Bounty of Barren County

Awesome day here in Kentucky, clear, cooler, and cloudless.  Perfect for the open air market occurring just three blocks down the street from the B&B where I'm staying the rest of my time here.
Breakfast was waffles, eggs, bacon, and fruit served in the large dining room on the first floor. The B&B owner Karin, makes a tasty breakfast and comfortable setting for all her guests. I read the Louisville paper (remembering my friend Randy Hammer, the previous VP of the paper) and chatted with the other guests, a woman with her daughter and sister, who are here to attend a wedding.

The market is called the Bounty of the Barrens Market and has dozens of vendors with crafts and food produced locally. The market is similar to the one in downtown Pensacola every Saturday, but about twice as large.  I thought this to be a great opportunity to do a little gift shopping.  There were many booths with seasonal gifts, jewelry, clothing, and food. The market is setup to surround the central park, much like the festivals in Seville Square in Pensacola, terraced up the sloped sidewalks that surround the County Courthouse located in the center of the park.

I found a booth that had these really cool designs set in soap created by a local woman that are most unique I had ever seen. Another woman had a table full of interesting jellies, with flavors like banana here were also hand woven baskets made by the Yoder family that were very much like the Longaberger baskets.

Last night I visited a local joint, called George J's on the Square, to listen to some local pickers play and sing. The songlist included CDB, Merle, John Prine, and some originals. George J's is a old time corner drugstore building with soda counter, booths, and a black/white checked tile floor.  

I know I'm probably sounding like the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce President but, this is a cool and friendly place. I can't even count the times I've been called "hon.."

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The nomadic life

Well, got back to Kentucky after a fun four day weekend in Pensacola. I had a great time Friday night at the downtown Gallery Night and Canstruction Event. Much thanks to my business partner, Scott Sallis and the team of Nick and CarrieBeth of Dalrymple/Sallis for their hard work. I am also very proud of my wife and son for their efforts to construct "Canzo the clown" for Canstruction.
"Canzo" was displayed in the lobby of the Saenger Theatre and was one of several displays created by local architectural firms. These creations help raise awareness and food donations for Manna Food Bank. DalSal's clown was created with over 400 cans of food ranging from ravioli to raisins.

After spending the last 6 weeks in and out of hotels, I have decided a more comfortable housing situation is needed.  I did a little Internet research and could only find weekly vacation rentals or 6 month lease apartments. The requirement to be furnished was very limiting.
When you're looking for real estate, the word "location" is extremely important.  I left work and headed to downtown Glasgow to search for a garage apartment or room for let.  During a stop for a red light, I looked to my right and noticed a bed and breakfast.  I quickly rounded the block and parking thinking I would ask the owner if they knew of any available rentals nearby.  While reading the 'we'll be right back" sign taped to the door, a hand appeared and removed the sign, pushed opened the door and invited me in. Karin, the owner, welcomed me with a smile and asked how she could help me.  After explaining my situation, she told me that a room was available for the dates I needed.  Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.
This bed and breakfast, Hall Place, was built in 1852 by Judge Tompkins for his daughter and son in law, Theodosia and Dr. James Hall.  Thursday night I will move in to Hall Place and spend the next 8 days in the Dr. Hall room.  This room is filled with doctor collectibles, ranging from stethoscopes to bed pans. A large poster bed, amoire, and desk complete the late 1800's decor.

You can check out the place at www.hallplacebedandbreakfast.com
I think that being located in the heart of Glasgow will give me the opportunity to engage in more of the local activities and visit the restaurants and shops in the area. I already have tickets for the Mary Chapin Carpenter www.marychapincarpenter.com concert that will happen in Oct. at the groovy Plaza theatre located just two blocks away from Hall Place. www.plaza.org/events/plaza_events.html



Work continues to keep me busy with my time still being split between Mammoth Cave Visitor Center and the finishing touches to the Abe Lincoln Memorial Building.  On a sidebar; apparently, the Judge's wife's nephew was Lincoln's law partner.
In this part of Kentucky everything or everyone is somehow related to Lincoln or a cave. (smile)
Time to pack........

