Kelly McDonald

Many of the schools in Kentucky started back to school this week, Oldham County Schools included. I spent my morning at Locust Grove Elementary yesterday - I'm on the PTA Board. Our first day of school was fantastic. The school mascot is a Lion, so we set up a safari theme for the kids and handed out Locust Grove bookmarks to each student as they walked into school.

This was a huge deal for us, because Locust Grove is brand new to Oldham County and opened it's doors to students for the very first time yesterday. It is slated to hold around 800 kids, if I remember right, and I know that they were almost at capacity on registration day. The school isn't quite finished - the gym isn't finished, the library isn't ready, and there's no playground, but hopefully all that will change soon! The playground may not be ready until next year, but the PTA has some high hopes in raising enough money to buy a new playground for the students. As for the gym and the library, we'll leave that to the professionals!

None of that mattered to the students at Locust Grove though. My kiddo was so excited to be at a brand new school!

How did the first day of school go for you and yours?

Ok, I'm SOOOO excited I can hardly stand it. My old digital camera broke about 6 months ago. I've been holding off on purchasing a new one because I just couldn't decide on what I really wanted. So, after reading the reviews online and here no ActiveRain, I finally made a choice. I ordered the

It's supposed to ship sometime next week and I'm just dying to get out and use it. My first project is a photo tour of the LaGrange, KY area, so be watching for it in the next few weeks! We're going to have fun!

Last year about this time I posted a Mother's Day Out guide of nice places to take Mom on Mother's Day. It was so well received, I'm posting it again.

Here's your 2008 Mother's Day Out Guide

Special Gifts for Mom

Blow Mom a Vase at Glassworks
Glassworks - 815 W. Market Street, Louisville
Reservations: 502-992-3056
Cost: $60
Dates: Saturday, May 3 10am - 5pm
Saturday, May 10 10am - 5pm
Sunday, May 11 12 pm - 5pm (Mother's Day)
Saturday, May 17 10am - 5pm

Dining Events for Mom

Mother's Day Brunch - Locust Grove
Location: Locust Grove - 561 Blankenbaker Lane, Louisville
Reservations: 502-897-9845
Cost: $27.50 (adults); $12 (children)
Date: Sunday, May 11 from 10am - 2pm

Mother's Day Lunch Cruise - Belle of Louisville
Location: 4^th Stree (Downtown Louisville)
Reservations: 502-574-2992
Cost:

Date: Sunday, May 11 from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm (boarding begins at 12:30pm)

Mother's Day Lunch Cruise - Spirit of Jefferson
Location: 4^th Street Wharf (Downtown Louisville)
Reservations: 502-574-2992
Cost:

Date: Sunday, May 11 from 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm (boarding begins at 12:00pm)

Mother's Day Brunch at Churchill Downs
Location: Churchill Downs
Reservations: 502-636-4400
Cost: $45 (adults); $25 (children 4-12); Children 3 & under Free
Date: May 11, 2008
Brunch available from 11:30 am - 3:00 pm in the Millionaires Row Dining Room

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!

OK, so the earthquake was actually centered in southern Illinois. I don't know about you, but I felt it quite well in my little LaGrange, KY home. My husband and I woke up to a shaking house and a bed that felt like we had just dropped a quarter into one of those old (and a little questionable) hotel beds!

Now, if you are from out west where earthquakes are common - you have to remember that like a foot of snow in the winter, earthquakes just don't happen all that frequently here in the midwest (they probably happen just as frequently as a foot of snow!). People here get a little nervous when things out of the "norm" tend to occur.

Anyway, in the spirit of education, here is a link to the American Red Cross site on earthquake preparedness. I use to be a girl scout, so you know, you can never be too prepared! :)

Another thing to take into consideration is earthquake insurance on your home. Since we Kentuckian's do live near the New Madrid fault line, it is a very good idea to have this coverage. I believe it is offered as a rider to your regular home owners insurance (home insurance providers feel free to chime in or correct me!). Yeah, I know, we haven't had an earthquake that rocked our world in quite some time, and the New Madrid fault line hasn't produced a massive quake since 1811. However, some experts do believe that we could see one in our life time, so it can't hurt to be prepared.

Spring is here and the buzz is starting - no not bumble bee's - the Kentucky Derby! In just a few short weeks, the 134^th Running of the Kentucky Derby will be upon us. If you live in or near Kentucky you know we live and bleed the Derby. It's amazing the events that go on between now and the "First Saturday In May". Derby events kick off next weekend (April 12) with Thunder Over Louisville, "the largest annual pyrotechnic display in North America" (http://www.thunderoverlouisville.com/). It really is amazing if you've never seen it. People come from all over just for Thunder Over Louisville and stay for the great events that we have over the two weeks before Derby.

