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Archives for December 2008

Merry Christmas, Kentucky!

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Christmas Tree in Rough River Dam State Park's Lodge

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!  Merry Christmas!

Do you know something that makes me really sad?  Apparently certain stores are telling their employees to say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.”Ã?Â

It’s Christmas!

Yesterday, at Wal-Mart  (yes, indeed, I was one of the loons that went to Wally World on Christmas Eve), my cashier said, “M– Happy Holidays.” So I said, “H– Merry Christmas!”

She laughed and responded back with, “Merry Christmas.”

My aunt, who lives in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, said that one of the greeters was at the front door telling people, “Merry Christmas” and some nut job went to the manager to complain.  How can you be offended by someone saying, “Merry Christmas?”I only wish I’d been the manager!

It would have been my last day on the job, I assure you, but I’d have gone out in a blaze of glory. A blaze of Christmas glory!

Next thing you know, we won’t be able to say Happy Thanksgiving.  Bitter little people will be like, “Oh, they’re thanking someone.” Then they’ll want us all to say Happy Turkey Day.”

I’m hiding Easter in a very safe location – I KNOW they’re coming for it.

I remember weeks ago, a woman who was speaking to a group said, “Merry Christmas… I guess it’s okay to say…”  Okay to say it?! That’s what it is!  It’s Christmas.

If you don’t believe in Jesus… why celebrate His birthday?!?! Create your own holiday and leave His alone.

Even during a time when the economy is coughing, wheezing, and blowing its nose – Christmas is still, to me, the most magical time of the year. It’s not the presents, the ham, the corn pudding, or even the desserts.  It’s the beauty of the season.

Jesus is the Reason for the Season and if that fact offends anyone, it’s just because they don’t know Him.  Most of us who are Christians never try to force our beliefs on anyone.  We simply live our life the best we can and wish for everyone else to do the same.

It’s called tolerance.

It’s my hope that “the offended” will one day get a taste of the better life rather than the bitter life and will shout Merry Christmas with the rest of us.  In the meantime, maybe… just maybe… they could shhhhhhhhh.

Okay. Rant officially over.

Below is a link to an online article that I think you’ll like. It’s by Sylvia L. Lovely (is that a great name or what?) and it just oozes signs of the true Kentucky spirit:  Yes, Sylvia, There is a Santa Claus

Congratulations to Grand Rivers, Kentucky!

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Flag on theGrand Rivers Jetty
Congratulations are, like, so in order! Grand Rivers not only made the top 10 list of Southern Living’s 2008 Survey (Category: Best Small Town) – They can be found sitting pretty on the Best Scenic View list as well.

2008 Best Small Town
1. Beaufort, South Carolina
2. Fairhope, Alabama
3. Fredericksburg, Texas
4. Blowing Rock, North Carolina
5. Franklin, Tennessee
6. Eureka Springs, Arkansas
7. Oxford, Mississippi
8. Grand Rivers, Kentucky
9. Madison, Georgia
10. Hendersonville, North Carolina

2008 Best Scenic View
1. Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, Tennessee
2. Grandfather Mountain (pictured), Linville,
North Carolina
3. Chimney Rock Park, North Carolina
4. Grand Rivers Jetty, Kentucky
5. Rock City Gardens, Lookout Mountain,
Georgia
6. Cades Cove, Tennessee
7. (tie) Clingman�s Dome, North Carolina/
Tennessee
7. (tie) Stone Mountain, Georgia
9. Brasstown Bald, Georgia
10. Mount Magazine, Arkansas

I think this is about 254.3 miles past awesome. Congratulations!

Christmas Takes Center Stage in Kentucky

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I have written, at length, about the wonderful plays and musical programs put on at Badgett Playhouse in beautiful Grand Rivers, Kentucky. I wouldn’t hesitate for one second to recommend EVERY show they put on. The talented individuals in these programs seem incapable of doing anything less than perfectly. Whether it’s making you laugh so hard your sides hurt, sing along with songs you’ve loved all your life, or wipe tears away as a song and sentiments are poured out about “Mary’s Son.”

On all of my blogs, and in life for that matter, I could easily be accused of not taking things very seriously. I got my sense of humor from my dad. He pretty much thought all things were funny, and I look at the world through the same glasses. So, when I wax serious -you know I mean it.

Each Christmas season has at least 5 strong memories that attach themselves to your life. They’ll reappear during the year, sometimes, but they mostly rerun during future Christmases.

I remember baking cookies and making fudge, divinity, and other candies with my mom – and I remember baking the same goodies with my own 3 daughters (each year!). I remember the first Christmas after my husband and I started dating. I stayed up until 5 am in the morning making him a cute little gingerbread house. My Siamese cat, Solo, kept me company.

I have a gazillion other memories, which is remarkable for someone who is only 29 (shhhhhhh), but these come to mind right away. I know for a fact that a few of the programs we’ve seen in Grand Rivers, Kentucky will play out in future memories. Tuna Christmas will forever be remembered with a smile, and the Variety! Christmas program and It’s a Wonderful Life Live Radio Show will be warmly remembered as well.

If you want to make some special new Christmas memories for yourself, I urge you to go to their website, check their schedule and get to as many shows as you possibly can.

Christmas Takes Center Stage in Other Parts of Kentucky as Well

Wherever you live, you’re sure to find a great Christmas play or program to attend this season.  It’s an excellent way to take part in and support your community.  It’ll be an experience you’ll enjoy so much, you’ll wonder why you haven’t taken advantage of these entertaining experiences before.

