Monday, June 27, 2011

The 17 to Childhood Home




This evening we took the 17 bus out Bardstown Road to Buechel to visit the home that Erin grew up in on Plaza Avenue. Ruby got a kick out seeing where her mommy grew up. Then we waited for the west bound return bus in front of Fern and Moody's where some regulars entertained us with their cornhole tournament. A train traveling across the old Buechel Rd blocked the bus route long enough for me to run in and grab a quick cold one. The benefits of not driving.
Sweet evening.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Zoo Blues


Here's a Louisville places tip: Visit the zoo when the weather is overcast and threatening rain. The crowds are very manageable on those days and it's not so miserably hot. What's the worst that could happen? Perhaps a downpour that sends you to a shelter with an orangutan to visit with for a spell? This is Ruby watching the sea lions at Glacier Run. Love these colors.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

One Walk Triad


Last evening we took a stroll through Cherokee Park and on to Bardstown road. This hollow tree is a new found favorite hidey spot for miss Ruby for obvious reasons. It's a fairy hideout. Complete with large inviting door and well placed window which also serves as the carryout window when ordering food from her restaurant.


Further along the trail we hiked up Dog Hill just as the sun was setting over the uplands. The weather has been undeniably great this week.

And we ended up going for an ice cream on Bardstown Road where we ran into three young gals creating an epic hopscotch grid. By the time we headed home they were all the way down the block with no obvious signs of stopping. I thought that was just grand. Love this town.

Shadow of Seed


The native grasses are so much more elegant than the ones that were brought here. That's what comes when you are from your place. This is the river oats which is ripe with seed just now.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Crackle of the Bat


In the Some Peoples Republic of Billy Goat Hill some of our parties are heated with Louisville Slugger bats and chilled with cave conditioned air. This is not an exaggeration or a boast. It's just how we roll on the hill.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Sunk in Concrete



There's a project brewing at Bernheim where objects will be put into a concrete pour around the Grigsby Shelter at the Childrens Play Garden. Do you by chance have any items that would be cool to put into the mix? Speak up quickly. These are stepping stones I created back in the early 90s in Peckerwood. I now use them below the whiskey barrel rain collector near the back door. The plastic animals have held up well. I also like the imprint left by the mardi gras beads that were there and now are not.

Yucca - Peak Bloom




I always look forward to the yucca by the back corner of the house to go into peak bloom. The color of the blooms against the mint green lap siding is beautiful. It's peak bloom right now. Thursday, June 9th.

Chicken Coop Concert II - Audience Portraits



These panoramic shots by TimFurnish on an iPhone using the Pano ap. These shots by Tim inspired me to get that ap. It's fun. Click on the images to see them better.

Chicken Coop Concert II - Musician Portraits




In the order they performed at the concert. All photos by Tim Furnish.

Top Photo: R Keenan Lawler
Lawler is a prodigiously talented raga guitarist who performs frequently on resonator guitar. Lawler has an encyclopedic knowledge of Carnatic music and has developed many idiosyncratic instrumental performance techniques to complement his ragas with percussive and drone elements. http://www.pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9590-music-for-the-bluegrass-states/

Middle Photo: William Tyler
The Nashville-based guitarist for Lambchop, Silver Jews, Will Oldham, and many more has recently released his first or third solo album, depending on how you count. A cd-r and LP under the name Paper Hats were released on his own Sebastian Speaks label , while the first album under his given name, entitled "Behold the Spirit" was released on the Tompkins Square label to widespread acclaim. http://www.tompkinssquare.com/william-tyler.html

Bottom Photo: Michael Chapman
A brilliant, if somewhat obscure British singer-songwriter recorded albums for Harvest, Decca and Deram among others; his second album, "Fully Qualified Survivor" produced by Gus Dudgeon (Shirley Collins/Davey Graham; Elton John; John Martyn; Fairport Convention; David Bowie) was recently reissued by Light in the Attic Records, introducing Chapman's classic recording to contemporary audiences. Chapman recently ...completed a UK tour with William Tyler who will join him on select US dates including the chicken coop concert. http://www.michaelchapman.co.uk/

Following a Tree


I've been taking pictures of this pecan tree at Bernheim for years now. This isn't even one fifth of the pictures I have of this one tree. Following one living thing over a long period of time is eye opening in many ways. I recommend it for multiple reasons. Here's just one: You perceive time differently. Here's another: You begin to notice background. And here's a third: you realize that light changes as much as leaf color.

Chicken Coop Concert Series - Dos




The second Chicken Coop Concert was held on Sunday, June 5th. Three guitar musicians played. R. Keenan Lawler - William Tyler - Michael Chapman. All were fine but Michael, visiting from England really mesmerized me. It was great kicking back listening to birds singing and watching chickens shuffling to his music. Not the bar scene where you would typically listen to him. He was a nice man to hang with for a spell. Loved our sweet tea.

Taking the Wide View





I added a new ap to my phone today that let's me take panoramic shots. I had no idea how they might look on a blog platform so... here's the answer. These shots were taken in the back yard on June 9. I'm hoping this yard looks amazing for Ruby's birthday. The zinnias should be popping about then and I'm hoping the vines will have started to climb up the teepee structure to make her a hidey spot.