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Fireside Chats During February at Fort Boonesborough

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Kevin Hardesty as Daniel Boone4-Week Series Features Kentucky Historical Figures!

From Kentucky State Parks: Featuring famous characters from Kentucky history, a series of “Fireside Chats” sponsored by Fort Boonesborough State Park and the Fort Boonesborough Foundation will start at the Richmond park beginning Feb. 2, 2019.

The fireside chats will be offered every Saturday during February, starting at 6:45 p.m. each day in the museum blockhouse. A “Taste of Frontier Fare” will be offered each Saturday from 5:30-6:15 p.m., and the 18th Century Tavern blockhouse will be open from 5-6:30 p.m. with free cider, treats and games.

Below is the schedule of portrayals of Kentucky historical figures:

  • Feb. 2: Daniel Boone, Kentucky explorer and pioneer, portrayed by Kevin Hardesty.
  • Feb. 9: Jemima Boone, daughter of Daniel, portrayed by Betsy B. Smith
  • Feb. 16: George Rogers Clark, Revolutionary War hero and founder of Louisville, portrayed by Mel Hankla
  • Feb. 23: Maggie Delaney, indentured servant, portrayed by Carol Jarboe.

Tickets are $15 for adults, and children under 12 are $5 each. Reservations are required due to limited seating. All proceeds benefit the Fort Boonesborough Foundation.

The gift shop will also be open.  Guests interested in browsing are encouraged to make time to come a few minutes early.  Call 859-527-3131 or visit fortboonesboroughlivinghistory.org for more information.

In addition to a reconstructed fort, the park also has a campground, hiking trails, mini-golf, picnic shelters and a gift shop. Fort Boonesborough is located near Richmond. From Interstate 75, take Exit 95 to KY 627. On I-64, exit at Winchester to KY 627.

Photo Credit: The picture of Kevin Hardesty as Daniel Boone is from the Kentucky State Parks.

Upcoming August Events at Woodlands Nature Station in the Land Between the Lakes

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Hummingbirds at Woodlands Nature Station in the Land Between the Lakes

Saturday, August 11

9:30am-12pm | Hummingbird Photography Workshop

Hands-on workshop with instructors who’ll show photos on the big screen in the Nature Station’s theater as they lead a discussion on the qualities of the photos, share tips on how to improve them through photographic technique, composition, and editing and more. Includes Nature Station admission. Participants are encouraged to bring photos they have already taken on an external hardware device. Bring a lunch and stay in the afternoon to take your own photographs. $15 per person. Limited space. Registration and deposit required.

11am-2pm | Hummingbird Kids’ Craft
Join our naturalists as you learn how to make a super simple and fun bird nest, complete with your own crafty versions of baby hummingbirds!

2-2:30pm | Knee-high Naturalists: Hummingbirds
Join us for a story, a craft, and a memorable nature experience witnessing dozens of hummingbirds as they buzz around the Nature Station’s gardens and feeders. This program is specially designed to make hummingbirds fun for preschoolers.

Sunday, August 12

2-2:30pm | Knee-high Naturalists: Hummingbirds
Come discover hummingbirds with your young naturalist! Join us for a story, a craft, and a memorable nature experience witnessing dozens of hummingbirds as they buzz around the Nature Station’s gardens and feeders. This program is specially designed for preschoolers.

Monday, August 13

3:30-3:50pm | Monday Funday: Deer and Turkey Playtime
Watch as our animals react to an interesting new food item or an exciting new toy and learn more about how the Nature Station cares for its rescued wildlife through fun enrichment activities!

Tuesday, August 14

10-11am | Morning with the Hummingbirds
Mornings are one of the best times to view Nature Station’s hummingbirds as they feed at our freshly filled feeders. Let’s step outside into the gardens and watch them in their morning feeding frenzy.

Wednesday, August 15

11:30am-12:15pm | Hummingbirds of the World
Join us for this presentation to discover some of the world’s most interesting hummingbirds such as the Marvelous Spatuletail, Bee Hummingbird, Streamertail, and Sword-billed Hummingbird.

Thursday, August 16

10-11am | Morning with the Hummingbirds
Mornings are one of the best times to view Nature Station’s hummingbirds as they feed at our freshly filled feeders. Let’s step outside into the gardens and watch them in their morning feeding frenzy. Then, join us for an indoor presentation to learn about hummingbird’s natural history and how to help them during their migration.

Friday, August 17

3:30-3:50pm | Feed the Animals Fridays: Opossum
Come help feed Nature Station’s resident opossum during her chow time! We’ll let you sneak into the opossum’s enclosure while she’s not there and hide treats for her to find.