Corvettes and more Corvettes...

Wow, this has got to be the most spectacular day I have ever seen in Kentucky. It is clear blue sky, like the perfect color blue that you would paint if you could paint the perfect color blue. The breeze blowing for the first time since the beginning of June lifting the american flag on the pole in front of the hotel, proudly raised to full mast after yesterday.

I'm ready to hit the highway and drive to the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky.  The museum is only about 20 miles south of the hotel where I'm staying and right off interstate 65.  The building itself is very cool with it's curved footprint, metal facing, and concial yellow tower. The parking lot has corvette only parking spaces and a "no burnout" sign.

The interior lobby has a parade of new corvettes parked on a stain concrete street in various color schemes The exhibition area of the museum focuses on several vignettes that show the character of the various periods of corvette history. Each are very well done and filled with the appropriate aged cars in mint condition with the surrounding artifacts really giving you the sense of how it was then. Cutaways of motors, cars, and chassis let you see into the guts of car design and mechanics. The route of exhibits serpentined through the building toward the conical portion of the structure that housed about 30 unique cars, Indy 500 pace cars, special editions, and prototypes. way cool.. This area lead to another display area of private custom corvettes of every style and taste. I was very interested in the process of design and creation of the corvette. You really get a great education about car design and production with this tour of the corvette museum. Afterwards, I was ready to purchase a 2011 vette but decided that a raffle ticket was closer to my price range. Wish me luck since the raffle is two days after my birthdate.

Let us never forget

Saturday and I had the opportunity to work on a couple of issues that need to be resolved before the end of fiscal year. Most government agencies have an Oct. to Sept fiscal year and the NPS is no exception. There is a big push to complete the required forms for allocation of funds for the receovery act during the current fiscal year.
After I finished my work, I took the time to visit a cemetary along my route to work everyday.  I have driven by many times and always wanted to walk through and look at the grave markers.
I parked in a gravel parking area across the road from the cemetary, careful not to disturb the small herd of butterflies enjoying a cool drink of dew captured by the voids in the gravel.

Kentucky; I have never been to a place wirh more butterflies. They are everywhere! Many types, sizes, and colors and they all get along.  We could all take a lesson from nature.
The cementary plaots all faced east and were a variety of styles and sizes.  The burial dates were back as far as the early 1800's and many of those buried had been born in the 1700's.  Several familes comprised most of the plots. A few of the grave markers indicated that the person had been a soldier in the War of 1812.

My visit to the cementary was also a reminder to me of those who have given the greatest sacrifice on this day and the days before and after September 11th. I am always grateful and proud of those who serve our country and maintain our freedoms. Let us never forget.........

Left and came back

Twelve days since my last post and I've been plenty busy with working, traveling, spending time with family, and working again. Got the interior of the Abe Lincoln building complete and open to the public for the Labor Day weekend and was able to leave town(Cave City) and head South to P'cola to be with family for a few days.
What a great weekend! Fantastic to be with my wife and kids. Enjoyed a great lunch at Jackson's, pizza at Ozone's, and of course Sunday Dinner at Mom's.

Left early Tuesday and made my way back to Mammoth Cave.

Phase 2 of the project has started with the demolition of the remaining old Visitor Center. This project is to be LEED certified and therefore required to recycle or reuse 95% of all waste material. Every material shipment in or out of the project site is weighed to insure compliance. An authorized LEED agent is to be onsite to verify and direct waste material and refuse. Many of the construction mamagers and NPS personnel are LEED certified as well.
As with any project of this size, the startup required a great deal of paperwork and process to insure the correct methods and materials are selected. Many meetings take place to coordinate construction, detail safety procedures, and maintain the project scheduling.