Miami County Museum, Indiana

Raining this morning, time to see this Museum before leaving, going to Kentucky and on to Alabama and then back to Virginia.

This clock immediately caught my attention from all the others in their antique clock room. This one ~ Ah HA ~ I could see my grandfather putting a key in the face to wind it up ~saying that was one of his Sunday morning rituals.

The full shot of the dresser stopped me cold~ I know there were more than the one that belonged to my Granny Richards, but this was just too much of a heart stopper for me to think it wasn't hers.

In my mind's eye, I could see it in her bedroom along with a very high four poster bed plus more marble top furniture. It was elegant. White lace window dressings added her delicate touch.

She had fine furniture, all marble tops which she kept fancy dollies, not junked up as seen in this museum piece.

I always wondered where all her furniture was, but I just know in my heart, it was sold to someone who brought it all there.

The pump organ, I sat and made sounds as a little girl. My cousin Clara and I would take turns pumping, while the other played on the keys, as we were too little to sit on the stool and reach the pump peddles at the same time.

The My Aunt Audie could play her Mandolin like an angle. She taught me "You Are My Sunshine" to sing as she played. I was barely three so she had a show. Everyone would be happy and clap.

I long for these things to be the ones of my memory. I know they are somewhere...and I believe I found them.


The Old Victrola~ it sat in my Granny's hallway.

My Granny had such a fine house. She would put a record on to play for us. The last time I had her to myself was when I was 6 years old.

She died in I was eight. She was the most beloved person in the world to me. She was warm, sweet, loving and all good things. It's amazing how much I remember of my time with her.

The Buggy below sealed my hunch. These things were from my Grandmother's house.

Remember back in my blog about Amanda~ and her black buggy? The site of this buggy leaves no doubt in my mind ~ I was looking at my own history.

If you haven't read that blog....it is Amanda, My Great, Great Grandmother from Virginia story. At the top you will see a black buggy moving.





There were nice coaches uses in 1800's in Indiana~in the museum as well...

The mail man's vehicle.

They were really fancy and the best way to travel before cars.

And of course, Cole Porter came along to put their little town on the Map~

And, of course, he brought home a wonderful, black, shinny car of style~ Cadillac, of course.

Remember white wall tires? What a beauty~~!!!

Cole Porter's Birthplace Now a B & B

We are still reading my Travel Journal and will go back to Peru, Indiana. When there last September, we discovered the picturesque home of Cole Porter.

WHAT? Way out here?

Where did I imagine a talent would emerge? Now, being here, one can understand how his creativity could grow and be inspired by the surrounding clam.

The next house is the ouse he built for his Mother.


An "Old Fashioned Garden"

From the other side of the Wabash river we saw an amazing sight. These perfect columns were cut by the river.

In the residentual section of Peru we found the his birthplace. It opened to the public as a B&B only two weeks before we were there this year.

I LOVE B&B's with style...and they all have a story to tell.

They have his cradle... and much more.

Decorated in his memory~

Music, music, music everywhere~

Look at the bathroom...this could be a photo of the bathroom in the house where I grew up.

I LOVE his dash....his panache, his flare.


Of course, being a grandmother of 8, I notice no evidence of children that would have torn the place down and driven him nuts.
Know what I mean?

A cafe in town was a natural place for perfect lunch.

Look at the creative Cole Porter Sont Titles on menu ~ Remember any of these?

I had the "Kise Me Kate on Wheat."

Delicious! Have to say it was a very interesting small town, USA.

The Miami County Museum on their Main Street was worth my time. Will go there next blog.

Patton Museum, Ft. Knox, Kentucky

Visiting the Museum honoring the life of General George S. Patton was such an interesting morning. I was awestruck by the collection. There we were, standing in the middle of an unimaginable creations of great minds. All designed to free the world of cruel and oppressive dictators.

We are amazed by the similarity's of the actor who portrayed General Patton in the movie "Patton."

To me, Actors are born to play ONE ROLE and to George C. Scott goes an Oscar (which he refused) for his role as this colorful Army Four Star General.

Likewise, Vivian Lee was born to play Scarlett in "Gone With the Wind." Don't you agree?

General George S. Patton is truly immortalized by George C, Scott who so eloquently brought him to life on the screen.

There is no way I can add all the amazing photos here...

A segment of the Berlin Wall.

Of course, this wall wasn't there during WW ll ot in General Patton's lifetime, however, it represents world conflict.





On top of the wall is mounted a round pipe some 20 inches in circumference, which would make it impossible to climb over from either side.

