Wednesday, July 31, 2013

American Queen Steamboat

The American Queen Steamboat is the largest ever built.  She was built in 1995.  She is a six-deck recreation of a classic Mississippi riverboat, built by McDermott Shipyard for the Delta Queen Steamboat Co.

We arrived at the Limestone Landing est. 1784 and reestablished in 1992, in Maysville, Ky.


The walk down to where the steamboat is dock was interesting.....a short tunnel of hand print tiles.




We then saw one of the Heritage Quilt squares (from the Maysville Heritage Quilt Trail, which will be covered in a later blog)
This one is call "Riverboat"



There she was the American Queen!


                                             
                                             The Bell.

                         
                                           The Paddle Wheel


We walked over to the railroad tracks to get a better view.....


This view shows the Steamboat and railroad tracks and the Simon Kenton Bridge.
We decided to check out the city of Maysville and returned just as the steamboat was getting ready to leave and continue her journey.
                                               Lowered smoke stacks, to be able to get under
                                               the Simon Kenton Bridge.



Once she got away from the dock a very pleasant thing happened....the playing of the Calliope!
It played all until it was out of sight.

                                          Going under the bride.





Paddle Wheel...


Raising of the smoke stacks...first one..






Then the other......

What a great experience.  I would loved to have gone on board.  It would be fun to take a cruise on the Ohio on the American Queen!!!


The next part will be of Maysville, Ky. which has a lot of things to see...a great place to spend a few hours on a Sunday afternoon.....

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Lilyfest!

A friend told me about Lilyfest that happens in July in the Hocking Hills.  This year it was July 12, 13, 14.  We decided to go and we had a wonderful time.  It wasn't at all what I had expected.  It is in the hills and as we were driving to it, had deer crossing the road, which was very narrow.  We parked in a grassy field and as we entered the wooded area....



This lovely area with statues and benches and lots of flowers!

Not what I expected at all.


Here are all kinds of Lilies and other plants for sale.


This pretty gardening shed with a bottle tree!

This is the entrance to the Bamboo forest.....



We didn't know where it was taking us....

Finally we came out in an area where they were selling trees and bushes...They had everything anyone could think of that they might want.... I saw a few I would like to have...BUT  no room in my yard.....




This vendor was selling plants and seed for everything.  There were plants I had never heard of...was fascinating just looking at them all.  I did buy a Cotton plant....so far it is growing ...it is suppose to produce cotton balls...will let you know if it does....
A bathtub full of flowers and ?  

This is the Butterfly enclosure...unfortunately it was closed because of all the rain...no butterflies.



More displays of the beautiful things we saw made by fine artists and craftsman.  Lots of things for the garden.





Iron work...

This is one of the seating areas...along a trail to another discovery!

Beautiful flower beds everywhere!

                           This was fun to find!


Even had to be sure and check the ground closely....never knew what you would find!


This is a two level pond...We could hear frogs croaking...and at first thought it
a recording.....LOL....and we soon found them!




 This beautiful pond was where we found the frogs...lots of frogs!



Here are some pictures of a few of the
frogs...there were goldfish too.






Even trees were interesting to see.  Trees stumps were filled with flowers.








This vine growing up the tree was interesting to see....

                                          Another great resting place!




 Lots of ideas.  There was music also. They were good and I was fascinated by the bowls she was playing.


 There was a Viking settlement also.


And of course the "Lilies"...so many and so beautiful.....





 All different colors and some with wonderful smells.....This was a great place for anyone who enjoys hiking and flowers and garden art and seeing the work of wonderful artists.

As we left...this little fellow bid us adieu !!!!
A Little Wood-Satyr.....


Put the Lilyfest on your things to do next summer!  They had 3 days before the fest when you could visit just to see the gardens (no vendors those days)  But I have to admit I enjoyed seeing everyone's beautiful things.
I did buy a wind chime...a bird wind chime!  It makes a great sound when the wind blows...

Maybe I will see you at Lilyfest next year...it will be the 23rd Annual one.....this is the address...
Bishop Educational Gardens, 13200 Little Cola Rd., Rockbridge, Oh.