#AtoZChallenge - All Gallow's Eve - T-Z

~~~oOo~~~

TROUBLESOME CREEK

Troublesome Creek is another name given to the North Fork of the Kentucky River that runs through three counties in Eastern Kentucky.  So far I've adopted the name "Troublesome", possibly by itself or as part of the name "Troublesome Springs" for the name of the town in my WIP, All Gallow's Eve.

Arguably the most Appalachian area of the state, the 'hollers' of eastern Kentucky inspired the song, "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive", featured in the TV show "Justified".  Part of the chorus of the song, written by Darrell Scott, says that Harlan is a place where, "the sun comes up about ten in the morning and the sun goes down about three in the day".  It's a hard-scrabble, coal mining life in 'them thar hills'.

Coal companies came in, took the resources and left when the profits did.   One way they increased their profit was to have substandard mining safety.  (Even in the not-too-distant past, there have been news items about mine cave-ins.)  They had company towns and paid the miners in scrip, which could only be used at the company store, where the prices were artificially inflated.

Little wonder that there is a deep distrust of 'outsiders' in the area.

~~~oOo~~~

UNURBAN

I looked this one up.  It is a real word, not one I've made up.  I believe if you look up the term 'unurban' in a encyclopedia there will be a map of Eastern Kentucky.  Many people grow up there (here?) and want to leave.  I started out in a small town, moved to a city, moved to an even bigger city, then moved back to Appalachia.  Guess that makes me an 'unurbanite'.  (Ok, maybe I made that one up.)

~~~oOo~~~

VITTLES

Another word for 'food and drink'.

There are a series of guides put out by The Foxfire Fund, Inc., over the past several decades where students went around amongst the older folks in the Appalachian area and attempted to document the way of life.  There were few stores.  If people wanted food, they grew it, raised it, and slaughtered it themselves.  Shoes were repaired at home until they literally could not hold together anymore.  If someone wanted a musical instrument, they made it themselves.  But I digress.

There were plenty of 'old recipes' in the guide I read about Appalachian food ways.  Biscuits and gravy was an unknown combination to me until I moved to Texas.  (In the ensuing years, I have become a serious fan.)  Corn bread & pinto beans, various types of 'greens', chicken & dumplings, squirrel dumplings (yeah, I'm not going to try that one, but I've heard it's good)

~~~oOo~~~

WORLD CHICKEN FESTIVAL

Here in Kentucky, we'll celebrate just about anything!  In 2015, the World Chicken Festival will run September 24 - September 27 in London, Kentucky.  Why celebrate the chicken, you ask?  Well, both Harlan Sanders (Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken) and Lee Cummings (Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken) have ties to the area.

We went for the first time last year and much of the downtown proper is roped off and cars are not allowed.  They do run free shuttles from outlying parking lots of local businesses, etc.  The walk wouldn't really be too bad, but they want you to walk around the exhibits, contests, performances, eateries and vendors, and not get tuckered out just getting there.  I had my first ever (and only so far) deep fried candy bar - it wasn't half bad!  The point is that we had fun - the whole family together - and we are planning to go again this year.

~~~oOo~~~

XENOPHOBIA

-an unreasonable fear of that which is foreign or strange.

The farther you go back in the hills and hollers, the smaller the circle of 'the known' becomes, and thus the more and more gets added to what is 'foreign'.  For those living in a town, it may be someone from outside the county.  For those living in surrounding rural areas, it could also include the people from the town.

As stated before, the locals had/have little reason to trust a big coal company.  Many turned to making moonshine as a way to make money; then came the 'revenue-ers' - usually Feds who wanted to crack down on this 'illegal' trade because they were missing out on their tax fees.  Many people in the area see outsiders as someone who wants to take out of the area, without fair compensation.  Nonetheless, folks will usually give a stranger the benefit of the doubt, until either trust is established or broken.

And folks around here will give you the shirt off their back.  In the 24 hours following my FIL's house burning down last week, I can't tell you the number of people that stopped by our house to offer help in any way they could.

~~~oOo~~~

YOSEMITE

A few months ago, I got chatted up by an older gentleman while waiting in line at a WalMart.  He was from Yosemite, KY.  I specify the state, because there is also a Yosemite in California - but theirs has four syllables and is pronounced YO-SEM-IT-EE,  The one here is pronounced YO-SE-MIGHT.  It was named by the daughter of a logger who thought the area here reminded her of the valley out in California.

