The Barn Series - Day 3 - Bluegrass Scenic Byway

Day 3 and I decided it was high time to switch gears. I know modern day horse barns will not satisfy the vintage barn lovers that follow here. Believe it or not, we are still in the Bluegrass Region in central Kentucky with this post where thoroughbreds and horse farms reign supreme.

Kentucky's heritage is famed for many things. The most famous of those are horses, bourbon and tobacco. Half way between Midway and Lexington sits this barn close enough to the road to get a fairly decent photograph. It's Fall and lucky me the tobacco and been put up and the windows were open to allow the air to help cure it. Every trip I made to this region, I would drive down this particular road where this barn sits, specifically to check in to see if anything was going on with it. Some barns just do that to you. They draw you in. This one did that to me.

On this visit I was happy to find the tobacco hanging in the barn and stopped to take several photos. It's nice to know this old barn still had some use. Tobacco is less and less of a money crop on farms throughout Kentucky today as smoking becomes less and less popular. But there's something about seeing tobacco hanging in an old barn that makes me happy. It takes me back to my youth when smoking was the trend.

All around this beautiful old barn stands horse barns and fields where thoroughbreds graze. I'm never quite sure why to this day tobacco is still put up here. I have photographed many, many barns over the years in my travels. Yet, I never really elaborated on the why and where of it with most of the images. I just felt compelled to do so now. Until tomorrow. ENJOY!

The Barn Series - Day 2 - Stonewall Farm

I am thrilled you made the decision to come along with me on this trip back in time, as I reminisce about the many barns I have had the pleasure of capturing photographs of over the past decade. If I had to rate some of the barns I have seen along the Bluegrass Scenic Byway, the famed road that runs between Midway and Lexington, in central Kentucky, this barn would be in the top five on that list. Yesterday, we visited Manchester Farms, one of the most iconic horse farms in Lexington, second to Calumet Farms. Today's barn heralds from this same gorgeous region of Kentucky, and I can say, has been home to many a stallion and mare as this thoroughbred franchise is famous for.

This is famed Stonewall Farm, situated smack dab in the center of the 'Horse Capital of the World.' It is truly the perfect setting with its beautiful lake and fountain and, of course, always present historic limestone wall that runs the length of the farm along the byway. Every time I see the limestone wall that separates the road from the pastures, an emotion like known other wells up in me. That wall says it all. You are in the 'Horse Capital of the World.' Stonewall has bred many champions over the years, but I believe what they are as famous for is the beautiful fields and barns that make up the property. I often wonder what this barn would look like a hundred years from now as a new photographer stops to capture its beauty. Every barn began its story brand spanking new before it became weathered and worn. I try to keep this in mind every time I stop to photograph a barn.

Our first two posts on this journey back in time have found us at two stunning horse farms in the famed Bluegrass Region. No matter where we venture to, I know you will enjoy the ride. I miss photographing the Bluegrass Region, but I know some day I will be back in Kentucky and will call it home again. Once it is in your blood you cannot get it out. While I love the great state of Tennessee and it's rugged beauty, Kentucky is in my bones. I am so glad you came along today on this journey. I hope to see you again tomorrow. ENJOY!

Linking to The Barn Collective

In the Bluegrass State: Kentucky Woman Series

The Kentucky Bluegrass area is like no other place to visit in the States. As you travel the back roads, along the designated Kentucky Scenic Byways, you pass famed horse farm after horse farm, and you soon come to realize just how beautiful this area really is. Horse barns are painted in reds and greens with most all of them beautifully adorned in various styles of cupolas.

On this particular drive on a beautiful Summer's afternoon, I happened upon this gorgeous scene along the byway. Vintage, stacked limestone fencing, a large pond with tall Cattails and a sweeping Weeping Willow tree decorated this property with this beautiful horse barn featuring multiple cuplolas. Stunning is all I could think of as I stood photographing this landscape.

As I meandered along the byway, I passed this beautiful scene of hay bales scattered all throughout this farm field just waiting to be scooped up and hoisted onto a long trailer for safekeeping elsewhere.

Driving around the Midway area all along the byway, I took in the beautiful Bluegrass horse farms. I stopped in my tracks, however, when I happened upon this black stallion grazing aimlessly in this clover covered field. He was such a gorgeous subject to photograph. Did you know it's not easy photographing horses because they constantly swish their tails back and forth.

Just for good measure, and knowing full well I had several images of foals laying around in the fields or sticking close to Mom, I wanted to add this image. This foal was sticking very close to its Mom and never ventured far from her as I stood capturing images. This obviously was taken on another trek to the area in early Spring when the foes are plentiful to photograph.

