A Beautiful Day in January

These pictures were taken today when my family and I went to Christian County (Hopkinsville).  Today was absolutely gorgeous.  In Nashville, TN, the high was 65 degrees.  When we were leaving Hopkinsville on Highway 41 to HIghway 68 / 80, mom wanted me to pull over to see this man on the side who was selling vegetables.  At first, I passed him up, but turned around to comply with my mom's request.  The man was selling turnips, turnip greens, and brown eggs.  The interesting thing about this man was that he was Mennonite and he was black.  I know that sounds like an oxymoron, almost like a black-white supremacist (a la Dave Chappelle), but this is true.  I took this picture because...well for one...because no one would ever believe me...the other...well no one would ever believe me.  Minus the power lines, if I put this picture in Black and White, I feel that it would be difficult to date this picture. 

This next picture is not of the George Washington Monument.  For my Western Kentuckians, you all know that this is the Jefferson Davis Monument located in Fairview, KY.  Fairview, KY is located on the border of Christian and Todd Counties.  Jefferson Davis was the only president of the Confederacy when it seceeded from the Union.  Fairview, at the time, was located in Christian County.  When Todd County was formed, parts of the town became geographically located in Todd County.  I have passed through Fairview many of times, especially when in high school when we played in Hopkinsville.  The old 68/80 passed through the middle of Fairview.  However around 2000, the road was rerouted to bypass Fairview.  You can still see the obelisk miles before reaching Fairview, especially when coming from the east.  Jefferson Davis was born in Fairview, but his family relocated to Mississippi while he was still an infant.  An interesting historical tidbit that I remember learning from Mrs. Raines in 8th grade history class is that both Lincoln and Davis were born in Kentucky....crazy, huh?  Both leaders of their time period had their origins in Kentucky.  Sorry for my tangent, but I love history.  Another interesting thing is that this site, the confederate legacy, and local high school mascot (Rebels) was a controversial issue when a black man from a local community killed a white man who was riding in his truck with a Confederate Battle Flag (this was in 1995 or 1996).  For those that would be interested in visiting this site, the park around the monument is very nice for those visit.  I am not sure if you can go up the monument because that part was closed today.

One thing that I like to do when taking pictures is doing Drive By's.  No, I am not talking about blasting on fools (ha ha), but just holding the camera out while the car is in motion and hoping that you are lucky to snap a picture worthy to keep.  This picture below is a Drive By.  I would not recommend this style of taking pictures, I will say that I have caught some interesting shots like this.  This building looked to be an old train station.  I took the picture just to try to get "Hopkinsville" in the picture.  I liked this picture because of the effect the sun's glare.

In conclusion...take full advantage of a beautiful day.  If not then....shame on you.