The Big Game

It’s been a crazy, crazy week in the Commonwealth.

Red and Blue Twin Spires, via Churchill Downs.

There’s a little basketball game going on tomorrow, in case you haven’t heard.  There have been instances of old-guy fisticuffs, and general bad behavior.  It’s the sports news story of the week.  And, here in Kentucky, it’s the Game of the Century. *

Now, it’s no secret around here that I love UK basketball a lot.  Probably more than is healthy.  Here on HerKentucky, we’ve discussed it before: Sarah thinks basketball is just a game; I consider it a way of life.  I always just assume that every Kentuckian is as fanatic about basketball as I am, but maybe they aren’t.

 

This morning, I started thinking.  Maybe tomorrow’s UK-U of L game isn’t the biggest thing going on in everyone’s weekend.  Maybe every Kentucky girl hasn’t spent a ton of time researching the best Wildcat Blue nail polish for her Final Four mani-pedi.  (It’s Essie’s Mesmerize, btw.  You’re welcome.)  I’ve heard plenty from my UK fan friends, and a good bit from the Cards fans I know. 

But, I’d love to hear from our non-fan friends and readers.  Are you a displaced “other team” fan in the Bluegrass State?  Are you cheering for the Buckeyes or the Jayhawks? Or, are you just ambivalent about a college basketball game? 

Please (respectfully) share your story in the comments below or on our Facebook page.  We'd love to hear what you have to say!!

*I hate the “of the century” device as much as the next gal, but for once it’s accurate.  It doesn’t matter if, over the course of the next eighty-eight years, someone scores 100 points, wins the BCS bowl, or runs a sub-1:50 Derby.  This is it. It could only be topped by a UK-UL National Championship Game.  Bring it, selection committee.

Run the Bluegrass Half Marathon

Eight months ago, I would have laughed in your face if you said that I would ever run more than a half mile at one time.

On Saturday, I’ll be toeing the line to run 13.1 miles – well, attempt to run it all! I’m sure there will be some walking. (I’ll also be starting somewhere in the back of the pack, but I’m fine with that!)

I started the Couch to 5K program in August of 2011 at 90 pounds over my healthy weight. I learned how to run using an app on my smartphone and buoyed up by the encouragement of my Twitter friends. I ran my first 5K at the end of October. A month later, I was signing up for the Run the Bluegrass half marathon. Needless to say, I was hooked.

Run the Bluegrass bills itself as “one of the prettiest half marathons in America.” I can verify the truth of that claim.

Starting near the main entrance of Keeneland, the race course flows out the back gate – near all the horse barns – and through the rolling bluegrass hills of Central Kentucky. Horse farms feature prominently along the course. There is even one pasture full of miniature horses who will run up to the fence and cheer you along. The final mile of the course runs alongside the famed white fences of Calumet Farm. The most beautiful thoroughbreds you’ll ever see will race you down the length of that fence. Undoubtedly, they will win!

The course is challenging. There are LOTS of hills! One portion of the course runs on Old Frankfort Pike past the Headley-Whitney museum. It’s one of my favorite backcountry drives in the world – both for the beauty and the roller-coaster feel of those hills. I’m not so sure my feet will feel the same joy on Saturday!

The race, hosted by Lexenomics, has a decidedly Bluegrass and thoroughbred feel. Mrs. Penny Chenery, the owner of the legendary Secretariat, is this year’s honorary starter. The race expo offers the option for participants to buy a bottle of Maker’s Mark and have their caricature drawn on the label. Kentucky companies like Swim Bike Run of Kentucky, WellFed Meals, Ale8One, Flav-O-Rich and more are all well represented. The organizers are as local as you can get and have worked hard to follow through on their mission of “invest[ing] energies & resources into the capabilities Lexington already has.”

With over 2000 racers in only its second year, the event is growing by leaps and bounds. You’ve got plenty of time to train for next year! If I survive Saturday, I’ll see you in 2013!

Redbud and Dogwood Winter

When I was growing up in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, I rolled my eyes at a lot of conventional mountain wisdom.  Some of that was, of course, the traditional child's prerogative; parents and grandparents simply can't know what they're talking about with their old-fashioned perspectives.  And, to this Muppets-and-Madonna-loving child of the '80s,  old-timey mountain traditions seemed a relic of a long-gone era. 

As an adult, I've had to rescind quite a bit of my know-it-all scorn. The twangy mountain music that my granddaddy played on his vintage Martin guitar sounds curiously like the hipster-standard Raconteurs and Avett Brothers tracks that fill my iPod.  My grandmother's Crisco-and-butter cooking turned out to be far healthier than the fake food revolution of my childhood.  And, so many pieces of folk wisdom -- the most embarrassing, "unscientific" observations of the natural world -- have turned out to be true.  I've been forced to eat my words time and again.  The most dramatic example is Redbud Winter and its close, usually later, cousin Dogwood Winter.  

 

Now, when I was a kid, I hated hearing about these supposed weather phenomena.  When the first warm spring rolled around, it should be warm and pretty and springy from then on.  Without fail, someone would note "Oh, it'll get cold again.  We haven't even had Redbud or Dogwood winter yet.  Don't put your coats away." That was surely just an old wives' tale.

Except, it wasn't.  Every spring, the pretty, delicate blooms on the flowering trees brings a dramatic cold snap.  This year was no different -- last week brought 85 degree days, then the redbuds and dogwoods started to peek out.  As I started to unpack my spring dresses and shorts, I immediately thought that I'd better leave out a few cold weather items, just in case.  Of course, redbud winter came a few short days later, bringing cold mornings and brisk days.  

I guess the old-timers are right after all.

{all photos were taken in my mom's Floyd County backyard over the past week or so...}

Lexington Pizza: Pazzo's, Joe Bologna's, LA Gourmet

Megan already covered the amazingness of some Lexington pizza joints including Mad Mushroom, where I inhaled hundreds of cheesesticks during my stint at the University of Kentucky. I wanted to share a few more Lexington institutions, as I am a self-proclaimed pizza expert (meaning, I like to eat it.)

L.A. Gourmet Pizza

The Wildcats pizza with the best white dipping sauce

L.A. Gourmet doesn't seem to be widely known, but in my opinion, it is some of the tastiest Lexington pizza. The secret? The white dipping sauce that comes with their pizzas, sandwiches, chips, and cheesebread. I'm not quite sure what it is - some combination of ranch and garlic perhaps - but it tastes like heaven. L.A. Gourmet has two Lexington locations: 1 downtown and 1 near Tates Creek Center. My personal favorite? The Wildcats on whole wheat crust. The Wildcats has chicken, ham, onions, mushrooms, and cheddar cheese.

Pazzo's Pizza Pub

Pazzo's is known and loved by most Lexingtonians, especially those near campus. Sitting on Limestone directly across from North Campus, Pazzos is known for the 3 P's: pizza, pint night, and patio.

Pizzas are hand tossed, fresh made, and piping hot when they come out of the oven. