PROJECTS

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Resting, Climax, Kentucky

Project time. I usually have to set aside times in my daily life to complete certain projects. Now is the time. I will be off my blog for a few months. 

May everyone have a great summer!! 

Three things cannot be long hidden:

 the sun, the moon, and the truth.

~ ~ Buddha

OLD VERNACULAR WINDOWS

The whole purpose of education is to turn 

mirrors into windows

Sydny J. Harris

Barn Window

Double Story Barn

Madison County, Kentucky

Six over six lights

Second Story Window

1814 I-House Paint Lick

Garrard County, Kentucky 

Log House Window

Mercer County, Kentucky

Source -- Library of Congress 

FARMER KING'S RAIN GAUGE

Farmer King's Rain Gauge

Farmer King's rain gauge was empty when I took this photo  last fall. Our area had experienced a long summer drought and gardens were looking pretty sad. 

This spring we have had a multitude of rain storms along with cool weather. Folks have been complaining about the rain and cold -- how soon they forget last summer. Our soil is drinking in the rain like a thirsty man on a desert. We needed it. 

Yesterday was an unusual day. Mother Nature put on quite a performance here. We had  intermittently --  wind, lots of hail, rain, thunder, lightning, and almost a peek of sun in between the roving storms. We have had rain off and on since Saturday and are expecting to have these conditions through this Friday. 

Water is high in our creek beds. I could hear its rushing noise as I stood outside late last night -- it was hurrying downstream -- but that rush never seems to last long after a rain. It settles down to higher water than usual but  little flooding in this area.

I look at it this way -- we are receiving a gift from Mother Nature. 

Raindrops on my pine needles

PUZZLE: HISTORIC CHIMNEYS WITHOUT A HOME

Two chimneys without a home

What the heck, I thought when I spotted these two high standing chimneys, alone along a rural road  in Madison County. Where is the house?  

Pulling over to the side of the road I could see that these chimneys were historical -- probably from the mid-1800s or before.  But without the actual physical presence of the house it was difficult to sense the house form that once stood between the chimneys.  

I got out of my small black truck and started taking photos from the roadside.  I stood and tried to figure out why the house was gone while the monstrous chimneys were left standing. 

My first thoughts were that the house probably had burned down recently until I realized that mature trees were now growing in the space where a house would have stood.  At that point I scratched my head and asked myself why the two old chimneys were left standing all these years. 

Right chimney 

The chimney on the right had a metal pipe nearby its fireplace maybe for water (?), which could mean that it was remodeled for indoor plumbing later in its life. If this were true I would think that this side of the house served as the kitchen area? Obviously no basement as trees were growing at ground level between the two chimneys.

Right chimney

Close up of chimney fireplace.

Opening of the fireplace appeared to be white limestone rock.

Left chimney  with  two fireplaces.



I noticed that the top fireplace was sealed off. White plaster of some sort was partly surrounding both fireplaces. 

 Left chimney fireplace with limestone around opening -- duplicating right chimney

Sure would value some thoughts on this missing house. Why are the chimneys still standing? Did the house burn down? Have you ever seen chimneys left standing alone on a homestead for a long period of time -- after the house was gone? Any other ideas?

By the way --  the front yard was filled with a scattering of wild spring daffodils. The only life left on the old homestead.