Kentucky Life

Learn about the vital role moths play in Kentucky's biodiversity; the cultural landmarks of Frankfort's historic district; an elegant Carnegie Library building is home to the collection of the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art; and Dave visits a Whitley County gardener whose exotic palms and cacti are more suited to tropical and desert climes than to Kentucky.

Dave travels the Bowling Green Civil War Discovery Trail; an historical marker commemorates Taylor Co. oldest congregation; dogs and cats provide 'Love On A Leash'; the Webster Co. town of Dixon is profiled; and KY Gentlemen Cigars feature premium tobacco aged in bourbon barrels.

Dave learns the roofing trade from Ray Nolan Roofing Company in Louisville; Today's Special is served in Paducah; award-winning Butler Co. glass artist William Van Tassel says "Life is good as a backwoods glassblower"; and the scenic Lewis Co. Quilt Trail includes barn quilt squares honoring veterans of the five U.S. military branches and POW/MIA's.

Judah Lowell's Corner Clocks in Lexington; a McLean Co. historical marker tells of a one-of-a-kind; Wildflowers Farm Bed and Breakfast near Paducah; Land Between the Lakes offers a porch swing and view; Our Town highlights the community of Sweet Owen, in Owen Co.; and printmaker and art professor Bob Franzini specializes in lithography.

A look at one of the most decorated units of the Civil War, the First Kentucky Brigade; Today's Special has an Italian flair, courtesy of Chef Joel Lavinder at Caproni's Restaurant in Maysville; in Russell Co., the members of OlBoysToys Car Club host a monthly car show April through September; and Elizabethtown has all the vibrant attributes of a much larger city but remains a charming small town.

Jefferson County artist Deward Eades, a visit to West Liberty, a profile of former State Rep. Bill "Banjo Bill" Cornett of Knott County, and paleontologist Rick Toomey of the Mammoth Cave International Center for Science and Learning.

Dave takes a high-flying zip-line tour through the forest canopy at Mammoth Cave; Shelby County's oldest stone residence; Today's Special is served up at Burkesville's Annie Ruby's Café, the Hancock community of Hawesville is tonight's Our Town; and Bedford artisan Lynn Horine creates beautiful baskets out of gourds and coiled pine needles.

At two recently erected public memorials, Kentuckians can honor and remember those from Flight 5191 and 9/11; the Carter County Caves have served several purposes including mining for saltpeter for the War of 1812; Kentucky authors Bobbie Ann Mason and Wendell Berry illuminate the stories behind one of the country's most unusual grave sites, and Dave visits Letcher County's Oven Fork Mercantile.

Visit Winter Wonderland at RiverPark Center in downtown Owensboro; Chef Bob Perry of the University of Kentucky's Sustainable Agriculture program cooks up a sumptuous Christmas dinner of all Kentucky products in Today's Special; Sara Dunham designs Christmas cards based on the 'sheep with character' at her Equinox Farm in Harrison County; and listen to traditional Christmas music.

In a chilly Dave Does It, Dave helps feed and tend the residents of Newport Aquarium's Penguin Palooza; a Metcalfe County historical marker details the discovery of an artesian well; Dave visits Vendome Copper and Brass Works in Jefferson County; the Knott County community of Mousie is Our Town; and explore the contributions of Kentucky's soldiers in the War of 1812.

A look at Western Kentucky's thriving pecan crop; an historical marker in Scott County provides information about the Payne-Desha House; part two of our look at The Orphan Brigade, beginning with the Battle of Shiloh; and in a segment narrated by singer Kris Kristofferson, a profile of Kentucky character actor Harry Dean Stanton.

On a canoe trip down the Little Sandy River, Dave discovers the beauty in this Elliott County paradise; historic Springfield in Washington County is Our Town; the unique architectural features of Kentucky's 13 remaining covered bridges; and Boone County's Maplewood Farm, the home of slave Margaret Garner, whose story was the inspiration for Toni Morrison's novel Beloved.

A teenage author discusses his book about his Hopkinsville home town; Dave puts his knowledge of the great outdoors to the test on a trip into the Daniel Boone Forest with a wilderness survival expert; and the husband and wife team behind Junkyard Pottery in McCreary County create hand-thrown pottery designed in a variety of colored glazes.

Dave takes a journey of discovery in the Civil War footsteps of his great-great-grandfather Michael Shuffett. Dave talks with genealogists and Civil War historians; participates in a reenactment; follows the fate of the 13th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry at the battles of Shiloh, Resaca, and Kennesaw Mountain; and learns what it means to be a Union soldier from Kentucky.

Two Kentucky high schools have won a staggering 23 state band championships between them - the Fayette County high schools of Lafayette and Dunbar; a historical marker describes how Cherokees sought shelter at Mantle Rock in Livingston Co.; the tasty confections of CakewalkKy in Boyle County; the Monroe County community of Bugtussle is Our Town; and learn about the Rowan County War.

In celebration of Earth Day, Dave helps net and band songbirds in Red River Gorge; Newport is our Downtown Destination; Dave gets a hives-eye-view of the modern trend of urban beekeeping in Louisville; and spring cleaning is the theme of a new Dave Does It which features Dave pitching in to help out groups across the state as they participate in the Commonwealth Cleanup efforts.

In Caldwell Co., the Wilson-Blair African American One Room Schoolhouse and museum features African American artifacts and memorabilia; explore the cultural history of the Paris and Bourbon County region at the Hopewell Museum; on the cliffs above Lake Cumberland in Burnside, Eagles View Bed & Breakfast offers guests lodge-style ambiance; and Dave visits one of the most haunted sites in America.

Horses are the focus of this Derby themed program as Dave visits Turfway Park in Florence and learns first-hand what it takes to operate a racetrack; a historical marker tells of Bashford Manor Farm; go on the beat with the Lexington Mounted Police; and be inspired by New Beginnings Therapeutic Riding in Bowling Green, a horseback riding program for kids with disabilities.

Travel the back roads of Kentucky in search of the painted barns that encouraged us all to "See Rock City"; a historical marker in Muhlenberg County tells the sad story of a house built for unrequited love; in Madison County, efforts are underway to memorialize and protect the site of The Battle of Richmond; and Dave enjoys the frozen treats of Gelato Gilberto in Prospect.

Henderson pays homage to its famous former resident with bronze bird sculptures created from the drawings of John James Audubon; the Lyon County community of Eddyville is tonight's Our Town; the ancient sport of falconry is alive in the skies of Grayson County; and from his Applied Imagination workshop in Campbell County, Paul Busse blends his passion for plants, architecture, and trains.

Dave spends a relaxing day on a cattle farm in Hopkins County, practicing his fly-fishing cast, and learning to weave baskets; a grouping of historical markers honors three Kenton County natives in the entertainment industry; Dee's Drive Inn, in Lawrence County, serves up Today's Special; Albany of Clinton County is tonight's Our Town; and more.

We take a look at an innovative program at the Morehead Youth Development Center that provides second chances for retired racing greyhounds and teenage girls. We also learn about the history of Swiss settlement in Laurel County, tour the new Eastern Kentucky University Center for the Arts, visit downtown Murray, and tap into the history of the Kentucky whiskey trade at Corsair Artisan Distillery.