NEAR HARRODSBURG, KY–I was part of the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, or more widely known as the Shakers for a day and night. I wasn’t exactly a Shaker, but I spent some time learning about their life while living on their land and in their buildings.
Luckily I didn’t have to fully commit by giving up my worldly possessions and staying five feet away from the opposite sex. Which in that time would mean no hanky panky or procreation. That was the Shaker way.
This 3,000 acres of beautiful rolling hills with 34 preserved Shaker buildings and 40 miles of trails for hiking, cycling and horse back riding, make up what is left of this village that was once home to more than 500 Shakers back in the 1800s.
You’re never far from horses when in Kentucky, especially when I found myself leaving Louisville, the home of the Kentucky Derby and heading to Lexington, the home of Keeneland, home of the 2015 Breeders’ Cup.
Derby weekend draws equine and racing fans to the first jewel in the Triple Crown. The derby is a day of mint juleps and unique hats, along with being “the most exciting two minutes in sports.”
However, the horses I was spending time with at Pleasant Hill Shaker Village worked hard in a different way. The Shires, Roz and Sadie, could be found pulling the plow or sharing the trips of the hayride with the Percherons, Blue and Ivy.
I’m pretty sure though this Blue and Ivy came along far before Jay Z and Beyoncé named their daughter Blue Ivy. But maybe they visited Pleasant Hill.
…enjoy the rest of the article at thestar.com
© 2015 – 2017, Anne-Marie Marais. All rights reserved.
Leave a Reply