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You are here: Home / Archives for Kentucky Vacations / LBL / The Homeplace

Pictures from Snap Apple Night at the Homeplace 1850s Working Farm October 14

October 19, 2017 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Snap Apple Night at the Homeplace

We make just about all of the special events in the Land Between the Lakes – especially the ones involving the Nature Station, the Elk & Bison Prairie, and The Homeplace, so you’d better believe we were at Snap Apple Night last Saturday night. Guests gathered around the bonfires and got all comfortable and cozy while storytellers Robert Valentine and Jamie Futrel told stories (a few that were in the spirit of Halloween).

{Continued Below…}

Snap Apple Night at the Homeplace 2017

Like any event the Homeplace takes part it, the night was absolutely wonderful. God helped with some extraordinary weather, too. They even had hot apple cider to drink – it doesn’t get much better than that!

The “Working Farm” was decorated beautifully – fortunately we got there before it got dark so we could see everything. They did an outstanding job – as they do with everything, if we’re being honest.

{Continued Below…}

Snap Apple Night at the Homeplace 2017

When the sun went down, the lanterns and bonfire added to the ambiance perfectly.  Everyone involved did an exceptional job of making the night extra fun and memorable for guests of all ages.

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Snap Apple Night at the Homeplace 2017

There’s just something relaxing, fun, and (very) memorable about a night like this. Sitting back, sipping apple cider, and listening to wonderful stories. The storytellers were absolutely excellent. Jamie Futrel and Robert Valentine were both VERY funny and beyond interesting. I love a good story, so I was completely in my element.

Robert Valentine had an extra, extra special gift that I’m not sure I even knew existed. Heck, maybe he invented it. He was superb – and I mean SUPERB – at telling wonderful stories that seemed to be written especially for children and especially for adults.

Seriously, you could have set him and his stories in a roomful of children and they’d have been a perfect match. You could have set him and his stories in a roomful of adults and they would have been a perfect match.

Now, while this is a great and commendable gift to have with ANY story…  it is an absolute GIFT (all caps) when it comes to “scary” stories.

When I saw all the kids at the event, I kind of wondered how everything would play out. As a mother, I know all too well that young people may “think” they want to be scared out of their wits, only to regret it terribly once their wits begin to get away from them! I have to admit, I sort of wondered how many kids would be having nightmares that night!

This would be a problem I’d soon realize didn’t exist because Robert Valentine, after all, has the GIFT.

The one he just may have invented.

He was able to tell two very interesting, colorful, and “edge of your seat” type scary stories that had all the kids and all the adults spellbound. Best of all, they ended just the way they should have – in a manner that ensured zero nightmares.

{Concluded Below…}

Snap Apple Night at the Homeplace

Whenever you read about an event at the Homeplace, just go ahead and mark your calendar and go. They do not do anything second rate.

I’m not sure they’d even know how to go about it.

Snap Apple Night at the Homeplace 2017

Filed Under: Autumn Fun, LBL, The Homeplace Tagged With: Kentucky events, Kentucky pictures, LBL, The 1850's Homeplace

Eclipse Viewing and Programs in the Land Between the Lakes

July 25, 2017 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Camping in the LBL at Sunset

Camping in the LBL at Sunset

The Great American Eclipse is almost here – it seems like just yesterday it was months away. Then again, Christmas is 4 months from today!

The Land Between the Lakes offers year-round events, educational programs, and entertainment for the whole family – so it’s no surprise that they have the eclipse covered as well.

From the Land Between the Lakes:

Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area will offer prime viewing locations for the Great American Eclipse on August 21 and “Sun and Moon Days” August 16-23, 2017, a series of programs throughout the 170,00 acre area to celebrate and educate about this amazing natural phenomenon.

“Visitors looking for a prime spot to watch the Great American Eclipse are invited to Land Between the Lakes,” says Customer Service Manager Jeff Laird. “Eye protection, free parking and food vendors will be available at Fenton, near the Eggner’s Ferry Bridge on US68/KY80 in western Kentucky.”

The duration of the total solar eclipse at this location will be two minutes, according to NASA (https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-maps). Other viewing areas in Land Between the Lakes are listed at https://landbetweenthelakes.us/best-2017-eclipse-viewing-areas/.