A German donkey cart.

If you saw the movie, you will know the significance of this.

.

.

This is the car General Patton was riding in when it was involved in a minor traffic accident at an intersection.
Before the days of seat belts, he was "slightly injured" and taken to an infirmary. It was then discovered his neck was broken which paralyzed him from neck down. He died in the following few days. May God Bless his soul.

General

G

Makers Mark Distillery, Kentucky

Traveling south from Indiana into Kentucky where we planned to see one of the famous Kentucky Bourbon Distilleries. We selected Makers Mark which is located about 40 miles off the main Interstate over to Loretto.

The road is a two lane winding ride through the hills of thick trees and tall corn growing in all fields. We knew this corn is will end up being basis of a good Bourbon.

This little barn announced the local "Coon Hunters Club."

After lots of corn fields, we come to Whisky Cree.

While there at Makers Mark, we learned no Bourbon's are made outside the U. S.

and most come from Kentucky. Why? The state sits on a limestone bed which produces very pure water which gives the mellow flavor to their craft. I never knew that.

Makers Mark is the oldest continually running distillery in the world is based in a tiny Kentucky town. Its product? One of the most loved liquors of all.

The name declares it to be a Bourbon Distillery's Mark to beat.

Click to see video.

The bottle was designed by the owner's wife as was the idea to hand-dip each long neck into red wax.


A boring job? I'd say so.....better like your co-worker very much. Perhaps they rotate. There were a total of six bottle dippers working the line.

From the wax, they went directly into the box to be shipped out. They gave us a sample of "White Lightin'" although they didn't call it by that name...and a sample of the smooth amber colored whiskey after being seasoned in wood kegs. I don't see how ANYONE could drink that white lightening. WHEW!!!

Click to see video.

The weather was perfect ...I couldn't resist getting a couple decks of cards and their Cookbook, which is a Coffee Table Book of over the top ideas.

Clowns and Cast

Not such a clear photo, this guy is real...

93 years old.

Seems most of these guys were around in 1938

for the making of the movie

"The Big Top. "

Ford is in this shot...can you find him?

In front is the fabulous elephant trainer.

Good bye Cast and Crew

Members of the International Circus Hall of Fame

plus one Air Force Colonel, Retired.

International Circus Hall of Fame, Peru, Indiana

Our latest road trip took us from Virginia through scenic West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio into Peru, Indiana. (Had an email from a friend who mentioned we HAD TO HAVE traveled through Maryland, South Carolina and North Carolina...I sent her a map of the Eastern US. )

Arriving in Peru, we decided to find a nice restaurant for dinner. Much to our surprise the little town rolled up the sidewalks at 6 PM. Everything was quite, no cars, no activity and very unlike what we had expected. It was on the outskirts of town that we added yet another of the fast-food chains to our list of places to avoid.

The following morning we drove out of town to the large open fields, barns, museum and office that once where the circuses of the past wintered until they left in the spring for a new circus season. Now it is home of the International Circus Hall of Fame.
Less than 100 people were there this year. Sad to think the Circus is quickly becoming an entertainment of the past.

Each July, these people...ex performers and current performers and supporters come together to relive the past by putting up a tent and present an old fashion circus.
We dined under the Big Top. Naturally, amongst performers, ex-performers, model builders and supporters. Sadly there were less than 100 people there. Ford had been motivated to support them when we were there last year, thus the invitation.

We really didn't fit in with the entertainers there, however, it was so interesting to have a inside view into their life.

This was my favorite lady. At age 97, she didn't have a wrinkle in her face and the sharpest mind of anyone I've met and talked with at that age. She is very extroverted and never talked about herself unless asked a direct question. Her conversation was about people she's known and wonderful experiences she shared with them...

I overheard her talking about days gone by and some of the young girls "killed by a cat" and others she admired so.

She was involved in the making of
the movie "The Big Top." They all were on the set to double as the stars, of course. One of her favorite friends was Mickey King. She told me Micky doubled at the aerialist for Betty Hutton in The Big Top movie.

Mickey was born 1905 and died 2005.

MICKEY KING, One of the Greastest Lady Aerialists.

MICKEY KING, AERIALIST SUPREME

Circus fans world wide consider Mickey King to have been one of the all time great aerialists.

I could have talked with her for hours. She was born to circus performers and spent her life traveling, training and performing with elephants, seals, etc, she happily told me.

The elephants were the BEST I have ever seen.

We LOVED the show...more photos tomorrow.