Shaker your plate!

We found out today that means to clean your plate!   The Shakers were never ones to waste anything. We also found out what they did to be called "Shakers".   According to the history we learned today at the Shaker Village they believed that they were in heaven here on earth and when they worshiped (who they worshiped was not said) they would get into it so much singing and dancing were involved and sometimes they would "shake".   Thus the term Shakers.   I really didn't know much about the Shakers before this and to be quite honest I don't know much about them now but we had fun for the short period of time we were there.   They are really great craftsmen and we saw that through the few buildings we had time to visit.   The girls were pretty much bored because of the history facts and old buildings.

   

We did go see their garden area, stable and animals.   The girls really liked the sheep and the cows.   Didn't see any horses at the village but many on the way there.   

We had a late start this morning, so our exploring was cut short so we could go ride down the Kentucky river on the Dixie Belle.   It was a very relaxing, beautiful ride.  

Who remembers WKRP.....

in Cincinnati?    Well, Dad and I were talking about this today as we ALMOST were in Cincinnati!   I mean, we couldn't have been closer if we tried.   However, the Newport Aquarium is on the Kentucky side of the river so we did not quite make it to Ohio.   We were less than one mile from there, maybe next trip.

After a hop, skip and a jump we were in Newport, Kentucky and ready to tour the Aquarium.   A very nice aquarium if we say so ourselves.   It is very well laid out and easy to walk around in.   Of course, the girls will tell you that the penguins were the best part of the aquarium, but I really enjoyed the whole thing.   Nice thing being Thursday it was not too busy.  Made the perfect ease in and out.  

They had face painting available.   Kendalan and Tessa were so excited.

After the critters, we drove to Mark's sisters house in Hebron, KY and she has 11 very large fresh water aquariums in her house.   So after checking out all her fish, we headed over to "Beef O'Brady's" to have supper and then back to Lexington.

                    And YES that is downtown Cincinnati in the background...just across the river!

                                     Love all the suspension bridges in this area.

You have heard of "Grumpy Cat"?    Well, this is Grumpy Zora!!

Beautiful hotel

Our hotel is called the Colin and Melissa Bed and Breakfast and Lunch and Dinner and Midnight Snacks. Also known as Daddy's Brother and sister-in-law's house!   We are eternally grateful to them for putting up with our clan for 5 days.  They have a beautiful house that they have only lived in for a couple weeks and yet, they were willing to invite us to stay.  (Okay, I did not see any bribes exchange hands, but something has to be up with this whole set up!)

Here is the kitchen....

The dinning room.....

The living room....

And here are the girls....

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble....

We went Wild Turkey riding today!  

So what?  Is it Thanksgiving already?!   But what is that turkey sound I hear?   Oh no you say.   They did NOT take their children to a distillery did they?   OH. YES. WE. DID!  And they were B.O.R.E.D. the whole time...well, just about.   But I enjoyed it and if Mama is happy, everyone is happy.   Anyway that is what the Daddy says.     I don't drink so the tour was all about learning how they make the bourbon. My sister-in-law did and she said it was not to her taste.   Just a wiff was plenty for me.

Then we came home and played a game called "Name 5" that is great fun!  We really had to use our brains and we all learned something from playing the game.

Arrived at our destination!

After a semi slow start to this morning, we were cruising down the highway, making pretty good time until a detour sign threw us for a loop-te-do.   That little 10 mile trek out of our way ended up costing us over 30 minutes time.   Of course, most of us are pretty relaxed in the trip mode and don't worry about these things, but then there is the task master who has it all timed out and really doesn't want to get off the schedule.   But I think schedules are meant to be broken!

So we took a longer detour into Indiana than we were going to do.   Scored Illinois tags for the girls this morning.   We are smokin!    It will be a down day for us tomorrow to rest up and then start our motors again on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.   Look out Kentucky...the VanCamp's are here and we are going to rock this house!!

There really is light at the end of the tunnel!!

On the road again!

My hubby surprised me this trip.   He told our daughter to not post on FB where we are.   Usually he is the one "checking in" at places we are eating or at.   Nope, not this time.   But Mom is going to give ya'll some hints!

If the last photo is not a dead give away...I have lost my touch!   But we are not there yet.   Stay tuned!

Sunflowers

Since this blog is titled Raising Sunflowers I wanted to get some photos of the girls in a field of Sunflowers.  We accomplished this a couple of days ago.

There was a lot of out takes with the girls yelling "It's a bee!"  "Oh my god, it's a bug!"   The crickets, bees and all other critters kept them on their toes.   And no one was harmed in the "filming" of these photos!!

They are our sunshine.   They are our moon.  They are the love of our lives!!