Spring in the Bluegrass

This is my second spring in Kentucky and admittedly last year I was still getting used to everything and didn't take the time to appreciate the newness that comes with the season. This year, as I have a more vested interest in having a few of my own plants, I am getting a feel for the differences in blooming times down here than what I grew up with in Connecticut. Back north I remember iris and peonies as early summer flowers, this year thanks to a very warm March they have become late summer flowers starting to show their beauty in April.

A few weeks ago I had a few moments to myself and went to the UK Arboretum and snagged a few shots of some favorite flowers. Here are the best ones :)

Farm Adventures

Back in the fall I noticed in the church bulletin a note for a knitting club. "Sweet!" was my first and only thought. I had been missing my knitting club back in Connecticut and was overjoyed to find a local group to get to know. So I ventured out on a Monday night to the local Panera where I was introduced to a group of very lovely women. One such lovely woman is Laura.

Its now been several months since we've knit together and have become good friend. Today, I got to go to Laura's house and watch her three sheep get sheared and then help clean the wool. Of course I brought along my camera. Here are a few shots from the day.

 

This is Ivy, she was spared any shearing trauma today since she's a goat :)

 

A before and after. On the left is Elizabeth, on the right is Etta.

 

A significantly smaller Elizabeth.

 And now for some of what I like to call sheep yoga...

 This is Elizabeth's fleece after we got it inside and skirted. She had the best crimp which we knew was important but had to do a little google-ing to find out why. It has to do with the elasticity of the wool.

 Not only does Laura raise super cute sheep she also dyes beautiful yarn. 

A Trip to the Mountians

"It's a vacation!"
"Well it's only 4 days..."
"It's a mini-break!"
"Yes, its a mini break."

That was the conversation between my husband and I a few weeks ago when he decided to turn a quick trip to South Carolina for a sweet friend's wedding into a long weekend in the mountains. (Being able to interject British-isms into my everyday life makes me very happy)

So we left on Saturday and made it to Spartanburg to see a friend of mine from high-school get married. It was also a chance to see my very best friend and her husband since she was in the wedding. The bride was beautiful and they were so in love. It was a great evening!

That last one I like to call "Cotton Eyed Joe" :)

After the wedding we headed to our cabin in Pigeon Forge. The best part was that my best friend and her husband followed us and spent the night. The fellowship is always sweet with these dear friends and our Sunday together was no different. Here are some pictures of the view from our cabin. 

While enjoying all the tourist options in the area we made a stop at the aquarium. Always a favorite place to play with my camera I found some interesting subjects. Very well done aquarium. A must see for anyone going to Gatlinburg.

Rainy Day Adventures

Yesterday I didn't have to work, it was raining, my camera is still pretty new and fun to play with, and I remembered a knitting friend of mine saying how much she liked to visit the Lexington Cemetery. So I took myself down there GPS and camera in hand (because there are still places in this city I don't know how to get to) and I once again visited with days gone by and people I never knew. Once again I found beauty in memories that are not my own. Here is what the Lexington Cemetery shared with me on a rainy Monday afternoon.

That Girl...

Have you ever driven by a scenic but not tourist friendly area and ached to pull the car over and marvel at creation and maybe take a photo or two? Well...I do...ALL.THE.TIME. And today I got over the social norms that tell me not to be so conspicuous and pulled over to take pictures of God glory in the form of water overflowing on a limestone rock face. I was finally that girl, who does that pulling over thing and let myself marvel through my camera lens at the work of the Creator.


I can't publish this post in good conscious without this fact. This waterfall was what made me okay with moving to Kentucky. This waterfall tugged on my heart in a way that I could not deny, and showed me that God is everywhere and in everything. I first stumbled on this sight back in April of 2009, my first trip here...looking for a change. I saw it again last March and was reminded that I did fall in love with this part of the world once and I could again. When I drove by today I was reminded of God's promise to see His purposes through to completion.

This waterfall always gives to my spirit and never asks in return. Today was the most active I've ever seen it and I rejoice at how full, like the waterfall, my life has become. Kentucky is my home now.

Hands to Work, Hearts to God

I grew up with Old Sturbridge Village and all its wonderful old world charm, so its no surprise that after I moved to Kentucky I was on the look out for something to fill the void. I found Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill. I've been a handful of time in the past year and love taking pictures there. Everything from animals to artifacts offers itself as subjects to the creative eye. And on this trip I found a few surprises.

I suppose it was God's way of reminding me to recognize the details and not overlook the small wonders He puts in my way.

Now that the official calendar Christmas season has ended the refrain "Let heaven and nature sing" is fresh in my head. While walking around the village I had a special eye out for nature singing. I personally enjoyed watching a giant highland cow soak up the late December sun on a cold afternoon.

Now, I've taken the guided tour of the Center Family House at the village enough times to be well aware that the theology of the Shakers was more than a hair off gospel, but there is one part that was bang on, "Hands to Work, Hearts to God". They meant, your work is your worship...doing everything as onto the Lord. Just walking through the buildings you can see how much this group of people believed that and saturated their life with organized and purposeful beauty. A stair well, wooden pegs, a gate...all for the gory of God.