As you can imagine, mispronunciation of this unincorporated town's name will earn you the tag of 'outsider' faster than greased lightning.

~~~oOo~~~

ZACHARIAH & ZOE

Both Zachariah and Zoe are unincorporated areas in Lee County in Eastern Kentucky.  Zachariah has had a post office on several occasions, the last close to a century ago.  Zoe, although unincorporated, still has a post office.

I was born in a little town in Pennsylvania.  Well I call it a town.  Back then it was more like a wide spot in the road.  But I fear urban sprawl has plagued the area - as it now has TWO post offices.  Probably has traffic signals too.

No wonder we live out in the middle of nowhere.

~~~oOo~~~

I hope you have enjoyed this little tour of Kentucky and the information about my WIP.  Thank you to everyone who has visited this month, and left comments and encouragement.  Please click the sunflower button at the top of the post to visit the 2015 A to Z Challenge participation list.  You will find a wide variety of excellent posts on many topics.

#AtoZChallenge - All Gallow's Eve - S

SOMERNITES CRUISE

(graphic from www.somernitescruise.org)

Click the Somernites button to go to the official page of the Cruise!  From the home page:

Beautiful and historic Somerset, KY is recognized by the Kentucky State Legislature as “The Car Cruise Capital of Kentucky” and is home to Somernites Cruise, the largest monthly classic car show in the state. Held on the fourth Saturday, April-October, rain or shine, Somernites has garnered national attention with coverage on various TV shows including My Classic Car and Horsepower TV. Now more than half-way into its second decade, the Cruise shows no signs of waning in popularity.

"Somernites Cruise" weekends are the 4th weekend of each month from April through October.  Most of the festivities take place on Saturdays, with vehicles of all shapes, makes, models, ages etc. lining the streets of town with their hoods up.  People walk by, talk with the owners of the vehicles, etc.  People and their cars come from all over the US.  The 15th Annual Somernites Cruise kicks off this Saturday, April 25!

Most of the streets around 'fountain square' are closed to all but Cruise-entry cars after 9 or 10 am.  The crowds are usually large enough that no local would drive through town anyway.  Seriously!  I was on my way to work one day and even as far out from the center of town as I was, it took about 30 minutes to go 1/4 mile.  But when you visit, email me and I'll let you know the best ways to get around the crowds. ;)

(from the Somernites Cruise Facebook Page photo stream)

After 7:00 pm on Cruise weekend, cars take to the 6 lanes of Highway 27, Somerset's 'main drag', but maybe a mile from downtown.  They drive up and down the road, sometimes until well after dark, and the sides of the road are generally crowded with spectators.  Serious spectators.  People who camp out the night before to get their favorite spot.

(from the Somernites Cruise Facebook Page photo stream)

If you are a car enthusiast, this is really a must-see event!

~~~oOo~~~

So have you ever been to a Somernites Cruise?  Are you nuts about cars and antiques?  Let me know in the comments!  

And while you're here, if you click on the butterfly graphic at the top of the post, that will take you to the 2015 A to Z Challenge participant list, where you can find hundreds (I'm not joking here - HUNDREDS!) of other folks who are writing about the A to Z of just about any and every topic under the sun!

#AtoZChallenge - All Gallow's Eve - Q & R

QIANA, ROPE

Originally, I was going to use the name "JC" for the MC's name - short for something like Jesse Christina.  But then I thought I'd change the C to a Q (for the express purposes of having something to write about for the letter "Q" in this challenge!

My other choice was 'quince' as in the fruit.  It looks somewhat like an apple or pear, sometimes bumpy and kind of hard to eat (if memory serves).  My mother used to make a very sweet but delicious jelly from quince when we were growing up.

Anyway, back to the name.  I asked my 12-year old daughter to look up some "Q" names for me and she printed out a list - there were like all of 5 of them.  Qiana resonated the most.  But then Jesse Qiana sounded odd, so I may just go with the one name.  It could bring upsome interesting "Star Trek" related 'Q'-bits in All Gallow's Eve!

With a name like "All Gallow's Eve", it almost scream for a rope to appear, at least in this case.  (In one of the last books I read, Wicked Stitch by Amanda Lee, the victim was strangled by someone using a scarf on which the victim was still working!)

Luckily, the county being a mining/farming area, everybody and their dog has access to rope so it doesn't really narrow the field of suspects.  But further into the investigation maybe something about the component materials or wear patterns could pop-up.

~~~oOo~~~

Click on the sunflower button at the top of the page to go to the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge participant list.  There is something for everyone on that list, as there are several hundred participants!

