Sunday morning

Stone fences

We called them "slave fences," having been told that they had been built by slave labor before the Civil War. They're dry-stack stone walls, built without the use of mortar between the stones, and are common in Kentucky's Bluegrass region.  There they originally were "clearance walls," built from stones cleared from the fields to make plowing easier. In Kentucky, they date mostly from the nineteenth century, although they have a much older history in Great Britain.

While dry-stack stone walls may come in various designs using different materials elsewhere, in Kentucky they tend to be similar wherever found. The fields of the Bluegrass are underlain by limestone, so that's the stone available. The first several courses are lain flat, wide enough to provide stability. The final course is placed near the vertical, which both increases height and anchors the top. It happens to be esthetically pleasing, as well.

Today the stone walls are mostly decorative. On working farms they tend to be backed by electric fences that do the real work of keeping the stock confined. Often they are in disrepair and additional fencing is essential. But where they are found, there's always a tug to get the camera out and shoot some pictures.

Echo in the Mountains

What's better than a Memorial Day weekend bluegrass festival? One that is free and in a cool, mountain valley! It was offered by Frozen Head State Park and sponsored by local businesses.

There was a small but respectable crowd, mostly families. People came and went throughout the afternoon. And all attention was focused on the music. Well, almost all.

There were cloggers.

There were fans who just kicked back and relaxed.

But mostly there was music and mountains. Band quality was outstanding; everyone played at a high, professional level. My favorite of the day, mostly because of their choice of material, was a band called Rough Edges.

But I have to include a picture of Cumberland Gap Connection, because the fellow playing stick bass is from Salyersville, KY.

Sunday morning

Shaker, Part 2

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

 

Another visit to the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill.

1811 Old Stone Shop

Cooper's Shop

West Family shops

West Family corn crib

Farm Deacon's Shop

44

On May 26, 1967, we began a journey together.

 

The pace has become more leisurely, but the destination remains the same.

House for Sale

Our is a closely-knit community. We've all come from somewhere else and we're here by choice. There are many other places we could be; there's no compelling reason for us to be here. But we each came, found something here we were looking for, and stayed. Some bought homes. Most bought vacant land and built homes. Some live here full time; others live here part time and dream of living here full time. So it is painful when we see a house offered up for sale.

It's not that we feel rejected by a house being offered for sale. No, it's because we mourn the death of a dream. We all came here nurturing a dream. For my wife and me, the dream was for community, a relaxed pace, perhaps even a return to simpler times; a place where we could grow old in peace. For the most part, that's what we've found and continue to enjoy. I'm sure the dreams of our neighbors are as many and as varied as they. And most seem to have found their dream, which makes it even more painful when a house is offered for sale.

But Rugby is not for everyone. There are fewer than 40 full-time residents, and when the part-time residents become full-time residents, and when all available vacant land is occupied, Rugby will still be a village, not a town. We are completely surrounded by protected lands so that future growth has limits that are visible even now. We happen to like that, and worked to successfully block a proposed high-density residential development in an area that is now protected woodland on the south side of the village. But it is 17 miles to a supermarket or hardware store; 70 to a shopping mall. Why, even the nearest liquor store is 50 miles away! Rugby is not for everyone!

But ..........

We have community, which no city can boast.

We have tolerance, which few places can boast.

We have quiet, which we treasure and protect.

We have activities, which we create ourselves.

We have clean air and water and natural beauty.

We have a national park at our boundary.

We have a museum/restoration that brings interesting visitors, operates a cafe, and offers programming throughout the year.

So, if "no Muggles allowed" actually makes sense to you, if you've ever had a subscription to Mother Earth News, or if Monty Python skits seem like reality to you, come get to know us. There is a house for sale. There is also vacant land available for building. But just so you know, if you want to live in Rugby, you have to bring your own money.