Posts tagged Kentucky Lake
Fall Break
1JJ and I took our friends Wanhee and Seungae to Kentucky to spend a few days with our grandparents. We left on Thursday morning around six in the morning and arrived in Kentucky at four in the afternoon. As soon as we arrived, my grandmother starting cooking and really didn’t stop until we left. I think that we all gained weight from a constant barrage of well-cooked southern food. I was so excited about eating these meals that I forget to take photos. Besides the country breakfast pictured below, we also enjoyed homemade fried chicken, pepper steak, and fried catfish with all the fixings.
It was a great trip that wasn’t long enough. We really didn’t do much besides making a trip to the Elk and Bison viewing area at the Land Between the Lakes and driving over to Illinois for a quick stop at the casino. As soon as we got to the casino, everyone headed to the restrooms except for me. In the 3 minutes they were gone, I won $300, printed out my winning ticket, and hid it in my wallet. I ended up giving JJ some gambling money and spent a little more of my winnings playing poker. After paying for dinner and gas and funding JJ’s gambling fund, I still came out ahead, which is always a great feeling.
The trip was entirely to short, but we will actually get to see my grandparents again very soon. My mother has two younger siblings, and my grandparents alternate Christmas vacations between the three children. This is our year, and we are all looking forward to seeing them when they come down to Mississippi for the holiday.
Bacon, Eggs, Biscuits, and Grits are a Great Way to Start the Day
My Grandfather aka MacGyver at work saving me a couple of hundred dollars.
Getting Acquainted with Cleo
JJ is the Animal Whisperer
Frying some Catfish and Hushpuppies
JJ and Gram
Looking Back at a Field of Bison
The was the only bull we saw
#575 was not happy with our presence
Not as good as my Grandmother's home-cooked meals
Wanhee Taking a Shot
Although we all had a great time, I had a hard time not thinking about all the school work that I had due. I struggled with knowing that as soon as I returned to Mississippi, I was going to have to give up all my free time for awhile to finish a paper. Although this weekend was homecoming and was supposed to be a great football game, JJ and I both had so much work that we had to give up our seats. I ended up giving away my tickets to a friend so at least someone enjoyed our seats. The rest of the semester is going to be fairly high-paced and JJ and I are already getting excited about Thanksgiving break.
Kentucky 2011
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Grandparents' Round House*
JJ and I spent the last five days relaxing in the round house with my grandparents. My grandparents, who are originally from Mississippi, retired here fifteen years ago. Besides going to Mass on Sunday, we never left the lake. My grandmother is quite the sports fan, and we watched every bowl game that came on. JJ and I were treated to a country lunch every day, and we fended for ourselves for dinner since my grandparents don’t eat in the evenings. Also, going to my grandparents’ house means a chance to catch up on napping time. Afternoon naps are required from 1-3 at the round house. As usual, my grandfather and I spent some time arguing talking about religion and politics. JJ and I also got to hear numerous stories about when my grandparents were first married. I cherish hearing these stories and try to soak them up every time we get together. The one story that stuck out was when my grandparents were first married, my great-grandfather, my grandmother’s father, was so worried that there would be a fire in their second story apartment that he bought them a rope to escape with. We also learned more about how my mother and father’s grandmothers were best friends. In fact when my father’s grandparents’ house burned down, they lived with my mother’s grandparents for about 9 months. This was many years before my mother and father were ever even born. We also heard lots of stories of when my mother and father were first dating, and I now have lots of blackmail material on both of them!
I tried to get out everyday and do a bit of hiking and looking for wildlife. I really was looking for the bald eagles, but failed to find them close to the house this visit. I did spot them on the other side of the lake, but didn’t have the time to drive to the other side. I did run into a few deer, turkeys, and various other small animals. The weather was chilly, but not cold, and it was nice to get out around the lake.
I don’t think we will see my grandparents until they come down to the Mississippi for my nephew’s baptism later this year, and JJ and I will not have a chance to make anymore road trips this years as we have already planned events for our breaks this semester and next. I really would like to get back to Kentucky do some fishing this spring or summer, but really don’t think I will be able to find the time.
Kitchen Deer
A Better View
The Usual Activity at the Bird Feeder
Turkey Crossing
Coots
On the Road Again
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The Willie Nelson tune comes to mind. This trip will be a little over 400 miles. It will be nothing compared to the massive road trip to Key West. JJ and I will be heading to New Concord, KY to visit with my grandparents. We made our last trip last summer and can’t wait to visit with them again. It has almost been a year since we spent a month in Kentucky after having just arrived in America. The only thing that we have scheduled to do is to go to Mass on Sunday. The rest of the time will be spent just relaxing and enjoying time with Grammy and Poppa. I am sure that I will get out near Kentucky Lake to try and get some photos of the bald eagles.
We are bringing our cat, Sohee, with us which should make for an interesting trip, as she is not the best rider(My grandfather is a retired veterinarian and I want him to check her out). We haven’t decided how long to stay in Kentucky, but it will probably end up being only a 4 or 5 night stay. JJ and I both want to have some time to get organized before school starts on the 18th.
Here’s to the New Year, and I hope that yours is blessed.
New Concord,KY
0After leaving Hattiesburg at 4:30 A.M., we arrived in New Concord around 11:30. We always try to arrive before my grandmother expects us and this time was no different. We were about 5 hours early. We got to spend some time with my aunt and uncle on Wednesday and then waved goodbye to them on Thursday morning. I try to get out and explore the area every time we come up. I did have some photo luck and on Friday got to see two big bucks in velvet. Sunday afternoon was the only day that I really missed a good shot. A doe and her fawn(no more than a week old) wondered out in front of me but ran away before I could get a shot.
A doe that didn't really like me in the field.
The area around my grandparents is filled mainly with corn and tobacco fields. It is pretty easy to spot deer in the tobacco fields. There are also a couple of cow pastures that I regular visit to try and catch deer crossing.
I left on Friday morning heading to one of my fields and I was in the process of checking my camera settings and driving down the road(Not that unsafe if you knew the population up here) when these two crossed the road. I really wish that I could have gotten a better photo of the monster buck that I saw cross in front of me. I did get closeup of his running buddy. I think that the buck that was running across the road was the same way I captured on the deer camera in January.
Monster buck in velvet.
No Fear Deer. I am probably about 15 yards away.
This may be the same deer that is crossing the road.
My grandparents actually live outside of New Concord and as you can see from the next couple of photos that there isn’t much to New Concord. The next biggest city is Murray, which is about 25 minutes away.
The New Concord Post Office
Once upon a time this was the general store.
I really was hoping for some new shots of the bald eagles but never saw them this trip. The area around the lake is so grown up that I really didn’t spend much time there.
These guys were plentiful but quite elusive. You could hear them scuttling through the brush as you hiked and I just happened to catch both of these in the front yard.
Kentucky Lizard
Kentucky Lizard II
We got to spend some great time with my grandparents. We were able to attend mass twice with them and that is always a treat. We also were able to catch up with our friend Billie from Korea. On Saturday night we met up with him and I had pizza and beer at a local sports bar.
Today was a lazy rainy day and after early mass and great homemade fried chicken we took naps and then woke up for coffee and the World Cup. JJ and I will leave after a country breakfast in the morning and make our way to Gatlinburg, TN. We have a good 5 and half hour drive ahead of us but are looking forward to arriving and visiting with our friends who arrived yesterday.
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