Saturday, August 18

9-10am | Hummingbird Café
Join us under the shade in our garden and enjoy some coffee (hot or iced), juice, and breakfast goodies while the hummingbirds have a feeding frenzy of their own! Relax in our scenic wildflower gardens. $10 per person, includes same day NS admission. Reservation required. Call 270.924.2020 to reserve your space.

2:30-3pm | Dive Into the Hive

Discover what all the buzz is about! You’re invited to bee a part of the hive! Come along on Honeybee Awareness Day as we play bee games, join a hive, and discover what each bee does for the hive! This is a perfect activity for children of all ages.

Sunday, August 19

2:30-3pm | Creature Feature: Bobcat
Did you know that about 200 bobcats live right here in Land Between The Lakes? Find out how these masters of stealth survive so well without being seen.

Hummingbird at Woodlands Nature Station

Canoe and Kayak Rentals on Honker Lake This Memorial Day Weekend!

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Canoe Trip on Honker Lake
Read More About The Canoe Trip Above: Canoeing on Honker Lake in the LBL!
My husband and I enjoyed every minute of a canoe trip we took on Honker Lake a few years ago. Every single minute. Last summer, we were unable to make it (I can’t remember if it was weather-related or what… but I recall being pretty bummed about it!). Another opportunity is coming up and I hope you’ll be able to make it. WEATHER PERMITTING! I write that in all caps for obvious reasons…. seriously, what is up with weather this year? First it takes forever to run winter out of town and now rain is calling the shots.
Hopefully it’ll take the weekend off and allow fun on Honker Lake to reign supreme.
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Canoeing on Honker Lake
Canoe and kayak rentals on Honker Lake begin on Memorial Day Weekend. Hourly rentals start at 10am (all boats need to be returned by 4:30pm). Rental fees are $10 per hour per boat. Visitors must check in at Nature Station in order to rent a canoe or kayak.
Rentals may be suspended for inclement weather. For more information, please call  call 270-924-2299.
Canoeing on Honker Lake

My Old Kentucky Home State Park Celebrates Federal Hill’s 200th Year With Culinary New Tours and Additions to Collection

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My Old Kentucky Home State Park is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the construction of Federal Hill mansion with new tours and new displays at the popular Bardstown historic site.

Federal Hill was built by the Rowan family in 1818 and became popular because of its connection to Stephen Foster’s famous song “My Old Kentucky Home, Good-Night!” Visitors can tour the home and learn about the Rowan family history.

New this year is a “Culinary Biscuit Tour” that explains how to make beaten biscuits as well as southern ham biscuits. This tour is offered to groups of 15-30 people.

Also new is the “Mint Julep Tour,” which explains the history of one of the earliest mixed cocktails and symbolizes southern hospitality. It is the favorite drink for the Kentucky Derby.

Other new culinary tours include the “Lemonade Tour,” and “Apple Cider Tour.”

This year has been declared “The Year of Kentucky Food” and the Kentucky Department of Tourism and Kentucky State Parks are celebrating all the local flavors, spirits and delicious foods of the bluegrass state.

School groups can take tours at My Old Kentucky Home on architecture, furniture made from wood, and farm to table, as well as the mansion tour.

The park also has some new items on display for 2018. They include:

The Rowan family’s original Victorian style parlor set, crafted from walnut and upholstered in woven horse hair, has been fully restored and returned to My Old Kentucky Home’s parlor. Consisting of two settees, a gentleman’s arm chair, a ladies chair, and multiple side chairs, the set was likely purchased by the mansion’s second owner, Rebecca Carnes Rowan, in the mid to late 19th century.

An original 19th-century painting of the birthplace of Stephen Foster, known as “The White Cottage,” was purchased by My Old Kentucky Home State Park for inclusion in the park’s permanent collection and will be on display in the mansion’s parlor.

My Old Kentucky Home State Park acquired an original 19th-century portrait of Stephen Foster that once belonged to Oliver Ditson, a publisher of Foster’s music during the mid to late 1800s. The oil on canvas portrait was painted by Frederick R. Spencer has been placed in the mansion’s central hall.

Visitors to the park gift shop will notice a new collection of Kentucky Proud jellies, jams, sauces, and mixes from My Old Kentucky Home. The new collection of food products include blackberry jam, strawberry jam, pepper jelly, biscuit mix and Henry Bain sauce.

Besides historic Federal Hill and the visitor center, My Old Kentucky Home State Park also has a campground and an 18-hole golf course.

For more information about tours and other events at My Old Kentucky Home State Park, visit https://www.visitmyoldkyhome.com/ For more information about Kentucky State Parks, visit www.parks.ky.gov

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

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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

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