Farther along the byway, I passed this large black barn with a metal roof sitting off in the distance. Tobacco plants were growing high in the field and hail bails were resting off to the side of the farm road as I stopped to photograph this image. It was mid to late Summer so the tobacco fields were nearing ready to put up the crops. Did you know putting up tobacco is a hard, hard job and quite tedious to say the least? I remember when my family visited my great uncle's farm in Marion County, Kentucky, and watching as they completed the time intensive and quite labor intensive putting up of the tobacco.

On a side road, very near to Keeneland Race Track just outside of Lexington, I happened upon a field of dairy Goats grazing in the warm Summer sunshine. A cute brown and white one kept an eye on me as I stopped to capture images. Aren't they adorable?

As a Kentucky born woman, now living in Tennessee, I am reminded of my visits to Midway and Lexington as I browse my archives. The famed, Bluegrass horse farms with the gorgeous thoroughbreds and stallions, dot the landscape. The adorable foals as they run about the fields or lay nearby always staying in close proximity to their Mothers. The quaint cupolas that adorn the horse barns. The black wooden fences and the old stacked, limestone fences that surround the parameters of the many famed horse farms. And finally, the crisp green Kentucky Bluegrass that tops off all this gorgeousness with every twist and turn in the road. I must get back here soon. I hope you enjoyed my trek around the region as much as I did sharing it with you. ENJOY!

Fall, Bluegrass Scenic Byway

In Kentucky, you will find.
Carpets of bluegrass that cover the landscape.
Horse farms and thoroughbreds. Stables and barns.
Limestone and wooden fences. Stallions and brood mares.
You can come along and take a ride with me.











You thought I was kidding. Oh, and before you go, let me introduce you to a beautiful chestnut filly you see hanging her head over the fence line. Her name is 'Love Me Good' and she was sired at the most famous horse farm known the world over, Three Chimneys Farm, in Lexington, Kentucky. Nowadays she resides at Sheltowee Farm in Midway. Her ancestry includes a Kentucky Derby winner, Northern Dancer. And she loved hamming it up for my camera. ENJOY!

A Horse Affair

A drive was in order today what with the beautiful blue skies and tons of sunshine making for a perfect Spring day. I didn't want to take a long drive so I chose to visit the Bluegrass area of Kentucky. I captured a few images of the new foals lazing about on the beautiful bluegrass carpet, while other foals kept close to Mom as she moved from one grassy patch to the next. Beautiful tulips were blooming at the entrances to the horse farms while Dogwoods dotted the landscape.

Next weekend is the fastest two minutes in sports, the Run for the Roses, at Churchill Downs, while Friday is reserved for the Fillies to Run for the Lilies in the Kentucky Oaks. It is a lot of fanfare for such a brief few days of frivality. Louisville will burst at the seams with visitors, tourists, racing fans, and least we forget, celebrities galore. There are charity events and Derby parties and Derby Balls as well.

The ladies will have chosen their Derby outfit to wear on the big day, and of course, their accompanying Derby Hat is fitfully adorned with gorgeous flowers in matching colors. Postage stamp sized handbags are tucked safely in suitcases ready to bring out for their excursion to the track. The gentlemen while decked out in finery as well are amptly contemplating a nice smooth glass of Kentucky Bourbon or an always popular Mint Julep. The jockeys are preparing their silks for race day and the handicappers are readying their racing forms. The Downs, as we call it here in Louisville, is set to play host to countless thousands and thousands and thousands of visitors with Mint Juleps, Kentucky Country Ham and Derby Pie on the menu, just to name a few. All betting windows are open and stand ready with folks who shall gladly help you take leave of your hard earned money. And, the only question left at race time . . . is the track fast. And then they're off.

It really is a week of fanfare in Louisville with the Great Steamboat Race, the Pegasus Parade, the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby. I am inclined to believe that after many, many years of playing host to this event throughout my lifetime, the thought of it all tends to lose itself on me now. But there are those who can't wait and I remember a time when I totally understood the anticipation. ENJOY!

Foal Nursing

In spite of the fact that I'm doing some traveling this week, I decided at the last minute Saturday to make a quick drive to Midway to check out the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky and see if there were any new foals roaming about at the horse farms. As it turned out there were quite a few.

Such a pleasant feeling you get when you see a foal nursing in the pasture. There were five or six foals romping around this particular field, but also making absolutely certain they stayed very very close to Mom. Can you blame them. Mom's got lunch covered. What fun! ENJOY!

Horsing Around!

Tomorrow the Fillies are making a day of it at the Oaks at Churchill Downs. Then Saturday it's the boys' turn. Ahhhh, Derby. ENJOY!