#AtoZChallenge - All Gallow's Eve - O and P

OAKWOOD

Oakwood is the name at a 'residential/teaching facility for adults with MR/DD' (mental retardation and developmental disabilities).  I worked there for four years.  So, it's not a tourist-y thing that you could see when you visit Kentucky.  But there seem to be an incredible amount of services for people with, shall we say, intellectual differences, here in my state.

My job as a 'residential associate' was both the best and the worst job I've ever had.  A residential associate assisted the residents (although the preferred term was 'client') with ADL's (activities of daily living) and the acquisition of new skills.

The first book idea I had in recent years involved going undercover as a resident at a facility such as Oakwood.  But it would have to be carefully *ahem* worded.

The best thing about the place was working with the residents.  I started out in a 'cottage' that had all high-functioning male clients.  I went to the ER five times in the first six months of employment.  Some years later I heard that the one man who had been the most difficult had gone to a group home with other high-functioning 'alpha' males and wound up getting beaten to death.  He was a jerk, but he didn't deserve that.

After six months, I was transferred to a cottage that had men on one side and women on the other.  I worked with the women and most of them were in wheelchairs at least for transport.  Some of them I considered a second family.  My second inter-house transfer came about 3 years later after a *ahem* rather vocal disagreement with one of the so-called 'professionals' concerning one of the clients.  She attempted to have me 'taken off the floor', but that failed.  So she reported the home manager for some imagined offense and that woman was transferred.  What a joke.

Anyway, I got transferred with a client (over whom the aforementioned disagreement took place) to a home with higher-functioning females, where I was injured severely enough on two occasions to warrant more than a year of medical leave.

And I took up smoking less than a year after I started working there.  It was either than or bang my head or my fist against a wall in frustration.

It wasn't all bad, though.  I developed several close friendships that continue to this day.  I would still step between one of my 'clients' and any danger.  And I have a lot less hesitation when going into a potentially physically dangerous situation.

~~~oOo~~~

POTATO CANDY

One day, before my husband and I got married, I was speaking on the phone with my future mother-in-law.  She told me about DH's favorite candy in the world and said that he would love me forever if I made it for him.  Wanting to encourage that, I took down the recipe she dictated over the phone:

-1/2 c. mashed potato

-1/2 c. butter

1.  cream that all together, then add

-powdered sugar

2.  in sufficient quantity to make the mixture workable without sticking to your hands.

So I did that.

DH was sitting in the living room at a computer.  I walked out there with a bowl of the stuff and made him close his eyes.  Then I spoon-fed him a little bit of this fondant and asked him what he thought of it.  He said it tasted good, then asked what it was.  I said, "Isn't this your favorite candy - potato candy?  Your mom said it was your favorite!"

"What about the peanut butter," he asked.  WHAT?!?!

She had forgotten to tell me that part, maybe thinking that I would have known it somehow.  Anyway, the recipe should continue like this:

3.  Roll out the mixture into a rectangular shape on a piece of waxed paper or plastic wrap.  Spread a thin-ish layer of peanut butter over the mixture.  Then, roll it up like you would a cinnamon roll log.  Cool for a while in the refrigerator for easier cutting.  But if it's too cold it's more likely to crumble.

~~~oOo~~~

Click the big sunflower graphic at the top of the page in order to go to the participant list for the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge to find more great writer-bloggers!

#AtoZChallenge - All Gallow's Eve - N

NEWPORT AQUARIUM

According to the Newport Aquarium site, they were voted the #1 aquarium in the country.  It just doesn't say when.  I did not get to go on this trip that my husband, children and mother-in-law took, as I had to work.  There have been several occasions like that and on one occasion I got a tattoo on my right shoulder with my kids' initials and birthstone colors in hearts so I wouldn't miss them as much.  I'm glad the kids had a wonderful experience, but I have to admit to being a wee bit jealous at such times.

Even if you couldn't tell by the date on the photos, you could tell that these are *ahem* old pictures, because the kids here are the same ones in the cave pictures from yesterday.  Only they're more like young adults now.  Heck, the boys are old enough to drive!

Aside from the Louisville Zoo, and maybe Kentucky Kingdom (amusement park) I'd hazard a guess that the Newport Aquarium is probably the most visited family-oriented destination in the state.

I can see a school field-trip or two in All Gallow's Eve where "the poor ignorant country children are treated to the educational experiences available only in the big city".  At this point, I can hear DS2 (far right in the above picture) say, "do I notice a hint of sarcasm"?  Hmmm.  What do you think?

