucky sky—the shuttle cock makes a design called “open book” train over the river deep note, rumbling…
Ninety-five percent of the world’s bourbon is produced in Kentucky distilleries and it’s production is rooted deeply in Kentucky heritage, so I convinced Susanne to try some with me at Shaker Village. We tried a Woodford Reserve I’d heard good…
Shaker Village is located near Harrodsburg, in the heart of Kentucky. It represents a step back in time, echoing the intriguing life of the Shakers, a community that thrived in the raw and uncertain 1800’s. Today, it’s a peaceful haven…
Route 60 out of Babcock State Park took us alongside the Kanawha, the most prominent river in West Virginia. The small town of Glen Ferris lays along a broad arc of the river, between Gauley Bridge on the left of…
My vermin found a home! What is a vermin you ask? Well, it’s a 4-inch ceramic figure created as part of a worldwide art installation by Jamie Burmeister …and I get to participate! I received my personal vermin as a…
On our drive through the Appalachian region, stretching from Virginia into Kentucky, we visited Babcock State Park in West Virginia. There are extensive hikes and vistas in the park, but being short on time kept us close to the entrance.…
Montpelier is the sprawling plantation estate of our fourth president, James Madison. Without time to enjoy the house tour, we ambled through the garden and around the grounds. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.