Below are some that you can look into (in addition to the ones at Grand Rivers!):

The Louisville Ballet's Nutcracker
The Louisville Ballet presents The Nutcracker

  • The Louisville Ballet teams up with The Louisville Orchestra to present Nutcracker at the Kentucky Center. This production, which gets nothing but stellar reviews, runs until December 21.  Tickets are available by calling (502)584-7777 or by visiting www.louisvilleballet.org.
  • The Lexington Ballet Company presents Clara and the Mouse King at the Lexington Opera House from December 12 to December 18.Ã?  For tickets, call (589)233-3925 or visit www.lexingtonoperahouse.com.
  • The Hardin County PAC will present Nutcracker on December 20, followed by an opportunity for kids and adults to “meet” their favorite Nutcracker characters by having hot chocolate and sweets with them.  How cool is that?!  For more information, visit www.thepac.net.
  • The Actors Theatre of Louisville will present A Christmas Carol through December 23. Call (502)584-1205 or visit www.actorstheatre.org for ticket information.
  • My hometown, Owensboro, will give the classic tale of A Christmas Carol a little twist at the Theatre Workshop of Owensboro through December 21. Call (270)683-5333 or visit www.theatreworkshop.org for tickets.
  • The hilarious play “Christmas Belles” will run through December 21 at Bunbury Theatre in Louisville.  The play involves a southern church’s Christmas program spinning out of control. Sounds like something that’d happen in Tuna!  Visit www.bunburytheater.org for more information.  Apparently the play will also take place at the Kentucky Respertory Theatre in Horse Cave.  See www.kentuckyrep.org for more information.

I hope you and your loved ones are having a breathtakingly beautiful Christmas season and that each day just gets sweeter. You can pretty much ensure that it will if you take in as many of these amazing shows as you possibly can.

 

Delicious Bean Soup with a Wink and a Nod to Wolf’s Tavern in Henderson Kentucky

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I’ve been enjoying my my new Eating Your Way Across Kentucky: The Recipes cookbook. I collect cookbooks and looked high and low before I finally found this great cookbook. I’d heard about it from the owner of Farmer’s Feed Mill in Leitchfield, but couldn’t find it ANYWHERE. My husband and I were in a bookstore in Bowling Green one evening and ta da, there it was.

The cookbook includes the recipe for Wolf’s World Famous Bean Soup from Wolf’s Tavern in Henderson, Kentucky. I switched things up a little bit and came up with the recipe below. It is absolutely delicious, so give it a try – it’ll be just the thing to warm up with on a cold Kentucky evening.

The Best Bean Soup You’ll Ever Eat

2 store bought jars of Great Northern Beans, undrained
water
salt and pepper, to taste
1/8 cup shredded carrots (the finer, the better)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup diced ham (or more, if you’d like)
garlic powder
1 large can tomato soup
5 slices bacon

Pour the beans in a large soup pan. Add the can of tomato soup. Fill the soup can with water (twice) and add to the beans. Add the rest of the ingredients. As the soup simmers, keep a close eye on it and add more water as needed.

Fry bacon in a skillet. Add the bacon seasoning into the soup. Trust me, trust me, trust me.

The recipe in the book says to add either ham OR bacon, but with apologies to pigs everywhere, I love bacon AND ham muchly… So, I added the ham and crumbled the slices of bacon into the soup as well.

As with any soup (or chili for that matter) recipe, the real trick is to make it your own by adding the portions you prefer. So, add more or less of each ingredient – according to your own taste. Another trick to keep in mind with soup is this: When adding salt, pepper, and garlic powder – don’t go hog wild right off the bat. Be subtle with your seasonings, at first, because, as you add water, you’ll be adding more seasoning.

You’ll be amazed at how great the tomato soup makes this recipe.

Check your local Borders or click the following link to grab a copy of this cookbook for yourself – Eating Your Way Across Kentucky: The Recipes.

It’s a Wonderful Life (A Live Radio Play) is a Very Special Treat

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My husband, Michael, and I went to see It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play at the Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers, Kentucky Sunday afternoon. It’s a Wonderful Life is one of my favorite movies EVER. In fact, when I watch it each year around Christmas (admittedly about 12 times), I know the lines before the characters say them. It’s one of the best movies ever made and James Stewart and Henry Travers (Clarence) never fail to amaze me.

By the way, do you recognize Gloria Graham (Violet) as being the same ADORABLE actress who was Ado Annie in Oklahoma? Love her muchly.

As you can tell, I could talk for two forevers about It’s a Wonderful Life.  Don’t even get me started on Bert and Ernie (the police officers…).

With my obsession with the movie, you can understand why I was so anxious to see this particular tribute to the movie. I had no idea what to expect, really, I guess I thought the actors would all be sitting on stools in front of microphones – reading their lines.

I was a little bit right – but mostly wrong.

The actors and actresses did read their lines, but they were more in character as their radio star characters than the ones in the movie. It made it even more entertaining, actually.  They bring the characters to the forefront and breathe fresh new life into them.

I recommend you see this adorable and entertaining show this Christmas season. Each person involved does an outstanding job. I’ve come to expect that from the Variety! cast. Each had quite a few “characters” and “voices” to portray and they didn’t slip once.

When you go, be sure to get a seat where you can see the entire stage. You don’t want to miss what any of the actors are doing. You’ll want to keep both eyes on the lovely brunette who portrays, among others, Violet. She’s priceless. Price-less.

Each cast member was priceless, truth be told and I loved every entertaining second.

It’s a Wonderful Life will be shown once in 2013, so order your tickets early!

Click HERE for more information.

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