Cecilia Kentucky January 2021

 AND, here is a short vid I put on youtube of us driving through Cecilia Kentucky!

Nashville TN, January 2021

 We drove through downtown Nashville Tennessee recently!  We went through Broadway, and drove by the site of the recent Christmas bomb incident too.

I don't know about you....  but the bombing really brought me down at the end of 2020.  I don't know what else to say about it, but I just hated that.

We had a nice visit though, and here is a short video.

Cooters Place Nashville Tennessee January 2021

 I thought you might like to see some of the Dukes of Hazzard Memorabilia in Cooter's Place in Nashville!  

Floyd Collins Mammoth Cave Caravan Tour 2014

 You know I love learning
about legendary caver Floyd Collins and Mammoth Cave!  Here is a video mostly from 2014 of a FREE Caravan Tour about Floyd offered by the park!

Train at Grand Victorian Inn in Park City Kentucky 2018

 Here is just a nice little video of a train we saw outside of our window at the Grand Victorian Inn in Park City back in 2018!

Mammoth Onyx Cave at Kentucky Down Under 2018

 Check out our cave tour at Mammoth Onyx Cave in 2018, at Kentucky Down Under!

Kentucky Down Under Animal Show September 2018

 Here is another fun video from our visit in 2018 to Kentucky Down Under!

Kentucky Down Under Down Under Kangaroos September 2018

 And here is another video from Kentucky Down Under in the Mammoth Cave area!  You can play with Kangaroos!

Morehead State University November 2020

 Hey, here is a short video I put up on youtube about Morehead State University!

Morehead Kentucky October 2020

 Morehead is growing on me!  Such a nice town to visit.  Here is a video I posted on youtube about it!

Maysville Kentucky December 2020

 Hey, just putting up a short video from a recent trip to Maysville!

Go HERE to see several other posts I have put up about this wonderful Northern Kentucky town!

Random Thoughts On Friday

 Yeah, its not Friday, but I just felt like putting something up thats not a video right now!  Crazy times!

I personally got my covid booster shot Friday and I am looking forward to things getting back to normal.  I am hopin
g that we will be seeing that soon.  I have talked to friends in other states, and Kentucky, in my opinion, is doing a great job, UK in particular.  I got my second shot at Kroger Field and I was in and out.  I was super impressed by the way that place is being run right now.....  and I was thrilled that they were able to get me vaccinated so quickly.  I know direct care workers in Tennessee, and their employers haven't even brought vaccine options up for them yet.

On another topic, a friend of a friend was in a situation where they had a LOT of wonderful Civil War books in their possession that they no longer needed.  They could have sold them, but my friend let them know that their pal Jim would love to have them.  Long story short, I acquired a beautiful collection of Civil War books.

About 3 of the books (all Shaara) I already had, but these were hardcover first editions.  My copies were well worn paperbacks.  So, even the duplicates were upgrades for me.

There are a lot of volumes I have thought about getting at some point, but wasn't sure about tacking them just yet (Shleby Foote).  Well, I got them in this batch of books.

The books were owned by someone I did not know who passed away.....  I wish I could have met them though.  Its always fun talking to someone else who loves books, especially the same type of books you love.

The previous owner of these books was different from me.  They obviously liked first editions, and nice ones.  All are pristine.  I am more of a signed copy book lover, and I am OK with some wear on my books.  I am more interested in the personalities of the Civil War, where this person was a straight up battles fan.

Still, I do plan over the next few years, to ready every book I received.  My "on deck" shelf was getting thin.  It just got replenished.

Paris Kentucky December 2020

 

We have been visiting Paris a lot lately!  We really like the place.  They have a great little downtown area with several shops, including some coffee shops we like a lot!  Check out the video I posted of Paris to youtube.

I also posted a video back in December as we drove through town looking at Christmas lights!

Wilmore KY November 2020

 We stopped by Wilmore Kentucky late last year....  a great little town!  Here is a video I put on youtube about it!

I've mentioned it before a few times, here, here, and here.

Western Kentucky Parkway Service Area

 So.....  just because it is an interesting stop, here is a short video I put on youtube about the Western Kentucky Parkway Service Area.