Ok.  I'll stop now.

~~~oOo~~~

Click on the sunflower graphic at the very top of this post to see the list of 2015 A to Z Challenge participants and visit their blogs to see what they are writing about this year!

#AtoZChallenge - All Gallow's Eve - M

MAMMOTH CAVE

I guess I was feeling lazy yesterday, or maybe I was worried about the flooding state of emergency in our county, or both.  Anyway, I thought I would repost some pictures we took in Mammoth Cave in Western Kentucky.

Above is DD (dear daughter-sitting), DS2 and DS1.  DS2 is not really taller than DS1 (he might have been standing on a rock.  And since then he has 'grown into his height'.  He's definitely not as stocky anymore.  But in this silhouette, he does look AMAZINGLY like his paternal grandfather.

This was in the first chamber where we topped for some history information.  That was after descending some 400 stairs.  Now, since I got kicked in the knee at a job 4-5 years ago, and had an operation on that same knee. I can count the number of times on one hand that I have not gone down steps like a toddler, both feet landing on each step one foot after the other.  There was simply no time if I did not want to hold up the entire group.  I was holding onto the railings for dear life.

There were four (or maybe five) tours available from that area going to different parts of the 400 mile cave network.  We chose a medium-length tour.  The kids kind of wanted to do that one, and I did not want to be what made us choose something else.  The guides made several general warnings before we left about the degree of difficulty on the hike and anyone who thought they might have trouble could till back out.  I was *ahem* not thinking straight and said, "No problem!"  

It was that with that thought of not disappointing my children (and not wanting them to worry about me) , and with God's help I made it through without having to be carried out.  I was 'purt near' delirious by the time we got to the final chamber.  When they said, up the walkway and outside, I think I bit on my tongue to keep from crying tears of joy! *lol*  (Yeah, sure, NOW I can laugh about it!)

There was a 3-4 hour drive home, interrupted by stopping at a restaurant.  We had never been there before, but I swear that was just about the best food I have ever tasted!  (It is a regional chain, and we have visited several of their locations since then.  The food is really good, but that day ... mmm, mmm, GOOD!)

And I don't know about the kids but my husband admitted being sore the next day.  Me?  I could hardly move for the following two days.  

I wasn't born in the hills of Kentucky, but I have some of the mule-stubbornness that seems to run in my in-laws' family.  And my father's side of my ancestors came from West Virginia, next door to the east from Kentucky.  Maybe all this contributes to my love for the Appalachian region.

One word of caution - if you ever take one of the Mammoth Cave tours, make sure someone in your party has a working flashlight.  (In our case, of course, the park rangers all had flashlights.)  Because, if the lights go out while you are down there, you cannot see your hand even if it is touching your nose.

~~~oOo~~~

The sunflower graphic at the top contains a link to the participants' page at A to Z Central, where you have a choice of literally hundreds of blogs to explore!

#AtoZChallenge - All Gallow's Eve - L

LOUISVILLE - A CITY STORY

Before we moved to Kentucky, we lived in Texas.  One two occasions, we drove up here with the kids to visit Chris's Dad and Mamaw.  Both times, our vehicle broke down beyond simple repair and Chris's Dad had to come and rescue us several hundred miles away from his home.  Yeah, I know most parents would do that for their children, and certainly grandparents for grandchildren.  But there are a couple of exceptional additions to this set-up.

First of all, my father-in-law's right leg is amputated above the knew due to an infection that had set in after a surgery.  Secondly, he had not met our two boys before our first visit.  Secondly, the first time I met my father-in-law was when he knocked on our motel room door at 2am after he arrived from Kentucky to pick us up.

So, that was all set up for the real story.  We were waiting in a gas station-cafe while someone was trying to fix our vehicle when I overheard the following story.  Some version of this will probably wind up in All Gallow's Eve.