Eye protection is vitally important during this event and viewing glasses are available now at Friends of Land Between the Lakes gift shops and campground outposts. Sunglasses are not adequate.

“Sun and Moon Days will feature eclipse related programming at three facilities,” according to Laird.

Golden Pond Planetarium and Observatory will show TOTALITY (which is already in the weekly schedule), at 11am and 2pm, August 16-23, to teach about eclipses. There will be an eclipse star party at 8:45 pm on August 19 and solar viewing from 10am – 4pm on August 20 and 21. A Pink Floyd laser extravaganza will be offered on August 18 and 19, at 5:30 and 7pm.

The Homeplace 1850s Working Farm will feature Life by the Sun, Moon and Stars, weekdays, 2-3pm, which will show how farm families looked for signs from celestial bodies. The Storytelling event will be August 19 from 6-7:30pm. Talented presenters will weave tales of the eclipses from the past. This special event is not included in the regular admission price. Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children. Doors will open at 5:30pm. View the eclipse from the Homeplace on August 21 and be part of our watermelon social from 10am – 4pm.

Woodlands Nature Station will offer Daytime vs. Nighttime Animals, weekdays at 11:30 am, August 16-23. There will also be Mornings with the Hummingbirds, 10-11am on Thursday, August 17, and Tuesday, August 22. Reservations are required for the Sunset Canoe Trips, planned for August 18 and August 23, from 5:30-8pm; and the Hummingbird Café, planned for Saturday, August 19, 9-10am. Snakes of Land Between the Lakes will be discussed from 11:30am – 12 pm on Sunday, August 20.

For more information, visit https://landbetweenthelakes.us/solar-eclipse-2017/ and https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/.

To find more information about Land Between the Lakes, log on to the official website atwww.landbetweenthelakes.us or call 1.800.525.7077 or 270.924.2000.

Filed Under: Golden Pond Planetarium, LBL, Summertime in Kentucky, The Homeplace, The Nature Station Tagged With: 2017 Eclipse Events Kentucky, Planetarium LBL events, The Great American Eclipse events

Land Between the Lakes Red Raspberry Jam

July 12, 2017 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Land Between the Lakes Raspberry Jam
A while back, I wrote about the Land Between the Lakes Raspberry Jalapeno Jam (it is so good, you don’t even know). Like the jam I’m here to crow about today, I got it in the gift shop at The Homeplace in the LBL.

This past weekend, we took a trip to The Homeplace (it was as wonderful as always!) and, before leaving, I did what I always do…. I hit the gift shop and hit it hard. I intended on getting another jar of the Raspberry Jalapeno Jam – in addition to trying another flavor. Unfortunately, I didn’t see a jar of the Raspberry Jalapeno Jam, but I did spy this beauty – Red Raspberry Jam. Raspberries are one of my favorite things in life, so I snatched this jar up before it knew what hit it.

Before I start telling you about how delicious this jam is, I have to say how much I appreciate the completely reasonable price. Less than $4! I don’t have to tell you how it is in most gift shops, souvenir shops, and antique shops. They mark things up about as high as they conceivably can. Seems to me that it’s much cooler to make things affordable for your guests and visitors – allowing them to buy several things instead of popping on just one overpriced item.

I love that The Homeplace has these jams marked so well within reason – for one thing, I love a bargain… but most of all, the fact that they’re inexpensive means I can buy several different flavors instead of trying to decide on one!

I made cornbread to use for our first dive into this beautiful and delicious jam and it was a knock-out. A TOTAL knock-out. It was every bit as good as the Raspberry Jalapeno Jam and I will look for it as well on each trip to The Homeplace.

Shopping List for Our Next Visit:

  • Land Between the Lakes Raspberry Jalapeno Jam
  • Land Between the Lakes Red Raspberry Jam
  • The Next Lovely to Catch My Eye!

The next time you visit The Homeplace, be sure to visit their wonderful gift shop before you leave. Find the shelves of these jams and – whatever you do! – grab a jar of the Red Raspberry AND the Raspberry Jalapeno jams.

They are both out of this world.

