Reelfoot Lake

Dawn at Reelfoot Lake . . . 

Day at Reelfoot Lake . . . 

Sunset at Reelfoot Lake . . .

  

Old Mulkey Revisited

Last year Dudeboy and I visited the Old Mulkey Meeting House State Historic Site for an encampment of the 9th Kentucky, U.S. celebrating the formation of the unit.  Much of the 9th Kentucky was recruited at nearby Camp Anderson.  Well, what a difference a year makes (actually less than), for this year we were not spectators, but we were participants, as we now belong to the 9th Kentucky reenactment group.  Over the weekend there were several demos, an encampment, a church service conducted by the 9th Ky. Chaplin, and we did a three volley salute at the Old Soldiers Cemetery in Tompkinsville (several members of the original 9th are buried in this cemetery).

On the way home, we stopped by the grave-site of  Dudeboy's gr-gr-gr grandfather Top Simmons.  Top was in Co.K of the 9th Ky.

Transit of Venus

"The Strange Procession Which Never Moves"

This past weekend Uncle Vic and I were invited to give a talk in Murray about the natural arches of Kentucky.  We decided to make a trip of it.  Dudeboy and Dr. J joined us as we scampered around much of the Jackson Purchase area.  Our first stop was the Wooldridge Monuments ("The Strange Procession Which Never Moves") in Mayfield, Ky.

The monuments had been severely damaged back in 2009 during an ice storm when a large 300 year old oak tree fell and toppled most of the monuments.  Fortunately, the good people of Mayfield saw fit to have them restored . . . at a cost of about $80,000.  Apparently FEMA shouldered about 75% of the costs.

Located in Maplewood Cemetery in Mayfield, Kentucky, the monuments were the brainchild of Colonel Henry G. Wooldridge.  The monuments represent those who were important to Wooldridge . . . be it family or animal (his two favorite hunting dogs . . . Toe-head and Bob, along with his horse and a deer and a fox.  The Colonel is the only one actually buried at the site.

There are 18 monuments with two them representing the Colonel . . . one of which is a marble statue that was made in Italy, and the other depicting him atop his horse Fop.

"The Strange Procession Which Never Moves"

The Ham in Hamlet

Over this past semester Dudeboy has been participating with several other home-schoolers in a class devoted to the study of Shakespeare's Hamlet.  The kids read the play in full.  They watched, and discussed several filmed productions.  Dudeboy wrote a paper analyzing Kenneth Branaugh's Hamlet.  And they memorized several scenes.  All of which culminated in a short production of snippets of the play.  It is probably unnecessary to relate that Dudeboy thoroughly enjoyed the class.  Above . . . Dudeboy as Fortinbras, who reigns supreme at the end of the play (mostly because everyone else is dead).    

The Old Simpson County Jail

The Old Simpson County Jail located in Franklin, Kentucky, which now houses the Simpson County Historical Society & Archives.  In the picture above, the Old Jailer's Residence is the brick building on the left.  Sections of it date back to the early 1830's.  The old county jail (right) was built in 1879.       

While most of the cells are currently used as storage areas for the archives, this cell has been retained as  an example of what the originals looked like.  Note the hole in the floor.  Of course it is what you are thinking it is, but what is telling is the placement . . . front and center!  No rest for the wicked, and, apparently, no privacy.     

A museum dedicated to the history of Simpson County is located in the Old Jailer's Residence.  On the second floor is a wonderful collection of Civil War era graffiti etched into the walls, as at times the Old Jailer's Residence was also used as a jail.  There is speculation that the drawing above is of John Hunt Morgan.

I should note that there is also an exhibit on the Mantell UFO incident.  As described by Wikipedia . . .

The Mantell UFO incident was among the most publicized early UFO reports. The incident resulted in the crash and death of 25-year-old Kentucky Air National Guard pilot, Captain Thomas F. Mantell, on January 7, 1948, while in pursuit of a supposed UFO.

The Paranormal Encyclopedia exclaims that the "Mantell UFO Incident is one of the most significant UFO sightings of all time."  Our young and erudite docent would have none of it (much to the chagrin of the older volunteers).  As she stated, "I am a skeptical person."  We certainly need more youngins like her.

Backyard Bugs . . . Red-Banded Leafhopper

 Graphocephala coccinea

Common name . . . Red-Banded Leafhopper