2009 - We visit the Lexington, KY area again in October for the wedding of Julianne and John at Munday's Landing by the Kentucky River in Woodford County.  John is restoring this palatial manse with his ample carpentry resource just up the slope from the house.  All in all, the wedding was a down home pleasure full of family, friends, good feelings and comfort food for all.

Mundy's Landing, Woodford County
Oct. 3rd
I meet John still in his persona the morning of the wedding.

Happy group exploring Mundy's Landing
Mundy's tavern
Mundys Landing, Kentucky
John's uncle Rev. Holcomb presides.

The Ring
Lucy, Sharon (Mom) and Jim

The Kiss

Happier

Much Happier
A moment in the sun before the reception line
2nd from left is John, Kaye, Bev, Lucy Bell 
Cousin Darrell, sisters Beverly, Kaye, Linda

Before attacking the Pinata

Rory knocks a pillar off.

Ava takes a whack.

The rush to gather goodies
Next we all gather in the living room for the CAKE!
   

Cake baker sister Jamie helps with the cake.
We retire to our little house (newly opened B&B).

at Springhill Farms
Springhill Farms B&B
Oct. 4th

Dan's Koi

"Woodford"

the llamas
Linda with Cindy 

2002 - In our previous visit to Kentucky we experienced the Fall leaf colors, somewhat late this year, the homey scents of a bourbon distillery and the comfort of a family get-together.  I, not being a whiskey drinker, bought a 750 ml flask of Woodford Reserve for my fellow hikers.  Let your mouth water until our wine tasting next year.  That select bourbon is already aged for 7 years in a toasty oak barrel.  I can't wait to taste it either.  BTW, they don't make bourbon in Bourbon County, Kentucky.  On our way back to North Carolina we drove through Eastern Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia.  The colors were really intensely beautiful in Eastern Kentuck, at their peak.  These pictures only give a hint of the joys of living in the big country.  Enjoy the pictures.

Airy Mount, Versailles, Kentucky
Oct. 25th, 2002
Enjoyed the comfort of the fire - family gathering place
Oct. 26th morning
The fields of Air Mount, Lexington
Linda and Sharon hike the entrance road in the morning mists.
Airy Mount, front view
Labrot & Graham Distillers Co.
Oct 26th

He tells us how they make "Woodford Reserve".

Fermenting vats of corn, rye and barley

The aroma of bubbling bourbon mash!

Imported copper stills make for select straight bourbon whiskey.

Labrot & Graham website

Air Mount
Oct. 26th
Julian arranges the flowers.
Linda, aunt and Sharon enjoy the warmtn of the fire.
Logan, Devon, Cathy and Darryll enjoy the wait for dinner.
Oct. 27th, Sunday morning
Logan driving the "Gator", high excitement!

1999 - With all of the Y2K fears that were in the country's consciousness, we drove away to a peaceful, joyful visit with Linda's sister and her family in Versailles, Kentucky.  Away from television for four days, we explored the surrounding bucolic thoroughbred country. Here you will see scenes of Airy Mount, a house on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill and read of legends and our warm celebration of the first day of the new millennium.  The weather changes made for a variety of atmospheric conditions and great opportunities for the prepared photographer.

Airy Mount, Versailles, Kentucky
Dec. 29th, 1999
Cabin they lived in 4 years ago.
Airy Mount on the cold day we arrived.
Main stairhall decorated for the holidays
Woodford County Chamber of Commerce
"Airy Mount - Located in Woodford County on the crest of a low, wide rise is Airy Mount, whose original portion was built in 1796. It is reputed to have been the second brick house constructed in Woodford County.
Tragic Story - Airy Mount was built for Colonel William Henry Stanley Field, an officer in the Revolutionary War, who married his cousin, Sally Field, in Culpeper County, Virginia.  They came to central Kentucky prior to 1790 and took possession of his thousand-acre land grant.  In 1799, Colonel Field was found guilty of murdering his wife, despite defense provided by Henry Clay, whose mother's farm adjoined Field's.  Shortly after his execution, a female slave confessed to the crime."
Airy Mount
Dec. 30th
Airy Mount at dawn. The present day front of Airy Mount. airydesk.jpg (7317 bytes)

An online guide to B&B Inns

Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill
Dec. 30th

Shaker men sleep on one side, the women sleep on the other.

Remarkable spiral staircase

Shaker Meeting House

Shaker Village web site

Shaker Village - "The Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill is the largest historic community of its kind in America.  Visitors to this National Historic Landmark enjoy a wide variety of activities including self-guided tours, riverboat excursions and special events.  The village also offers two craft stores, meeting facilities, as well as fine dining and overnight accommodations in restored 19th century buildings."
Shaker Daily Activities
Dec. 30th
Joel Grey look-alike belting out a Shaker song; we were in awe.
Polishing off a brush
Demonstrating Shaker loom
Shaker dining room
We finally got to enjoy a vigorous morning hike in the lovely countryside surrounding the farm.  We brought along Strider and Beowulf to help us inhale the morning air and watch the mist evaporate in the rising sun.  We enjoyed it immensely.
Foggy Morning at Airy Mount
Dec. 31st
The foggy foggy dew
The dogs of Airy Mount
Typical Kentucky bluegrass fences
Horses watching Linda and the dogs hike by
Hiking the farm
Dec. 31st
Down by the river
Linda climbing up behind me
Dining room decked out for the New Year celebration
Versailles B&Bs
That afternoon we got together with Sharon, Heather and Patty to split enough logs to warm the house for the first day of the New Year and we enjoyed that immensely too.  It's a wonderful life!