SOCIAL - OCTOBER 8, 2009
Ahhh, Autumn
By Kay W. Camenisch | Life Happens
It’s official. Autumn has arrived. Cool mornings greet us, bright colors sprinkle hillsides, and leaves float to the ground. School buses run the roadways, vegetable gardens look deserted, and rolls of hay dot the fields. In addition, pumpkin stands have popped up beside the road, corn shocks tied with ribbon lean against lamp post, and bright-colored mums flank doorways. Summer has ended. Fall is here.
Hills covered with bright leaves remind me of my junior year in college. I was in Bristol, Tennessee—just down the road from the Appalachian Trail. Rainfall, cold nights, and short days came together just right that year, producing leaves of brilliant yellows, reds, and golds. Occasional evergreens made the colors seem even brighter.
The Appalachian Trail beckoned—but I didn’t have transportation to get there. Instead, I talked constantly about hiking. That got a friend in trouble, because it made her want to go on a hike. When a boy she didn’t want to date asked her to go on the Appalachian Trail with him, she told him yes without thinking.
She came back to me and said that it was my fault she was stuck with this guy. Consequently, I had to find a date and go with her. I wasn’t accustomed to asking guys out—but, I really wanted to go tromp the Appalachian Trail while it was ablaze with fall color.
I carefully considered whom to ask. One at a time I ruled out all my male friends. I didn’t want to get a relationship started; I just wanted to go hiking and needed somebody to go with me. I was afraid they would read the wrong motive into an invitation. It wasn’t worth the risk of losing a good friendship.
I finally thought of someone who had sat at my table for meals several times lately. He seemed decent and fun. Since I didn’t really know him, I didn’t care whether I ruined our friendship or not. With nothing to lose, I asked Bob Camenisch if he would go with me.
He couldn’t go. He had a soccer game. But the next weekend—because he felt sure I wouldn’t say no, not because he was particularly interested in me—he asked me to go hiking with him.
We had a great time. We had such a good time that he invited me to go to the student union for a coke the next day. In fact, I think we saw each other every day that next week.
A week after our hike, I wrote my sister and said, “If he’s who I think he is, I’ve found the guy I’m going to marry.” She responded in record time. She cautioned me to be careful, not to rush into anything, a week isn’t very long to get to know somebody, and marriage is for a lifetime, et cetera, and so forth.
Well, Bob—now called Robert—ended up being even more than I thought he was. We celebrated our fortieth anniversary this past spring—and it all started with a beautiful fall. I wonder if one reason I love autumn so much is that it triggers memories and emotions of how I got together with the man of my life.
I’m sure that’s part of it, but there’s more. I love the bright colors, and am fascinated with the creative genius that causes green to fade away so the reds, golds, and yellows will shine. How amazing! And it’s programmed to happen every year!
Autumn stirs feelings of satisfaction too. Seeing hay in the fields, corn being harvested, and pumpkins beside the road is a reminder of the jars in the pantry and the packages in the freezer. This year, there is certainly reason for satisfaction. This has been a good year for gardens. A lot of food has been put away.
One year when the garden was bountiful, my mother canned 600 jars of food. (She was running a home for twelve men. The food would be used.) While showing me shelves full of tomatoes, beans, pickles, and more, she said, “I’ve had more tomatoes than I can say grace over.” She was tired of canning, but was grateful for food for the coming year.
No other season brings that same feeling of fulfillment, of completion. Fall brings a warm, satisfying sense of “good job.” But nobody needs to say the words or give a pat on the back. Pumpkins, mums, and colored leaves communicate the message just fine.
Habitat News
By Roberta Keefe
We are about ready for the house to be delivered on the 13th.
Mike spent a long time digging the footer. Lot 5 is on a four-foot slope, meaning the left side is four foot higher than the right side and is too high on one side to use the backhoe to dig out the usual footer trench, which is the easier way to complete a footer.
With a sloped lot the whole crawl space is dug out and then the footer is formed as needed. One side of the footer may be up off of the ground, while another portion is way below the ground level.
In the case of lot four, the low side required a step down. A step down is the size of one row of concrete blocks. The perimeter of the house will be the same, except two places along the footer will be a course of blocks lower and will require an extra row of concrete blocks.
After the footer is poured, dirt will be pushed against the low side. After the block is laid and water sealed, soil will cover the low areas to the depth of code, 24 inches. It will be up to Boyle Block, our block supplier, to figure the necessary number of blocks, but they have done that many times and are very efficient.
The crawl space will still require filling with stone up to the level of the footer inside. If the low side is extremely low, soil can be used but eventually must be covered with two or three inches of gravel to meet code.
As the final grade is established, a swale will be built to encourage proper drainage. It is not a good idea to have one home create run-off problems for another.
We received another nice bonus from Kentucky Housing Corp. They are only going to require inspection for lots 6 and 7. This will make it easier to get work done on lot 5, as we will not have holdups waiting for Andy to arrange a visit. He likes to have five to seven days notice and in this business of weather and volunteers that is very hard to cope with. You cannot tell volunteers that you will have work to do on a certain day and then when that day arrives, send them back home because the inspection has not been done.
We have never had a severe building code violation, because Mike would never let his name be connected with it. He is very stern about this which certainly helps our credibility. That is not to say we don’t have some minor corrections to fix but Andy is very good about alerting us to them and feels, with volunteers, they are unavoidable.
