One early rainy Saturday morning, the Central Kentucky Photography Group (CKPG) met up for photo-scenic tour of Amish country. When I say early, I mean early – Jeanette and I left home at 6 am. When I say rainy, I should say storms, lighting, thunder, flash flooding, can’t see anything driving but inches in front of you. Ordinary people would have given it up, spent the day indoors but no, full of hope that the storm will let up, we loaded up in our caravan and headed to Lincoln County.
First, I must confess…when I travel locally on back roads, I am a bit directionally challenged and GPS does NOT work in the country. Take me to the big city and I am fine! I can get you where we need to go. So although I have worked auctions for years in both Rockcastle and Lincoln Counties, when it comes to the scenic byways, just give me the simplest directions, even if it takes me longer to get to the destination. I hate getting lost! So, you shouldn’t be amazed, although it is a tad embarrassing, that I was completely lost on our Amish tour (until probably 1 o’clock when I saw my friend, Sonja’s house. I was overjoyed to say I know where I am!!)
Our first stop was the Byler’s country store on Swamper Road. Mrs. Mary Byler and her daughter, Regina, made us feel so welcome. A bit of the way out, the store was a real treat – you name it, they had it - from antiques, cooking utensils, beautiful clocks, lamps, crocheted afghans, baby items, wagons, and natural herbs to so much more. Regina even gave us a weaving demonstration and allowed us to take pictures.
Then we went outside to visit the barns and workshops. It was still pouring the rain and I will be the first to admit that I was concerned for my Rebel camera. Maybe this day wasn’t such a great idea after all. Thank goodness, we had jackets and lots of tissues to keep drying everything off. Note to self: buy a good umbrella, actually buy several umbrellas and put them in every vehicle!!
The horses thought it was time for breakfast and came to check us out as we wandering around the gardens and barn. As everyone else was doing their own thing, we got to talking with Regina and she asked if we would like to see the workshop. Cool, we girls are up for anything. Oh, and what a gold mine of photo opportunities! The buggies were stored there and she had her playtime classroom set up in one corner. An old wood burning stove with laundry hanging on a line. Regina asked if we would like to sit in the buggy for a picture – now you know I could hardly resist this! This was her older brother’s buggy and let me tell you he is one cool dude! He has the buggy fixed up with all the lights and whistle, really!! Complete with air freshener, a woven seat cover and even a place to hang his ball cap! Our first stop and I couldn’t imagine the day getting any better so I could have just stayed here all day and been quite satisfied! With lots of thank you’s and hand waving, we slowly pulled away.
I immediately fell in love with our next farm as it had one of those winding lanes with trees on either side. There was also a windmill, a pond, grapevines, flower garden with trellis, a pond and horses – just beautiful and so well-cared for! Immaculate is actually a better word! And that is as far as I got – the front and back yards! I needed another few minutes here but everyone else was ready to move on!
Our next stop was at the Greenhouse. Although a lot of the mums, pumpkins, and gourds had been purchased, I’m sure this place had been a riot of colors just a short time before. There were so many things to choose from – it was hard to know where to shoot first. I think our most shot scene of the day was here – the canoe on the pond! Just relaxing and beautiful – carrying you away on a million daydreams! Of course, the ducks were cute, the barn was cool, the best buds – a big old workhorse and the small pony were worth the long walk! I kept expecting to hear the ‘its time to load up” horns blowing on that walk! The broomstick corn that we thought was sugar cane was definitely unusual.
Then we went by the Cedar Creek Lake, the William Whitley House (definitely on my to-do list again!), the old Chapel Gap School (I couldn’t believe history lovers let one of the oldest Lincoln Co schools fall in such disrepair! but it was cool to find out that the man who owns it now also went to school there as a child), the Swiss Barn, and the Amish Bakery. Oh yeah, the bakery where we picked up desserts for lunch and for later. Since I had inside knowledge, I made sure to ask about the apple pies…too bad there were only four left! They were delicious!
At the last stop, the owners opened their rec building to us for lunch! It felt good to dry off for a few minutes and rest as we had been going strong for several hours! When you are out shooting, it is so much fun, time passes quickly, and you are energized by the contagious excitement and passing picturesque scenes…until you take a moment to get your breath! Then you realize, just how long you’ve been at it and how tired and hungry you are. This farm was beautiful and I got a few of my favorites pictures including the tin man and my wheel barrel of delight here. But I also love the barns throughout Kentucky depicting quilt pieces and their barn was a beauty.
I would be remiss to not say Thank You to Christy Atkins of Hometown Consulting in Stanford for being a wonderful tour guide. Its one thing to go off shooting on your own but to be accompanied by a knowledgeable guide…it’s a whole new level of shooting! I have always loved the behind-the-scenes knowledge that goes with a guided tour. Who would have thought we would need one so close to home but getting to know the people and the stories just makes each picture that much more special to me. Thank you, Christy!
I also have to say thank you to James. Although a fellow photographer, he graciously drove, allowing us ladies to ride with him. It was still storming when we left early that morning so I was very thankful not to be the driver. He went out of his way for us to get those extra special shots, not minding slowing down for a lake picture or the William Whitley House, coming back to roll up the windows that I had let down to take pictures from…yes, he was quite a gentleman. We have a super group and I am so proud to be a member! It was definitely this girl’s dream of what a photo tour should be – rain didn’t dampen our spirits one iota!
Until our next adventure…joy 2 u! “C”
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