The Shaker Museum at South Union is the site of a former Shaker village in south-central Kentucky that petered-out in the early 1920s. A Benedictine monastery has taken over a few of the original buildings, so it’s kept it’s legacy as space for a “peculiar people.”

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The highway that made the Shaker village possible, and then ultimately brought it’s demise.

During the school year I have two lives. Most of the time I spin my head on research and ethnographic projects in south-central Kentucky. But every now and then I escape to Nashville to see excellent and lovely friends play lovely and excellent music. It’s a truer self that comes out when I’m in Nashville, and I am glad for their friendship and active creativity. It rubs off all over me.

Pictured above is soul sister Sarah Carter, channeling her inner Sara Carter on autoharp at Dino’s.

This picture feels like the moment felt. My other soul sister Liz Thielemann emceeing.

The Thielemann sisters Liz + Lily belt it out as Oh Dang Lo Mein.

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Husband + wife team Dan and Robyn Burns, who go by Action! played a show at my house in Bowling Green with Bloomington champ Justin Vollmar in the fall of 2010. Since then I’ve been trying to convince them what an utter fan I am.

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Robyn + Dan have recently become musical buddies with DIY hero and recent Nashville transplant/homecomer, R. Stevie Moore. Dan plays drums for Stevie when he plays in town. What a great combo.

Some handsome boys that are new and old friends to me, play in the Hogslop String Band, serving up old time for good times and hard.

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Franklin, Tenn. buckdancer Tommy (?) gets the crowd in order for mountain dancing.

Liz + Timbre on the dance floor.

Former Old Crow member Matt Kinman moonlights with Hogslop. Here, reciting a questionable joke. Daniel Allen Frazier, Jr, star of an unbelievable country-tinged seafood chain commercial (and so much more) on the washboard.

The Cornerstoned of them all, Mr. Casey McBride.

A happy surprise, the music of James Wallace and the Naked Light.

Hogslop/Naked Light superjam. Sound soon to come.

It’s taken me a full semester and some months to find a moment to share these photos. Even now, I am stealing a moment. But what a glorious thing to remember this place. A place that glitters more than anywhere I’ve ever been. I can say with some certainty that this is my favorite place on earth.

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Howard’s grandson Andy, who kindly let us in on an “off” day. He’ll tell you a story or two. A spitting image, too. May we always be…Gardening Angels on Duty.

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A thing of beauty. This photo isn’t technicolor enough for the reality of it.

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Mama blends in.

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Finster Bicycle Tower commissioned for an R.E.M. music video, of course. Athens pride.

Mama + the angels.

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Alan Jabbour shout out.

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Finster wanted to be buried in that coffin but his family cremated him. Above is a fan-generated replica of one of his most famous pieces. Folks still get married in here, even though Howard is not around to pull a fig off the fig tree, split it in half, give bride and groom a piece, and proclaim them man and wife, with the power vested in him, the state of Georgia, and God.

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Always and forever.

Goofy…thanks, Mom!

Travel Tip: Armstrong BBQ down the road in Summerville. Our waitress told us she waited on Howard for 30 years.

California sweetheart Hayden Shiebler visited me on her trip to Nashville. This lady + Freeman Kitchens hit it off talking about the Opry.

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I’m trying to take more portraits of Freeman.

Freeman in his shop. We’ve got an unlikely/rewarding friendship going.

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Students in Michael Ann Williams’ Museum Procedures class at the WKU Folk Studies MA program put together an exhibit on/at the Gardner House in Hart Co., KY, a historic home the Department has been doing preservation work on for years. It was lovely.

Janice enthralled by the craftsmanship of an original doorframe?

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Sarah McCarrt-Jackson, Janice Crane, Dr. Michael Ann Williams

Supportive dude/honorary docent, Bryan Jackson

Sweet smile, dark photo

Alice in Wonderland effect. Hayden in a tiny upstairs room.

Amanda Hardeman with Banjo No. 1

Amanda Hardeman with Banjo No. 2

Husband-Wife Basketmaking Team

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A lot of important people in this photo.

Amanda

Suiting up for nature - Spencer

My backyard garden is grooowing.

The Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC

Hello, 1983.

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Thirsty Monk, downtown Asheville, NC

King Street alley, Charleston, SC

King Street antique district

Sweetgrass basketmaker at the market. No Lomaxian rearranging here.

Washington, GA.

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The University of Georgia, Athens.

Pit stop at lonely Stone Mountain, GA.

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Sweet dad.

Plantation-viewing

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Candler Park, Atlanta, GA.

It’s been a few years since she’d been here last. Atlanta, GA.

The Minister’s Treehouse, Crossville, TN

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The teepee where builder/artist/minister Horace Burgess and other caretakers of the site live or stay.

The chapel inside the treehouse.

The crop formed to spell “JESUS” with a cross.

Pictures of me are always out of focus.

My sweet dad and mom.

On the lookout on the 10th floor.

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More unreal, in real life.

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One of the builders/caretakers of the site, Jerry Davenport.

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New family portrait.

Sadly, closed. Galinburg, TN

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Into the Smokies.

Deerhoof at the Mercy Lounge, Nashville, Tennessee.

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A wintertime portrait of Freeman Kitchens’ record shop.

Freeman and Bruce in their home (decorated by Bruce!)

The kitchen

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Liz and Sarah and Cat in Nashville.

Whoopie pies and chocolate cake for my 24th birthday.

We played “Pin the Tail on the (Alan) Dundes.” Oy.

Stock photo of Sarah and Janice! Gal Pals celebrating with wine!

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See here

23, you’re out the door, 24, you’re here for more.

My fall 2009. Beautiful Brown Co., Indiana

Bloomingfoods, by Becky D.

Photobomb!

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A VollmOrr

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Church Buddies.

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Jerry Lotz’s place, Louisville, KY.

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Chestnut St., Bowling Green, KY

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Backyard Winter Scene.