Bats, birds and wheels.

We’re on our way to Tennessee. We spent the past three days in Louisville, and even with the things we’ve seen here, I have a fear that we’ve missed places where we should have stopped…there’s so much history in this part of the country, and so many spots that I taught about in Social Studies. But we can’t stop at every place. (did that sound like Bob’s voice?!)

Anyway, here are some random thoughts: southern Michigan and Indiana grow mums, and ship them nationwide. My point is, there are so many thousands of mum plants everywhere. The plants are huge~~I’d have trouble getting my arms around the tops~~and sell for around $3.00. Sometimes they’re $5, but usually less. Businesses (hotels, offices, “unique gift stores”, etc.) will have two dozen stacked up in the front. It’s awesome!

One more thing about driving through little towns is to see who’s running for office! Every town is covered by political signs, and most people want to share who they believe in. Mostly I look to see who they’re backing for President, and kind of judge them from that. But it is interesting. And the billboards show that everyone has the answers for our problems!

The little towns continue having festivals~~lots of Octoberfests, many apple festivals (even if there’s not an apple tree in sight!) and one town is advertising the 2008 World’s Chicken Festival. All those chickens in one little community. Suppose they have a Chicken Queen? I’m sure they have a parade. What do they serve…chicken feed, or fried chicken? And as fate would have it, it’s on a weekend we will be on project!! I mean, how many towns could be vying for that title? World’s Chicken Festival…..

I think we’re out of the Amish country, but now that we’re in Tennessee, where the horses are the crop of choice, it reminds me of something I read about the Amish. They raise and train their own draft horses, but they purchase their driving horses from trainers in this area. The article was making the connection between the people of the simple life dealing with the rich for their horses. When we saw the driving horses pulling at the buggies at full speed, it was a striking sight, that’s for sure. We also read that Lexington is the horse capital of the world. I don’t know if that’s self-proclaimed, or has been verified, but I thought I’d pass it along in case it comes up in a conversation!

I wasn’t prepared for the beauty of the trees in this area. The colors are indescribably vivid…the reds, oranges, golds that seem to glow. And the land went from rolling hills of black soil to rocks that look like they’d been formed and cut, to hills full of coal. We would go around a curve, or over a hill and I thought it was the most stunning sight, and then it would get better.

Tonight we’re staying in Knoxville (Bill Martin is running for Auditor). We’re going to have the bus serviced tomorrow, and then will arrive at Newport, TN, for our October project.

(I'm really late posting this because this site has been down. I'll get another one on very soon to let you know about this project.)

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