HUNTER’S MOON FESTIVAL

October 8, 2011  Dateline:  Grand Rivers, KY USA

Last Thursday, Rich and Carol went to a restaurant in Grand Rivers called Sugar and Spice.  The restaurant is a converted single family home. It is operated by Marilyn, a female chef, who only serves dinner by reservation and the maximum number of people she will serve in one evening is 6.  You eat in her very large kitchen and she sits and talks to you during your meal.  The evening’s course was an Octoberfest of German food beginning with appetizers followed by five different meats (Sauerbraten, Beef Roulades, Chicken paprikash, Lamb Shanks, and Wiener Schnitzel ). The side dishes were roasted potatoes, spätzle, homemade sauerkraut and red cabbage.  The meal was incredible. Rich commented that it was the best German food he has ever had. Considering how much time he spent in Germany that is quite a statement.  During the meal, Marilyn commented how she had worked in large restaurants but that they were not her cup of tea and that she much enjoyed the small meals where she can talk to her customers and cook only what she enjoys.  Besides operating the restaurant she also gives cooking classes one night a week.

On Saturday, October 8^th Carol, Rich, Francine, and Wayne went into the town of Grand Rivers for the annual Hunter’s Moon Festival. It consists of craft and retail vendors as well as food vendors and inflatable slides and bouncing chambers for the children.  There is also a very large parade down the main street of town. The parade began with the usual line of fire trucks and EMT vehicles followed by a local high school band, many decorated floats and cars carrying important individuals. The riders on each float threw hands full of candy to the children along the route. The little kids had a ball collecting the candy off the pavement. It ended with a Christmas float carrying Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. They threw stuffed animals to children along the way.  The parade lasted for at least 45 minutes.   During the parade the main street of Grand Rivers was completely shut down.  When you consider that there is only one road passing through the town, the impact of shutting down the road was very significant. 

The mayor of the town rode by sitting on the back of a convertible smoking a big fat cigar. The cigar made him look like the stereo typical politician.

In the evening, Rich and Carol along with Wayne and Francine Sam and Lee went to Paducah for dinner.  They met with Gordon and his wife.  Gordon operates the BOATUS franchise on Lake Barkley and is based in Green Turtle Bay.  The dinner at Max’s was very good and the company even better.

Carol noticed this lady standing on the corner as the Statute of Liberty.  She could only hold her torch up high for so long and then her arm got tired. She then began to twirl her arm for a few seconds then assumed her statue position. But while she was posing she looked good.

On Wednesday October 12, I begin to move again.  The three weeks in Grand Rivers have gone fast