A table of locals were sitting there talking amongst themselves.  They were trying to determine the pronunciation of the capital city of Kentucky, whether it was "Loo-iss-ville" or "Loo-ee-ville".  My mind played the following retort:

"First of all, the capital of Kentucky if FRANKFORT!  Secondly, it's not pronounced "Loo-iss-ville" OR "Loo-ee-ville", *ahem* silly, it's "LOO-uh-vull", or even "LOO-vull".  You'll be pegged for an outsider right off talking like that!"

~~~oOo~~~

Click the sunflower graphic at the top of the page to see the LONG list of other #AtoZChallenge participants and see what they're on about this month!

#AtoZChallenge - All Gallow's Eve - K

A SHORT FIELD GUIDE TO KENTUCKY-ISMS

#AtoZChallenge - All Gallow's Eve - J

JULEP

#AtoZChallenge - All Gallow's Eve - I

ICE STORMS

I was going to write a little about the ice storms we get here in Kentucky.  A couple of years back, there was a paralyzing ice storm in Kentucky.  Power was out in parts of our rural county for almost two weeks.  Part of me knows that with a widespread outage like that, the power company will help more people by getting the power (and heat) back on in more populated areas first.  Part of me resents having to wait until last.  Luckily, the country turns out a pretty gritty kind of resident.  At the time, we came to Chris's paternal grandmother's house, because she had a wood-burning stove in her kitchen (in additional to the one normally used for cooking. 

Well, Mamaw passed in 2011, and last year we bought her house from my father-in-law and his two brothers.  So when we had a couple of (less severe but dang cold nonetheless) ice storms this last winter, we were ready.  

But, I'm not going to go into more detail because I am very sad tonight.

A few weeks ago, one of our dogs had eight puppies.  One of them was a runt, about half the size of her brothers and sisters.  I've been losing sleep the last couple of weeks, getting up several nights a week to feed her with an eyedropper.  She seemed to be picking up and we felt safe enough to leave as a family for a couple of hours tonight.

When we came back, she was Gone.  Not as in missing gone, but Gone with a capital G.  As in the 'big sleep'.  As in "All Dogs go to Heaven".  My daughter, who is taking it worse than I am, called her "Ivory".  Chris and our oldest son called her "Runt".  I took to calling her "Little Bit".

Cup you hand for a minute.  Not both, just one.  Imagine a puppy small enough to fit there with space left over.  Little Bit was that little.  But she had a big heart.

#AtoZChallenge - All Gallow's Eve - H

HATS & HOMEBREW

Hats

I couple of days ago, I mentioned the Kentucky Derby and its traditions.  One of those traditions that gathers a lot of attention every year is the array of showy hats.  Mostly the women seem to be the creative ones, but every once in a while you get a gentleman who gets into the Derby spirit as well.  At the official Kentucky Derby site, there is a gallery of pictures of recent hats.

The first and the last in the series are my favorite.  I'm going to post them here (with attribution) and hope that nobody gets mad.

(photo:  Dan Dry/Power Creative at the Kentucky Derby site)

I like this one because it's huge and an attention-grabber, but there are elements of style as well.

(photo:  Chris Burkhardt at Kentucky Derby site)

I don't know who these people are, but I love them!  Amidst all the seriousness of the race, with the training and work and getting bets in on time, these folks know that the essence of the Derby is to celebrate and have fun!

~~~oOo~~~

Homebrew

One of the things that absolutely SHOCKED me about Kentucky when we moved here was that there are still places that are "dry" - where it is illegal to sell alcohol.  There are no restrictions on making your own, you just can't sell it.  And my brother and sister Kentuckians are an enterprising bunch, so there is quite the thriving homebrew community out there.

And I make a distinction between homebrew and moonshine.  People hear 'moonshine' and they think illegal production and distribution and hillbillies, (like Granny Clampett's 'rheumatiz medicine' on the Beverly Hillbillies)!  And while I cannot declare unequivocally that 'moonshine is now mainstream' you do tend to see bottles in liquor stores with the term on the label.  We even got a bottle of "Blackberry Moonshine" that was packaged in a Mason jar (of course!) a while back.  We used it mostly for cooking.  No really!  For drinks we are either a Dr. Pepper, Coke Zero or sweet iced tea family, and in the biggest cups we can find.  And that's just not the way to drink moonshine, if you are looking for any kind of 'pleasant' experience.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  Don't hesitate to click on the logo at the very top to visit more of the participants in the 2015 Blogging from A to Z Challenge!

#AtoZChallenge - All Gallow's Eve - G

GREEN LIVING AND GLASGOW HIGHLAND GAMES

Green Living

In 2013, my family attended a Kentucky Green Living Fair at the Barn at Redgate.  From their website:

Workshops, demonstrations, green market, live music, heirloom seed swap, and local food… all in one place!

Topics this year include beekeeping, gardening, self-sufficiency, composting toilets, aquaponics, backyard poultry, mead-making, and more!

Our green market features over five dozen sustainable exhibitors from around the state of Kentucky and beyond! On the exhibit hall floor, you will find demonstrations, book signings, live animals, and lots of hands-on kids activities.

