Kudzu, the silent killer

It's been said that kudzu can grow anywhere and over anything, and I have zero experiences that would suggest otherwise. This picture was taken in a small town in southeastern Kentucky, but an amazingly similar picture could by taken in any number of towns and cities south of here. People seem to hate this vine because it overtakes other plants and chokes them to death. And it grows quick and drinks pesticides for lunch. But I think kudzu gets a bad rap. I can't think of many scenes more beautiful than a hillside covered in a carpet of kudzu, so green it's blue. I used to work in Illinois, and when I'd return home to visit the most striking change in the landscape would be the kudzu creeping all around me, lapping my feet. So maybe I'm biased.

Coal camp b & b

I feel like I'm on a roll, posting two entries in less than half an hour. This picture is from a local bed and breakfast. This building, which now acts as the office, confernce room, dance hall and social gathering hall for guests, used to be the store in a mine camp that made up the town. The owners have turned a few coal houses into sleeping quarters for guests. It's quite nice.

1/2 off sass, today only

I spotted this sign while driving around a tiny town in southwest Virginia with my co-worker. The church is just across the road from a huge new super Wal-Mart.