Uncle Frank, and his brother Molter, enjoyed growing and canning their own food. After World War Two, they both continued the practice of planting “Victory Gardens”.
Growing up in the Grocery Business, they became skilled in advising their customers about how to prepare any item found on their produce counters or meat cases.
After the sale of the Kernen Grocery on Louisville, Kentucky’s Preston Street, Uncle Frank went into the Real Estate Business and he and Aunt Adrienne moved to a farm area out Highway 42.
I heard stories about the land they farmed, the horses they stabled, and the goats they raised. Little did I know when listening to those country sagas that I would be drawn into a life-changing adventure that would begin with their woodland waterfall.
Since they had no children to carry on their Kernen name, we devised a plan in which I would paint that waterfall and title it, “Kernen’s Falls Autumn”.
Wearing comfortable shoes, I followed them one morning along a path blazed on trees until we stood at the cascading subject of our Kentucky art project. To this day, I remember the overwhelming sense of awe that froze me in place when I first saw the Falls and I understood why this land meant so much to them. After my introduction to their revered spot, we went back to the house to discuss my painting agenda.
The following week I returned with canvas, paint, and easel. Assuring them I would be fine going to the falls by myself, I set out on my expedition only to find in ten minutes time I was hopelessly lost. If it had not been for the sound of a carpenter’s buzz saw, I would probably still be wandering around in that Highway 42 woods. I followed the sound of the saw and made my way back to their house to learn there were two trails blazed on the trees and I had followed the wrong one.
In time I would complete my Waterfall canvas. Prints were made and Southern Federal Savings and Loan Association offered those prints to their customers who would now
remember the Kernen name. Having gained and maintained much respect for buzzsaws, I went on to paint many other scenes.