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Kentucky Blog
From the monthly archives:
Thursday, Ty Proffitt (former South Laurel High School point guard) met with the UK coaches to discuss a potential transfer. Proffitt, who received his release from Notre Dame, is also considering two other Kentucky schools: Eastern and Morehead State.
He plans to make his decision by the end of the weekend.
Click HERE for the full story.
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“Get fired up! This is the start of the football season! Come on!” - Coach Rich Brooks to the Media
Click HERE for a great article on Sporting News.com about the upcoming UK and U of L game. It’ll be interesting to see what our Kentucky schools have this season. Fingers crossed…
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Illegal Trade Puts Snakes in Danger
Why anyone would even want to say the word s-n-a-k-e is beyond me - let alone live under the same roof as one. Then again, I’ve got this whole intense phobia thing going on, so what do I know.
I will admit that it’s a shame people would be involved in any activity that would put an innocent animal at risk of extinction. I also admit that I actually watched the video of the man with his LEGAL pet s-n-a-k-e-s. He’s loving on these things like I do my cats. Amazing.
I totally respect and admire his affection toward his pets and his commitment to their kind. I’d shoot my own feet off before ever visiting him, but still.
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Look alive, fishermen and fisherwomen! The time is right to grab your poles and cast your troubles away on Kentucky Lake. According to Commercial Appeal.com, the fish have swam for cover and are ripe for the picking.
I know even less about fishing than I do saving money, so I’ll leave the details entirely to those who know what they’re doing. My knowledge of fish consists of:
And there you have it - my fish database. So, here, I’ll leave you with a link to those who sit on more than just boats, they sit on a great deal of knowledge. See Added Cover Improves Fishing on Kentucky Lake.
- Sunday August 24, 2008
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Oh, how I love possums! Or as many people call them, Opossums. We have a possum that makes nightly visits to our yard and has for several years. I’ve named her Margaret and anxiously look forward each night to her visits. I leave food out for her as well as for the raccoons: William Shakespeare, Agatha Christie, Louisa May Alcott, and Dean Koontz. Um, I like to read…) that also come each night. Adorable!
They love the cat food that our cats share with them but they also go wild for grapes, breadsticks, popcorn, corn on the cob, and just about anything else I give them. You haven’t seen cute until you’ve watched a possum or raccoon eat an ear of corn!
Possums are totally misunderstood. They’re actually very, very neat little babies. Margaret actually washes her hands in a bowl of water I leave out. She also likes to turn it over intentionally and paddle through it. I’ve watched possums bathe themselves as meticulously as any cat. They’re also much cuter than most people seem to realize. If you look right at their little faces, you’ll see just how cute they are. I can’t say much for their tails - they’re kind of unattractive, but then again they may say the same thing about humans. Whatever, Margaret, whatever.
The Nature Station at beautiful Land Between the Lakes is having a program called Pocket Full o’Possum at 2 p.m. on August 26th. You can visit with the Nature Stations resident Opossum as she eats and learn more about her. If you go, look at the face - I dare you to tell me she’s not cute! You’ll find out how she carries her babies in her pouch (did you know possums are North America’s only marsupial?), how she “plays possum,” and find out how much she loves persimmons. Persimmons, huh? I’ll have to toss a few to Mags.
Speaking of tossing, when Margaret first came, she had a boyfriend (”David” - I have no explanation for that). He was a pretty big guy and a little bolder than most possums. He’d sit under my husband’s car and I could put food on the ground nearby. He’d waddle out and eat it, then go back under the car like, “Now what’cha got?” One night, I had leftover breadsticks from a Spaghetti supper. I saw him under the car, looking toward the door. When I opened it, he came out a few inches. I went out and tossed the breadstick his way and he caught the thing in his mouth! I could’ve made him a YouTube star if I had a few more hands.
Sadly, David died last winter - I think he was really, really old. When I found him on our patio, I hoped he was just doing a remarkable job of “playing possum,” but unfortunately he wasn’t.
Possums have a reputation for being mean which is something else I’ve never witnessed. Margaret sometimes has company over - some nights I look out and there are three or four possums. Any time I’ve ever encountered one, they either freeze in fear or scurry off. They don’t seem to want a confrontation of any sort, ever.
Learn more about this misunderstood and adorable animal on August 26th at The Nature Station.