With that in mind please come help us build the week of Oct. 13 through 18. Call Roberta at 548-2270 or any board member to volunteer time or just show up. We will off-load on 13 and lay the floor. Friday and Saturday will be the harder wall, truss and OCB days.
If you can’t stay all day, just a few hours will be greatly appreciated. We have a good time but get a lot accomplished.
Pollard Reunion
The descendents of Absolem Pollard gathered on Saturday, September 26, 2009 for their annual reunion celebration, which began with breakfast at the Country Diner. There were twelve to enjoy the breakfast prepared and served by the efficient staff.
The tour of the cemeteries was canceled due to rain. This did not stop the group from having a wonderful time at the Garrard Historical Society’s Salter House doing research. Thanks to Margaret Ann Simpson for guiding us to the different areas of research. We all enjoyed her sharing a wealth of information on Garrard County families including the Pollard family.
From 7 – 9 p.m. Sam Bourne opened his home to thirty-five descendents attending. Punch and cookies were served. Everyone enjoyed the fellowship and reminiscing about their ancestors.
On Sunday, September 27th, the group gathered at the Garrard County Fire Station #1 for their potluck dinner. The tables were covered with various colored cloths and decorations were of fall leaves. At 1 p.m. Edna Pollard Risen called the group together and gave the welcome. Larry Pollard from Owensboro gave the blessing. The descendents sat down to enjoy a bountiful meal of fried chicken and country ham in addition to the various dishes of carry-in food.
Those attending were: Ben Pollard, Amarillo, TX; Joyce Saunders and Tina Wideman, Greenwood, SC; Jackie Vines, Ninety Six, SC; Bronston Boone, Columbia, TN; Suzanne Boone, Nashville, TN; Donna Ryan, Cincinnati, OH; Edna & John Risen, Williamstown; Paul & Chris Bourne, Louisville; Shirley Ross Dukes, Frankfort; Don & Phyllis Carter, Nicholasville; Rita Adkinson, Versailles; Maurice & Helen Ham, Danville; Joy & Mason Cornelison, Berea; Lucy Ann Embry, Bruce & Susie Morris, Christine McBee, Roy & Judy Clark Reichenbach all of Stanford; Shirley Turner, Osa Gooch, Pat Sutton, Sam Bourne, Beulah Pollard, Teresa Pollard, Elizabeth H. Clark, Judith Kirby Shearer, Brian & Tracie Naylor, Rita Mullis, Betty Sue Davis, Laura Sutton, Creag Sutton, Valerie & Jerrica Sutton, Charles & Ronda Ingram, Gloria Gastineau, Brianna Lowry, Kristen Johnson, Noah Bastin, Willene Clark Ross, Rusty, Linda and Josh Speakes, all of Lancaster.
Paint Lick Elementary Spotlight On Success
Mrs. Margaret Powell’s Kindergarten and Mrs. Connie Brown’s Second Grade have gotten off to a successful start this school year at Paint Lick Elementary. The students demonstrate great behavior in the lunchroom, are hard workers and complete their homework! Also, they are good listeners and are kind to each other. Congratulations boys and girls!
Mrs. Powell’s Kindergarten: 1st row - Alexis Harris, Kayden Day, Karli Kirkpatrick, Connor Hacker, Kayleigh Anderson; 2nd row - Tucker Oliver, Jacob Madden, Rafael Hernandez, Zachary Doty, Callie Anderson, Anna Lane; 3rd row - Mrs. Marilyn Davis, Ryan Gadd, Jack Simpson, Daniel Godber, Clara Allen, Raelyn Combs, Audriana Ramirez, Samantha Harris, Mrs. Margaret Powell.
Mrs. Connie Brown’s Second Grade:1st row - Haley Sparks, Brandi Hale; 2nd row - Karissa Morgan, Lane West, Emily Burns, Ethan Baker, Brandy Runyon, Christopher Riley, Trenton Durham; 3rd row - Mrs. Connie Brown, Michael Lear, Lauren Browning, Hunter Weddington, Braden Carmack, Noah Stanton, Kristin Hawley, Sarah Naylor, Mallery Reynolds, James Wilson.
Band Picks Up Trash
Several members of the Garrard County Marching Band gathered together Saturday morning, October 3 on Nina Ridge Road as part of the Garrard County Beautification/Anti-Litter campaign.
The band members, Mr. Vance and a few parents walked along Nina Ridge Road from beginning to end which is 4.88 miles and picked up trash. The trash that was collected was disposed of at the Garrard County Convenience Center.
This was the band’s second road cleanup this year. The road cleanup is one of several fundraisers that the band has participated in this year to raise funds for their trip to Indianapolis where they will compete in the Bands of America National Competition on November 12.
Pruett - Wilson Wedding
Megan Paige Pruett, daughter of Kim and Doug Pruett of Martinez, CA and James Conn Wilson, son of Hugh Wilson of Paint Lick and Elizabeth Moreland of Carlisle were married Saturday, October 3, 2009 at an outdoor wedding on the family's farm on Wilson Lane in Paint Lick. The reception was also outside on the farm.
Rev. Kevin Thomas performed the ceremony.
The attendants were the groom and bride's closest friends.
The bride is a graduate of College Park High School in Pleasant Hill, CA and is employed at Community Trust and Investment in Lexington.
The groom is a graduate of Nicholas County High School; he is a farmer and manages a transmission shop in Lexington.
The couple currently resides on the family's farm in Paint Lick.