"Castles in the Air" ...or at least outside of Versailles, KY

As I said before, it was hard to leave such a beautiful park with all the pretty woods, birds and butterflies…

Thankfully, it was an easy, uneventful; but scenic drive. As we got closer to Lexington, the horse farms got grander including one that looked like a castle??? 

With all that lush green grass that I could really enjoy, I asked Mom to Google it. 

It turns out; the property is called Castle Post, a current bed & breakfast, event center and restaurant.

                                      Castle Post

I was just fine with the much more modest, Fort Boonesborough Campground...It had lots of grass, woods and creatures to smell and explore. M & D had to back into their site again; but it was easy this time, so they were in and set up before I could even take a nap. 

           The Kentucky River below are campsites...Photo courtesy of my Sista's

When the girls came over; they brought me this annoying wire to keep me tethered to our picnic table. Just so the neighbors wouldn't get annoyed, when I wandered a bit away...UGH! I got over my irritation, when mom gave me an after dinner bone and Milena shared rib meat. Delicious!!! 

Milena started teaching me Frisbee before we retired for the night...I was just getting started, but they were all tired from driving and setting up camp.

No one was in a hurry the next morning, so after a couple of nice walks with dad and then, mom we left to visit Milena's alma mater,  Berea College 

As we were traveling there, M & D told me how much they had loved this tiny town tucked into the hills southeast of Lexington. It holds sweet memories for them since they came to Boone Tavern Hotel after dad graduated from Dayton Law School and took the Ohio Bar Exam (M was very pregnant with Mike, my human brother, whom I've yet to meet...)

As we walked around her campus letting her reminisce, Milena was a excellent tour guide. This lovely liberal arts college of approximately 1,600 undergraduates provides tuition free and every student is given a job. Their endowment fund has paid students tuition for the past 126 years. Based on your financial needs, you receive more or less in aid for board, room and books. 

Thirteen years ago, she started her first job at $1.32 an hour and by her final year she was making $3.55 an hour. Every student works a minimum of ten hours a week. At that time, her mom, an Ear, Nose and Throat Dr in Belgrade, Serbia was making a little over $850 a year...Needless to say, thanks to her outstanding high school academic record, Berea gave her a full ride. It meant her only spending money was from her student job and other odd jobs she could fit in...

From those humble beginnings, Milena went on to accept an assistantship at M & D's alma mater, Miami University graduating with a PhD in Cognitive Psychology. 

Yep, beautiful and bright, just like her spouse, my other sister, Bekka!!! I love them so...

Some Photos courtesy of my Sista's

Wednesday morning M and I walked partway to the park entrance while Milena slept in & D and Bekka visited the park. After they watched the blacksmith demo from outside his forge the blacksmith gave Bek his finished product, a simple hanger.  

When Daniel Boone and his men reached the Kentucky River on April 1, 1775, they quickly moved to establish Kentucky’s second settlement –  Fort Boonesborough 

                                        Dad's Photos

after they watched his demo from outside.

Fort Boonesborough has been reconstructed as a working fort complete with cabins, blockhouses and furnishings. 18th century life skills and period craft demonstrations bring history to life for all ages.

A Richmond historical docent explained that Boone and his men followed the original animal/Native American paths.  As more followed with their wagons, the trails widen and became roads... 

                    Pleasant View Farm on the Battlefield Park Historic Site, Dad's photos

After lunch Dad drove us to Battlefield Park

http://battleofrichmond.org/

The second largest Civil War battle in Kentucky, the Battle of Richmond was one of the most decisive and complete Confederate victories in the entire war. 

 

Since we were the only visitors, we masked up to visit with the docent and see inside the house.  Mom loved this docent because she just told them to explore... 

I investigated outside with whichever one wasn’t inside. It was really nice there with the big trees for shade, a gentle breeze and delicious smelling bluegrass. We could see all the way to the beginning of the Appalachian mountains, hence the home’s name, “Pleasant View.”

During the battle, the house and St Zion Church were used for hospitals while the Richmond Courthouse lawn held prisoners. 

Local women helped serve as nurses and were considered Battlefield Angels. 