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I was just writing on my Recipe Blog how much I LOVE this time of year. Everything about it! The crisper air, the baking, approaching halloween, and knowing that Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the bend. I feel as anxious and excited as a fat cat sitting in front of a plate of tuna.
This year, excitement for something else is joining the mix - adding a bit of catnip to the fat cat scenario. Grand Rivers Variety! will be putting on a production of Bus Stop from September 4th to October 4th. Click HERE to read a synopsis as well as grab access to the schedule.
The amazing musical and comedy production, Variety! Music Memories, and More is also playing. It’s a whole lot of fun, for all ages. Anyone who loves singing, dancing, comedy, and walks down Memory Lane will love this show. The cast is amazingly talented and full of so much energy and life. You’ll have the time of your life. Speaking of which, I wish the hilarious Greater Tuna was still playing! The performers who made all of these larger than life characters come to life put on a show I’ll never forget.
Fortunately, I have a Tuna Christmas to look forward to. I believe the first show will be on November 20th, so I believe you’ll know where to find me if you need me. That’ll be exactly a week before Thanksgiving - cool. They’ll actually be putting on a show on Thanksgiving night. Can you believe the bravery?! I’d be so filled up with stuffing, sweet potato pie, mashed potatoes, sourdough rolls, pumpkin pie, turkey, green beans, and cranberry salad - the laughter would kill me.
There’ll also be a Variety! Christmas show and I can’t wait for that. Can you imagine how beautiful the scenery and singing will be? Wow.
Okay, okay. I’m pulling myself out of Christmas and I’m putting down the Turkey leg. There. Happy?
Be sure to mark your calendar for Bus Stop today. Grab your tickets and make an appointment with the night of your life.
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The Homeplace is one of my favorite places in the Land Between the Lakes region. It’s a beautiful, peaceful setting and I always look forward to my visits with the cattle, sheep, pigs, and chickens. PLUS it’s close to a bison range and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE bison. They amaze me. I also love The Homeplace’s gift shop because shopping is something else that amazes me. (My poor husband can attest to that.)
On Sunday, August 24th, The Homeplace will have their annual “Puttin’ By the Garden” program.
From Leisure Scene: A Publication of the Marshall County Tribune Courier:
Summer fruits and vegetables had to be preserved for the winter months; however, before home canning became popular, preserving was a slow, tricky job. Visit the ladies of The Homeplace as they “put by” the garden and orchard harvest. Program free with HP admission.
The program is at 1 pm at the Homeplace. If it’s like it has been in past years, there’ll be amazing fruit and vegetables out on display. I swear, theres always produce that blows your mind.
If you like for your mind to be blown in another (slippery) direction - at 1:30 pm, at the Nature’s Station, there’ll be a Snake-y program. You get to meet some of the Nature Station’s resident snakes up close (AYYYYEEE!) and learn more about them. Rumor has it that these reptiles have a rotten reputation that they really don’t deserve and that people like me (with a little thing we like to call phobic fear) needn’t be so terrified. Yeah. Right.
Seriously, the program would be very educational and maybe (just maybe) if I’d ever made friends with these things I wouldn’t be so frightened of them now.
The program is free with Nature Station admission.
It’s actually a real shame that these programs overlap. Most people, I believe, would really enjoy BOTH, but they have to make a choice.
Also, if you’ve never been to The Homeplace before, don’t make the mistake of thinking that it’s a place children wouldn’t enjoy. Not only have our girls always love it, I’ve never seen an unhappy, non-laughing, non-playing kid there. Ever.
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For those of us who are artsy-minded, this is the sort of thing that makes us wag our creative tails. Kentucky Western Waterlands is sponsoring an Arts and Crafts Festival that will run on August 30, 31, and September 1. It’ll take place at Little Lake Park in beautiful Grand Rivers, Kentucky. For those unfamiliar with the area, Little Lake Park is behind Badgett Playhouse.
You can look forward to handmade jewelry, furniture, baskets, quilts, pottery, clothing, belts and wooden decorative items are featured along with stained glass, embroidery & paintings by vendors from nine states. There will be over 100 different artisan & Craftsmen booths! Enjoy barbecue, traditional carnival food, live music and shopping.
