11.27.10 – Newport, Kentucky and Brighton (Cincinnati, Ohio)

No, I did not camp out or get up before dawn on Black Friday to shop and I nearly stayed home today to either watch movies or finish reading Patti Smith’s Just Kids, but, even with the cold weather, the sun was out and the sky was blue. Still, it seemed a good idea to stick close to home and to find less congested locations, and, as I was out of my Elmwood Inn Kentucky Blend Tea, I stopped at the Kentucky Haus in Newport. Yes, it is very close to home (less than 2 miles), but I did have to cross the Licking River to get there. This is a lovely store on the corner of Monroe and 10th Street (not far from Newport on the Levee) with pretty much everything Kentucky you could possibly desire, from Bybee pottery to Elmwood Inn Tea to bourbon candy. Most Saturdays they have tastings, so they are well-worth attending. After a second sampling of the chocolate nut pie, I added it to my purchase. Hopefully mine will taste as good as theirs. The last time I visited I was able to have my tealeaves read. Today there was a pottery demonstration by one of the artists represented. Luckily I was unable film my try at stamping the clay or else you'd think I had overindulged in the bourbon candy. It is much harder than it looks. If you live in the area you really should stop in to the shop.

I then headed over to Brighten to see the Semantics and U-turn gallery shows before they ended today. Somehow crossing the bridge into another state makes me feel I have journeyed somewhere, even if it really is only a quarter of a mile across. Both galleries have openings next Saturday, so check them out.

11.20.10 – Loveland, Ohio

I had to do some work this morning, which cut into travel plans, but there’s always something interesting close to home if you look. I went out to Loveland, Ohio this afternoon, home to Chateau Laroche, a handmade castle built by one extremely obsessed man. Many of the rocks were found along the Ohio River, but others were given to him by visitors who heard his story. I visited the castle years ago in college, while taking an architectural history course. It’s still both bizarre and magical. When I visited Denmark in 2003 I overdosed on castles, so much so that when I next went to London, I just couldn’t bear one more. Enough time has clearly passed, and this one is much smaller.

Next I visited Grailville, which is a retreat center nearby. I’ve always heard about it, but never had a reason to go. I learned they had a labyrinth, which I thought might be fun to walk. Of course with my bad sense of direction I thought for certain I had made a wrong turn, as it seemed to take me forever, but it was worth it to get to the center. It, and the brief bit of nice weather, inspired me to do a bit of whirling dervish. I still feel a little dizzy.

I had thought about a longer trip next weekend, but with all the crazy people going, mostly unhappily, to their families and back, I’m thinking it will be safer to stay indoors with the stack of DVDs I checked out from the library and plan something the following week.

11.13.10 – Augusta, Kentucky

Things got in the way last week, but I decided to take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather for a drive in the country today. I also finally acquired a GPS, so hopefully I will never be lost again, although I may be more annoyed. A test trip last week proved the system likes to get you off the highway an exit sooner than you really should. When I chose to stay on the highway, I heard what sounded almost like a sigh come from the system before it said, "recalculating." I think what I like best about it so far is that it shows me that I am indeed going the right way, which my self doubts often have been the cause of me getting very lost. If only there were a system to let you know you are going the right way in your life and relationships.

Anyway, Augusta is a lovely river town about an hour southeast of Cincinnati. The GPS had me go through Ohio and then take the ferry over to Augusta, which made the trip seem really like a voyage. The free and easy parking, and shops and attractions, all within walking distance, make it a great day trip. I stopped off at the visitors' center, which is located in a converted train car and offers terrific river views. After seeing the word "fried" used way too many times on the recommended restaurant's menu (yes, I know I'm in the South), I instead stopped at the General Store, which allowed me to have pancakes (I could eat breakfast for all three meals) and admire their holiday decorations. Augusta is the home of Kentucky's oldest jail, which was news to me. It's probably better known for the Clooney connection -- Nick and Nina Clooney (George's parents and Nick was Rosemary's brother) live in Augusta. Nina also has a shop and I even saw her walking down Main Street today (no, I did not bother her). Before she died, Rosemary bought a riverside home here, which has been converted into a museum by Heather French, the former Miss Kentucky and Miss America, who is an Augusta native.

Still, the Ohio River was never out of my eye line for very long. Driving there and back it was constantly on my side and it was quite tempting to stay seated the rest of the afternoon and watch the water flow.