               The rooms in this Four Square Georgian style farmhouse were really spacious

The signage explains this early Confederate Civil War win... 

From there the docent told us we had to see White Hall Historic Site. So off we went...We arrived in time to walk around the extensive grounds, and peek inside out buildings while I was able to run off leash...YEAH!  

Cassius Clay inherited this site from his father General Green Clay,  a surveyor who came here with Daniel Boone.

              The kitchen out building was so large; that they had ovens at both ends

While Ambassador Clay served in Russia for over 6 years, Mary Jane, Cassius Clay's first wife; successfully ran the farm by herself, while raising the six children still at home. As you can read here, she was able to pay off their debts and add 7,000 square feet to the original 3,000 square foot home.

Mom agreed to do another tour since she was the only visitor again. As grand as it looked from outside, she said the inside was surreal. The outside looked Italianate and the newer portion of the house reflected that style. In the 1870’s the newer section was added;aking 7 years to complete for a total cost of $30,000. The name was changed from Clermont to White Hall. The new home included central heating, indoor plumbing and other modern features. 

               The combination of Italianate and Georgian Styles inside were really interesting

This house had four levels with its original kitchen in the basement, and finished attic rooms

What fascinated M about this site wasn’t Cassius Clay, who was Lincoln’s Ambassador to Russia and supposedly inspiration for the Emancipation Proclamation, but his wife, Mary Jane, her sisters and her daughters. Talking about strong, intelligent women way ahead of their time. Mom’s photos tell some of their stories...

There is a separate room dedicated to women in the family who were Suffragettes along side Susan B Anthony.

They have about 20% of the original family items including Helen, the family's doll

Clay even started his own Lexington newspaper to get his Emancipation ideas out there. Placing it in a building just a couple blocks from the downtown slave market. Hence, the need to reinforce his business and have extra protection in the form of two cannons like this one.

A chilling reminder of what life was like on these farms during slavery...

After dinner the women all took turns playing with me, while they ate, drank and shared more stories. 

Today after a couple of walks with both D, then M and visiting with Bek; we headed for Bluegrass Distillers in historic Lexington. It’s a 6 year old small batch distillery who have figured out how to do safe tastings and tours. The few people there were really friendly, but they didn’t share any tastings with me. Bummer! 

Cincinnati friends joined us there; before we enjoyed a Wild Egg lunch. 😋 I really love all of them, so it was great to see them at a social distance of course…

After a very filling lunch we all preceded to Barrel House and James E Pepper Distilleries on Distillery Row. 

Right now, very few of the distilleries are open due to Covid 19. 

It’s cool how cities are repurposing these warehouse districts. This one ran along a stream. Very Hip!

 ...and of course, dad, the bourbon aficionado bought some more bourbons thanks to our tastings

 In James E Pepper’s distillery case, this warehouse has been here; as a distillery in some form since 1870 (with the exception of a couple of years after a fire during prohibition.) MMMMM…

                                            Photos courtesy of my Sista's

While we were drinking and eating our time away…my sisters spent over three hours climbing Berea Pinnacle…Oh My!!! These photos of their views are incredible!!! 

We all met back at camp…

After a rest for all, we ordered a variety of pizzas from 

La Trattoria...Winchester, KY

                               OH MY GOSH!!!

Honestly, they all agreed that they were some of the best pizzas, they had ever tasted!!! I know that I loved my tiny taste!!!

The girls mobile camp kitchen...they really used some creativity to make it work for them

Our last night together was a S'more's Night; complete with Graeter's S'more Ice Cream. 

Bekka being hypervigilant wore her medical protective garb while we had on our face masks; so we could at least have one good hug before we parted...

Despite the heat, humidity and thunderstorms, it was a really lovely time together; 

Meanwhile, while we were soaking up history, hiking and so forth...our San Diego family was staying busy too...

 

When you are stuck at home, you look for creative outlets...fixing dad's Covid-19 long hair into the latest "Shrek" look...Well Done Elise! What a Great Dad!!!    ...or 

          

 

You try out this talking business...

Clara May, 4 1/2 months chatting away, if only we understood her???