Land Between the Lakes Raspberry Jam

Filed Under: Kentucky Food, The Homeplace Tagged With: Kentucky food, Land Between the Lakes Jam

19th Annual Pickin’ Party Old-time Music Festival at The Homeplace

June 6, 2017 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

The Homeplace LBL

It’s that time of year again! The Homeplace 1850s Working Farm will host their Pickin’ Party Old-Time Music Festival on Saturday and Sunday, June 10 and 11, 2017, from 10 am to 5:30 pm at Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky and Tennessee.

Festival and farm admission is $7 ages 13 and up, $5 ages 5-12, and free for ages 4 and under.

“Hear some of the best string bands and old time musicians and singers in the south,” says Cindy Earls, Lead Interpreter at the Homeplace 1850s Farm. “We have local performer, songwriter and folklorist Nathan Blake Lynn; and fiddler Josh Coffey to serve as master of ceremonies for this festival in the hollow. We also ask that everyone thank our sponsors–Kentucky Machine and Engineering in Cadiz, KY, and Murray State’s WKMS, who help make this event possible.”

Old-time music is a tradition of our ancestors in this part of the country, brought with them from the old world, then changed to reflect their new world. Old-time music is our connection to the past; we can hear the voices of our forefathers telling stories of hardships and sorrows, as well as celebrations and joys.

This year’s lineup includes crowd favorites as well as newcomers:

  • Phillip Steinmetz and His Sunny Tennesseans
  • Mark Dvorak
  • Common Thread
  • The Dixie Volunteers
  • Wheel House Rousters
  • All Strung Out

Mandolin builder Mike Holmes also works his craft all weekend and offers his handmade mandolins for sale. In the event of rain, the Pickin’ Party moves to the indoor theater.

Afternoons on the farm also feature children’s 1850s play time, weaving, blacksmithing, meet our oxen and knitting in public. Visitors are encouraged to bring their knitting needles and knit while listening to music straight from the past.

Bring lawn chairs or ground blankets to relax under the cool shade trees while enjoying old-time music. The festival offers open mic opportunities for local musicians and attendees. Festival food is available for purchase at the farm.

Visitors may bring their instruments for jamming and open mic sessions on both days at the Homeplace.

Land Between the Lakes provides several options for overnight accommodations for those wishing to stay on the recreation area. See more information about our local communities – https://www.landbetweenthelakes.us/visit/community.
To find more information about Land Between the Lakes, log on to the official website at www.landbetweenthelakes.us or call 1-800-LBL-7077 or 270-924-2000.

See Also: Top 10 Things I Love About The Homeplace in the Land Between the Lakes

Filed Under: LBL, Summertime in Kentucky, The Homeplace Tagged With: Kentucky musical events, LBL events, Pickin' Party at The Homeplace, The Homeplace events

2017 Sheep Shearing & Wool Week at the Homeplace 1850s Farm

March 13, 2017 by Joi Sigers Leave a Comment

Sheep at The Homeplace LBL
The Homeplace 1850s Farm has a lot of fun planned for the week of April 8-15.  Sheep Shearing & Wool Week is always a popular time at the Homeplace, and  one of my own personal Land Between the Lakes events each year.

You can see, first-hand as the sheep experience their spring hair cut and see how their wool is transformed step-by-step into useful farm textiles.

Continued Below…

Sheep at The Homeplace LBL
From The Homeplace:

Watch and visit with sheep shearer Gary Lawson as he demonstrates the historic skill of hand shearing sheep. Seeing them before and after is pretty amazing.

Meet and Greet The Border Leicester Sheep (Saturday, April 8 12-1pm) On shearing day, sheep are the stars. Learn about the Homeplace’s rare heritage breed sheep, and in between their haircuts, meet them up-close and personal.

2017 Sheep Shearing and Wool Week at The Homeplace

See Land Between the Lakes Official Website for more events and information!

Also See: Top 10 Things I Love About the Homeplace in the Land Between the Lakes.

Filed Under: Events, LBL, Springtime in Kentucky, The Homeplace Tagged With: Land Between the Lakes events 2017, The Homeplace Events 2017, The Homeplace Sheep Shearing

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