Kentucky by Heart: Enjoy the Fall Colors; the new book by author Bill Noel; Historic Grant’s Lick mural unveiled
By Steve Flairty
NKyTribune Columnist
One of the reasons my wife and I decided to buy our current home was the “turning leaf” scenery along the road as we drove through the neighborhood. It was in the spring that we first located our future home, but the promotional literature showing the fall colors filled our senses. When fall arrived, the pretty foliage pictures were as advertised. Now living in our Versailles home for six years, the beauty of autumn is upon us, and so invigorating.
But without a doubt, our fall gold is plentiful throughout the state of Kentucky, as others attest.
Fall Scenery from Flairty’s Back Porch (Photo Provided)
Kristi Barrett of Nicholasville loves the colorful entrance to Keeneland Racecourse. The place will have the opportunity to show off this beauty a lot over the next few weeks, as it started its fall competition on October 7 and the season runs until the 29th.
Northern Kentucky’s Debbie Hurley loves the fall colors found at Natural and Sky Bridge near Slade, and Breathitt County’s Gayle Deaton says more about the eastern part of the state. She noted that the mountains there “are so gorgeous in the fall, so anywhere among them is bound to have spectacular views! I especially love visiting Natural Bridge and Buckhorn State Resort parks, and a walk through my home county. of Breathitt in any direction is always a joy in the fall, but Elk View, rated via South Fork Road, in Quicksand, offers breathtaking views of freedom – fairway horses as well as abundant wildlife, in more scenic spots filled with natural beauty.”
Janet Windgassen-Cook said she loves Likert Road near Claryville in southern Campbell County, often enjoying “the beautiful fall colors on her way to my brother’s house”. Grant County’s Donna Brann need only look out her kitchen window to see pretty seasonal views of Highway 22 east of Williamstown.
And, Lexington Cemetery has “beautiful trees and a peaceful atmosphere,” according to Karen Leet, Lexington. I would totally agree on the iconic graveyard, and the spring colors are amazing too.
I hope you will also share your favorites. Feel free to comment below or email me at sflairty2001@yahoo.com.
Louisville author Bill Noel has just published his twenty-second novel in the Folly Beach Mystery series, this one titled Pretty Paper: A Folly Beach Christmas Mystery. The novel is co-written by Angelica Cruz, who also worked alongside Bill in another in the series, sea fog.
Bill Noel (Photo provided)
Published by Enigma Press, located in Goshen, nice paper recounts a series of burglaries that occurred on Folly Beach, a small barrier island off the coast of South Carolina. There’s something fishy about the crimes, as they started happening after Mackey’s Miracle Troupe arrived in Folly Beach. The group is said to be made up of singers and actors who bring an uplifting message of joy to Folly.
As always in the series, protagonist Chris Landrum and his odd boyfriend, Charles Fowler, get involved in crime solving, applying their untrained skills in unorthodox ways. Along the way, readers are treated to quirky and entertaining characters. Christmas books are always fun reads.
Pretty Paper is available on Bill Noel’s website, billnoel.com or on Amazon.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about Grant’s Lick’s 225th comeback party scheduled for September 17th. According to manager Linda Bray-Schafer, the event in southern Campbell County was a huge success.
The historic Grant’s Lick mural unveiled on September 17 (photo by Billie Jo Chaplin)
“As organizers, Ken Reis and I didn’t know what to expect in terms of interest and turnout,” Linda said. “To our delight, we discovered that the sense of pride we felt for our small community of Grant’s Lick was shared by nearly 1,000 visitors, who flooded the roads and grounds around Grant’s Baptist Church Lick and “downtown”.
Former residents came for this event. Classmates from Grant’s Lick Elementary School, like 93-year-old Howard Johnston, came to visit the old school and reminisce about old classmates. The tractor and wagon, driven by a former principal and resident of Grant’s Lick Elementary, hosted all-day tours filled with people who came to reflect and learn about the history of Grant’s Lick.
In summary, Linda added: “People were nostalgic for the good old days. They were happy to see each other, to look at old photographs and to share their good memories. . . it was absolutely a wonderful day!”