Just how MUCH fun do we have during Derby? We have parties - complete with all the big named celebrities. We have races with hot air balloons, waiters/waitresses, steamboats, soap boxes and more. We have wine festivals, huge golf tournaments, and parades too! And that's just the tip of the iceburg! Learn all about our Derby Festival events at http://www.kdf.org/.

In fact, people love the Derby so much, there's even a new documentary opening April 18^th called "The First Saturday In May". It's opening Nationwide, so make sure you check it out. It's sure to be a hit!

Hunting for Easter Eggs is always fun - it doesn't matter if you're 2 years old or 80 years old. Finding a prize is always fun. I remember one Easter in particular. My sister and I had to be about 7 and 5 (I being older) and we were out in the back yard playing and we kept finding black jelly beans in the grass. It was the coolest thing (you know, back in the good old days when no one was really paranoid about eating things that fell in the dirt?)! My sister and I ran around the yard collecting all of these jelly beans in the yard and having the best time.

Anyway, in the spirit of the Easter Egg hunt and good memories, here are a list of local places that are offering Easter Egg hunts for the kiddos! Make sure you bring your camera and your video camera - it's sure to be a good time.

Douglass Community Center
2305 Douglass Blvd, Louisville
March 15, 2008
10:00 AM - Noon
This is an Easter Egg Hunt and Party. The Easter Bunny will be there too and the cost is FREE!

Central High School
March 22, 2008
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Free for children 1-12 (accompanied by a parent or guardian)
Meet the Easter Bunny, Easter Egg Hunt, and prizes

E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park
Eggstravaganza
March 22, 2008
Beginning at 12:30 PM - ?
Free event for the whole family.
Meet the Easter Bunny
Egg Hunt Schedule:
1:00 PM - Ages 0-2
1:10 PM - Ages 3-4
1:20 PM - Ages 5-7
1:30 PM - Ages 8-10

I Want To Go To Waverly Hills!

Right now a local radio station here in Louisville, KY is holding a contest. Yes, I know. Radio stations always hold contests - no big deal, right? Wrong! Every year for Halloween they give away free tickets to tour Waverly Hills Sanitarium. What's Waverly Hills, you ask? Well, for those of you who watch Ghost Hunters religiously like I do, you probably already know, but for those of you who don't - a little history.

Waverly Hills Sanitarium opened in the early 1900's as a tuberculosis hospital. Before the creation of streptomycin, an antibiotic created to cure TB, tens of thousands of people died here (some estimates are as high as 64,000 people). The Sanatorium closed in the early 1960's when the need for a TB hospital was no longer necessary. About a year or so later, the hospital re-opened as a Geriatric Sanitarium where it is rumored that patients were mistreated and unusual experiments were performed. The Hospital was again closed in 1982 due to patient abuse.

Waverly Hills has been deemed one of the "Scariest Places on Earth" as was featured on a show by the same name on Fox/ABC, as well as on VH1's Celebrity Paranormal Project and on SciFi's Ghost Hunters.

Anyway, I'm a big sci-fi, paranormal, ghost nut, and have never been to this place before. So I really want to go and it out. As an added bonus this year though, the Ghost Hunter guys from SciFi are going to be there doing a live show from Waverly Hills (you can watch it Oct. 31 on the SciFi channel). Needless to say, if I go, I'll post pictures!

However, the fact that I've been pounding the buttons on my phone every time the touch tones go off on the radio isn't the reason I'm posting this here. Why I'm really posting is because this radio contest got me thinking about real estate (how's that?). I started wondering as I was inflicting abuse on my phone, what it would take to make people want to call me and desperately get a hold of me to sell or help them find a house? What can I do to make sure that my phone number is on speed dial like this radio station is on mine? How does Kelly McDonald, Super Realtor Extraordinaire, become a household name?

I'm looking for ideas! No, I can't offer a drawing for a free house or a new car. What I do have is time, energy, and determination that won't quit. So what do you think? Suggestions? Thoughts?

On October 20, 2007 Yew Dell Gardens and the Oldham County Public Library are sponsoring "BOO DELL". Bring your kiddo's in their favorite halloween costumes for a day of fun and excitement! From 11:30 - 1:30 children will be able to walk to Trail of Treats and visit Oldham County businesses for all sorts of goodies. A Halloween Magic show will follow at 2:00 with Mr. Magic, Jeff Russ.

Also, this year, Yew Dell is hosting its first annual "Book O'Lantern" contest. Decorate your pumpkins like your favorite story book character. Pumpkins can be dropped off at Yew Dell Gardens Friday, October 19 from 10:00 - 3:00 or Saturday, October 20 from 10:00 - noon. Special Guest judges will announce the winners at 3:00.

Hayrides and pumpkins will be on sale all day.

Admission to Boo-Dell is FREE with your Oldham County Public Library card!

Yew Dell Gardens is located at:

Yew Dell Gardens
6220 Old LaGrange Road
Crestwood, KY 40014