This is Kentucky’s largest sustainability event with almost 2,000 attendees. 

(picture from the KGL Fair website-attribution not available)

There is a LOT of interest in green living in Kentucky.  Part of it is because it's good stewardship of our planet. Another part is because Kentuckians are fiercely proud, independent.  And part is because since the decline of the tobacco and coal industries, a lot of Kentucky families are struggling and very much live the Depression-era saying, "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."

~~~oOo~~~

Glasgow Highland Games

So what does a city in Scotland have to do with Kentucky and/or All Gallow's Eve?

Because these Glasgow Highland Games are in Glasgow, Kentucky (just down the Cumberland Parkway from Edmonton, Kentucky).  A lot of cities and towns in Kentucky bear the names of places from where its immigrants came.

(from the GHG website - attribution not available)

I'm not saying that there will be a Highland Games in All Gallow's Eve, but some kind of heritage festival will be in order.  

#AtoZChallenge - All Gallow's Eve - F

FARMER'S MARKETS, FEUDS AND FISH FRIES

Farmer's Markets

There are 159 'official' farmer's markets in Kentucky.  This stands to reason as many of our citizens are from farm families.  Our garden has been plowed (by DH's great-uncle, but it's still too cold to plant very much yet.  This is an old picture, but gives an idea of what our area looks like.

There are also about a gazillion 'informal' farmers' markets, or even roadside stands where individuals or families set up a table, or sell their excess produce from the tailgate of someone's truck.

~~~oOo~~~

Feuds

(found at https://reitigre.wordpress.com/2013/01/15/hatfields-mccoys/)

One of the most famous feuds, certainly in the US, possibly ever, was the one between the Hatfields and the McCoys.  Just ask Troublesome Springs High School's newest teacher, JC Hatfield, and the state police officer assigned to the area, Bruce McCoy.  Back in the day it was life and death.  In our time, there are information centers, tours, a marathon and a 'family reunion festival'.

~~~oOo~~~

Fish Fries

No, I'm not talking about 'fish fries' the way fast-food talks about 'chicken fries'. :O)

Many of the Fire Departments in Kentucky are rural/volunteer FDs and they need to raise funds for their operating budget.  The husband of a friend of mine was on such a staff until he became disabled.  From what I can see, most of their fundraisers are benefit suppers with fish as the main course.  These events are usually well-attended by the community.

#AtoZChallenge 2015 - All Gallow's Eve - D

DERBY, DOG WALK, DON'S AND DUKE

The Kentucky Derby

Of course, the 'mac daddy' of all sporting events in Kentucky (with the possible exception of any UK men's basketball game, especially at this time of year), the Kentucky Derby.  Since 1925, the Derby has also been known as "The Run for the Roses", when the term was used by a New York sports reporter.  From the Derby site:

Each year, a garland of more than 400 red roses is sewn into a green satin backing with the seal of the Commonwealth on one end and the Twin Spires and number of the race’s current renewal on the other. Each garland is also adorned with a "crown" of roses, green fern and ribbon. The "crown," a single rose pointing upward in the center of the garland, symbolizes the struggle and heart necessary to reach the Derby Winner’s Circle.

Ladies attempt to outdo each other by wearing the most fantastical hats.  I haven't seen one that is as wide as the wearer is tall, but I wouldn't put it past some of the fashionable attendees.  The ladies here can give the British Royal Family's ladies' hats (worn for important social or religious occasions) a run for their money

(picture from thereandbackagain.com travel site)

~~~oOo~~~

Dog Walk & Don's

'Dog Walk' is (as far as I can tell) a local name for the rural neighborhood in which we live.  Don's Country Market is the only brick-and-mortar store in this area.  Just about every morning, from 7:00 am on, there is a regular crowd of farmers and other folk sitting in the little dining area, drinking coffee, gossiping and eating biscuits and gravy (and other breakfast buys) made on site.

Don's is where I first heard that my father-in-law had bought a second house.  One of the owners asked me, knowing that I was family.  I had to tell her that that was the first I had heard of the news.  (Turns out it was true.)  Ah, I love a small, tightly-knit community.

~~~oOo~~~

Duke

My female MC, JC Hatfield, has a hound dog named Duke (after the old dog on The Beverly Hillbillies).  JC gave the dog (as a puppy) to her father, who liked to hunt.  The father passed on, which was the impetus for JC to return to Troublesome Springs (the closest town to the house).  Duke misses his human, but proves to be a faithful and protective companion to JC.