Okay, you know the drill. What do I do each and every time I point you toward Grand Rivers, Kentucky? You got it - bonus points for you! I tell you to take your taste buds to The Fudge Factory and load up on the world’s best fudge. Then I point out that you MUST get some of the Peanut Butter Fudge, Dulche de Leche Fudge, and Tiger Butter Fudge. I say, feel free to load up on others, too, just make sure you grab this trio immediately (better be quick, if I beat you there, it’s all over with).
I tell you that the friendliest people on the face of the earth can be found inside this adorable little shop. In addition to fudge that’ll make your world stand still, they have gifts and goodies as well. But, I hasten to point out, the main thing is the remarkable fudge.
Yep. That’s pretty much the drill. But you know what, I don’t like being predictable. So, I’m not going to say any of that this time. I’ll let a post go by without telling you that I lie awake at night thinking about this fudge.
I won’t tell you that when we go to the lakes, we’re going to start carrying a cooler with ice to bring back plenty to get us through the week. Nah, you don’t need to know that.
Maybe next time I’ll rave and rave about the world’s best fudge - but, for now, I’ll just cool my heels. And wish to God, above, that I had some fudge in front of me right now.
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UK coach Billy Gillispie and several members of the Wildcat coaching staff hosted a basketball clinic at Pikeville High School on Saturday. Gillispie has said that when he came to Kentucky one thing he wanted to establish was a great basketball camp such as this. According the coach, his camp will just keep growing.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Gillispie. “It’s good for everyone. I know the kids are having a good time and the kids are enjoying it. We’re doing it on a small scale now, but it’s going to get bigger and eventually we’re going to try to do it in every part of Kentucky that we can.”
The Appalachian News reports that he went on to say, “The Wildcats mean so much to everyone,” said Gillispie. “You don’t have to be a grown person to have a love for the Wildcats, I think your born with it in this state. It’s good to get out and meet a lot of the young ones. There are so many fans in Eastern Kentucky who may not get the chance to see the Wildcats play and we want to get out here and touch everybody we can and make every opportunity available to them that could be a life changing experience to everyone. We’re here to teach them about the game of basketball and to have a good time, and it seems like everybody is having a great time.”
The camp started in Ashland on Friday and continued in Hazard on Sunday. It’ll finish on Saturday in the town I was born in, Madisonville.
UK’s first exhibition game is set for November 3, as the Wildcats play host to Missouri-St. Louis. Their regular season starts on Friday, November 14, at home against Virginia Military Institute. Things get ugly, fast, though as they travel to North Carolina on Tuesday, November 18.
Let’s make sure we’re all prayed up by then, want to?
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Louisville, Kentucky is just showing off this summer. She’s snapping her fingers and strutting her considerable stuff. I overheard her say something like, “If you’ve got it, flaunt it.”
The state fair just wrapped up, so the city can turn its attention entirely to their next big event: The drama of the Ryder Cup! All eyes will be Valhalla Golf Club next month (September 16 - September 21) when the Ryder Cup gets under way.
I’ll just be honest with you, I’ve never golfed beyond miniature golf (but I am something of a guru at that). BUT, I absolutely love to watch golf. My all-time favorite golfers are Kenny Perry, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Tom Lehman, Michelle McGann, Tiger Woods, Paul Azinger (you can just call him Captain Azinger now), Ernie Els, and the Pink Panther - a.k.a. Paula Creamer. There aren’t many things more enjoyable than being able to watch one of your favorites on Sunday afternoon - right in the thick of things!
I hope the USA team will do themselves proud this year. On paper, we look pretty amazing. I’m counting on Kenny Perry to have one of the best tournaments of anyone. Are you kidding me?! A Kentucky boy on his home turf? I’ll put my money on a Kentucky boy any day of the week - but, when he has it in his mind that he’s being challenged on his home soil? Bet the farm!
Captain Azinger (love the way that sounds) will announce Team U.S.A. on September 2. The eight automatic qualifiers are:
Kentucky Drivers can purchase the new Ryder Cup plates (pictured above) for $44 each. $10 of this cost will go to benefit Kentucky First Tee, a charity of the World Golf Foundation. Solid.
RYDER CUP TICKET INFORMATION:
Ryder Cup Tickets - Season Ticket (Includes access to the grounds all six days)
Ryder Cup Tickets - Practice Round
Ryder Cup Tickets - First Round
Ryder Cup Tickets - Second Round
Ryder Cup Tickets - Final Round
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