Happy Independence Day America!

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims' pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!

I captured this image last evening during Hendersonville's Freedom Festival Fireworks Show. I love the reflection on the water. Thank you to all the men and women who died so that we could live in this great country free. God Bless America. Have a safe and Happy Fourth of July! ENJOY!

Vintage Wheels

As I perused my archives in search of images from Vintage America, I noticed a transition from the days of wagon wheels and buggies to the days of old jalopies and finally to modern day automobiles.

In by gone days, both of these first two buggies were surely a Rolls Royce version as buggies go. I captured the carriage at Spring Mill Park in Indiana, on a visit years ago and and the wagon with the small scale buggy I discovered sitting in a barn on a visit to Blackacre Nature Preserve in Louisville a couple of years ago. Both surely must have been quite fashionable in their day with their slick black leather seats.

This old Dodge truck I have posted before, but I couldn't leave it out of the line up, as it surely is one of my favorite rustic auto images. If it doesn't conjure up memories of the early 1900's, nothing will. It has come to its final resting place at the end of the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail in the Smoky Mountains, on a small farm there.

After the buggies of the late 1800's and the jalopies of the early 1900's, we find ourselves in the era of the modern automobile with spiffy logos and chrome grills. I photographed this Buick, which looks like a '60's model, at Old Car City USA, in Georgia last Summer. I'm surprised someone didn't restore it as the body looks in quite good condition.

Last, here we are with over sized bumpers and large grills like shark's teeth. Oversized bumpers are one of the things I will always remember about the cars of my childhood years, especially the Buick. I wonder does anyone else feel the cars we drive today are just a tad boring compared to the first automobiles. Perhaps that's why vintage cars are such popular attractions at car shows and in museums. I hope you enjoyed this journey back in time. I promise to be back soon. ENJOY!

Amish, Southern Kentucky

Today was the perfect day for a Sunday drive with blue skies, fluffy white clouds and abundant sunshine. My intinerary was simple. A short drive to a small community of Amish farms tucked away just west of Scottsville, in south central Kentucky. I wasn't disappointed as I reached the area in about a thirty to forty minute drive from my home. This community of Mennonites settled here many years past in search of affordable farmland having left their larger Mennonite community in Pennsylvania.

I had thought about visiting here for some time and only wished it were a day their farm markets were open. These people have peacefully co-existed here in southern Kentucky for many years, while our modern technologically-driven world surrounds them. They choose to live a 'plain' life, as they call it, with no electricity, working machinery or plumbing. It was evident everywhere I looked as horse drawn buggies and windmills blowing in the wind were plentiful.

This small community is situated within a mere seven mile stretch of land near Scottsville. They are self sustaining with their farms, school, church and shops all located within that small area. Most of the farmers, however, depend on big box stores all across our country to buy their crops. Those farmers that choose not to sell to the outside world operate roadside stands or markets, such as Habegger's Amish Market, within the community itself which attracts visitors from all over the country.

This small group of farmers settled here many years ago because they felt the modern world was encroaching on their simple way of life in central Pennsylvania where their larger Mennonite community exists.

As I was leaving the Amish area, I passed a farm where a little Amish girl was walking up the lane toward her house with her doll in her arms. I know Amish don't like their photo taken, but she wouldn't turn around so I could just get the back of her, so I finally snapped this image as I wanted a photo of her. I hope your weekend has been a good one. The temperatures and humidity today were much more bearable, yet I know it won't last. With this being the hottest Summer on record, or at best, one of them, I am looking forward to Fall. ENJOY!

National Flag Week

Old Glory, the American Flag, was adopted on June 14, 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. In 1916, the President of the United States issued a proclamation establishing June 14 as Flag Day. In August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress. Every year around this week I pull out my flags and display them in my pots on my patio. I did that this past weekend. How do you display your Old Glory? ENJOY!

Happy Independence Day!

Stopping by briefly to wish everyone in America a Happy 4th. I am a tad bit under the weather so I won't linger. Just wanted to wish everyone a 'sparkly' holiday. ENJOY!

Meaningful Thanksgiving

In the year 1621, in the Plymouth Colony in America, the first Thanksgiving harvest feast was celebrated with 53 colonists and 90 Wampanoags. Governor Bradford sent four men to hunt birds and the Wampanoag hunted five deer to create the harvest feast. The colonists served swan, goose, duck, venison, shellfish, lobster and pumpkin. These festivities provided the foundation for our nation's Thanksgiving gatherings that take place to this day.

On April 1, 1864 a Proclamation of Thanksgiving was ordered by President Lincoln giving us this national holiday. As far back as 1861 government departments were ordered to close for a local day of thanksgiving, and in New England and other states, a Thanksgiving holiday was scheduled at different times. The proclamation was born out of a document penned by Secretary of State William Seward, making the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise. The proclamation took place in Spring of 1864 while the Civil War came to a close in Spring of 1865. Is it any wonder that our national statesmen felt the need to declare a national day of Thanksgiving and praise in such tumultuous times.

The Pilgrims gave thanks to God and celebrated His bounty,

in the Harvest Home tradition with feasting and sport (recreation). 

To these people of strong Christian faith,

this was not merely a revel; it was also a joyous outpouring of gratitude.

Our holiday today was born out of two national traditions. The first being the New England custom of rejoicing after a successful harvest, based on ancient English harvest festivals. The second being the Puritan Thanksgiving, a solemn religious observance combining prayer and feasting. I am thankful for the Pilgrims in the Plymouth Colony who brought us the first feast. And thankful for the New England people, and the Puritans, whose customs brought about this modern Thanksgiving Day. No matter who you break bread with on this Thanksgiving Day, I hope you can spend some time reflecting on what the holiday means to you. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. ENJOY!

Happy 4th of July!

I wish you scrumpious burgers or crusty steaks off your backyard grills and plenty of juicy watermelon or the all American favorite, strawberry pie, for dessert. Oh, and you thought I'd forgotten, fair weather for your fireworks. HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY AMERICA!