Rockport Indiana December 2020

 

Rockport (I've mentioned it here before), in Spencer County Indiana, has a lot going for it!  Lots of history, and its just a pleasant little town to go through.  AND, it has some interesting Abraham Lincoln connections!  I don't mention it in the above video because I hope to get to it again soon, but they also have the very cool and historic Lincoln Pioneer Village!

Check out the above video I recently posted to youtube!

Lincoln State Park Indiana December, 2020

We stopped by the Lincoln State Park in Lincoln City Indiana the other day.  I went there with my dad a few years ago, and this is just a great state park to go by....  especially if you are interested in Abraham Lincoln.  This is a very significant spot.  AND, the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial is right by this park.  You can hit a couple of MAJOR Lincoln sites in one visit.

Also, this area is very underrated, and under visited.  Santa Claus Indiana (and Holiday World) are very close.... but this is not a thriving metropolis.  If you don't like crowds, this is the place!

Check out the video I recently posted to youtube!

Lincoln Boyhood Home National Memorial Indiana December, 2020

 

Here is a video I made from our recent visit to the Lincoln Boyhood Home National Memorial in Lincoln City Indiana!  We've been there before but check out the video from our recent trip!

Rockford Michigan November 2020

We drove through Rockford Michigan back in November.  Check out my video (above) from our trip!  One of my favorite shops in all of Michigan is there- Herman's Boy.  They roast their own coffee, and they sell a lot of cool stuff.  It has a great selection of teas too.

Driving around Grand Rapids Michigan Nov 2020

Grand Rapids Michigan is just a great town that we enjoy visiting any chance we can.  We have family in the area who enjoy a lot of the same things we do- museums, reading, coffee shops, etc.  Anytime we see them we know we are going to have a fun and relaxing time.

I don't mention it in the video, but check out my older entry on the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park from a previous visit.  That place is great too!

This time in town, we visited the wonderful and HUGE Christian book store, Baker Book House!  They had a nice coffee shop inside AND they had an amazing selection of books!

We also spent some time at Schuil Coffee!  Check out one of their stores if you are in the area!  I have honestly made two orders from them over the last month!  They have some great coffee, and they have some impressive online ordering deals.

I posted a video on youtube from our visit!

Driving around Portland MI Nov 2020

 

We have been through the great town of Portland Michigan before.....  and we thought it was a great area.  I mentioned the perfect (though, sadly defunct) coffee shop, Cheeky Monkeys.  That place was great.  Luckily, there are still some great coffee and food places in the area.

This is just a cute little town not too far from Grand Rapids.  Check out the video I recently posted on youtube!

Giants of Bernheim Forest in Clermont KY 10 2020

 Here is a short video of our hike around Bernheim Forest to see the Giants!

Utica Elementary School KY 12 11 2020

 I have mentioned "my old school" in Utica Kentucky before.  I spent some wonderful days in this area, specifically at Utica Elementary School.  This was a great place!  Check out my video!

This is a very special area to me....  I would love to hear from anyone else that went to Utica.  I remember all of my former teachers and classmates.  I remember the great playground, and playing dodgeball in the gym.

Niko's Bakery and Cafe in Owensboro Kentucky

HEY!  I wanted to take a moment to mention Niko's Bakery and Café in Owensboro!  I was able to swing by recently and I had a great latte.  Looks like they have an interesting lunch and pastry menu too though!

They are over in Wesleyan Park Plaza kinda behind the Long John Slivers (the building was once a Fantastic Sam's).  I like that location....  I know when K-Mart pulled out it took some of the life out of this area.......  There is still a hopppin McDonalds and a Kroger.....  So hopefully this part of town will stay lively.

They have a very cozy dining area, and they had some cool local art up.  I'm looking forward to coming back on a day when I can bring a book in and read, and absorb some of the vibe.

My latte was great though.  They nailed it and the staff was friendly.  I am excited to see such a nice newer place in Owensboro!

 

RMS Queen Mary Postcard

This postcard showing the RMS Queen Mary went through the mail in 1938 according to the postmark on the back!