Cindy Earls

This holiday season, many families will decorate Christmas trees and front yards with dazzling electric lights, travel long-distance, maybe hundreds of miles to visit relatives, or turn up the central heat and do some online shopping for gifts. A lot has changed about how we celebrate and survive the winter months over the past 160 years. On Sounds Good, Matt Markgraf speaks with Land Between the Lakes Homeplace Lead Interpreter Cindy Earls about how farm families celebrated Christmas in 1850.

Well told from the American Civil War are the stories of battles and heroic leaders. Among the lesser known stories are those of the farm families and their homesteads who found themselves struggling to survive in the midst of conflict. "It was a trying time," says Land Between the Lakes Homeplace Lead Interpreter Cindy Earls. She speaks with Matt Markgraf on Sounds Good about what life was like for the farm families of western Kentucky and northwestern Tennessee ahead of their reenactment event "Civil War Comes to the Homeplace" this Saturday.

The 1850s Homeplace Trade Fair takes place this weekend at Land Between the Lakes. The annual event offers attendees a taste of American life from two centuries ago. On Sounds Good, Tracy Ross sat down with Homeplase Lead Interpreter Cindy Earls to learn just what the fair's all about.

Take a step back through time Saturday at Land Between the Lakes' Homeplace 1850's Independence Day Celebration. Experience how early Kentucky settlers celebrated this holiday with old time music, a famous statesman, the raising of a liberty pole, games and high technology: a hot air balloon. Lead Interpreter Cindy Earls speaks with Kate Lochte on Sounds Good about why this was a big holiday for families then as it is now.

The 17th Annual Pickin' Party Old-Time Music Festival is this Saturday and Sunday at the Homeplace 1850's working farm and living history music in Land Between the Lakes. Lead Interpreter Cindy Earls talks with Tracy Ross on Sounds Good about the line-up, including The Wheelhouse Rousters and J.D. Wilkes and The Jamboree, open mics around the farm and more. 

The Homeplace 1850's Farm at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area hosts a day dedicated to working with wool Saturday from 10 to 4, and on Sounds Good, Kate Lochte learns about all the hands-on activities, including "shearing" from Lead Interpreter Cindy Earls.

Celebrate the trades this Labor Day weekend 1850s-style at the Land Between the Lakes Homeplace Trades Fair on the Farm, highlighting skills from chairmaking, salt extracting, spinning and more. Lead Homeplace Interpreter Cindy Earls joins Kate Lochte on Sounds Good with all the details and some insight into what life was like in 1850s Stewart County, Tennessee.

The Pickin' Party returns to LBL's Homeplace this Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Guests are welcome to bring lawn chairs and picnic baskets to see old time music on a rustic stage. Nathan Blake Lynn and Josh Coffey emcee while Dixie Volunteers, Charlie Stamper, and buck dancer Thomas Maupin and Overall Creek Band perform. On Sounds Good, Tracy Ross speaks with Homeplace Lead Interpreter Cindy Earls about the event.

Hear the conversation:

Friends of LBL Special Events Coordinator Cindy Earls previews the 2013 Hummingbird Festival with Kate Lochte on Sounds Good. The Festival brings thousands to LBL the first weekend in August. The Woodlands Nature Station will host more than 100 hummingbirds each day, as migration will be at its peak in early August. At the festival, hear demonstrations about banding and caring for the birds, as well as games, activities, and storytelling for the family. See more at friendsoflbl.org.

LBL's Special Events Coordinator Cindy Earls and Public Affairs Specialist Denise Schmittou join Kate Lochte in the studio to talk about special 4th of July events at Land Between the Lakes this weekend. At The Homeplace, attend events including decorating the house and dinner on the ground (bring a picnic lunch), raise the Liberty Pole and join Kentucky Statesman Henry Clay. Enjoy old-time music by The Dixie Volunteers, tales by Don Bailey, patriotic crafts, games, and refreshments. Click here for more information (PDF).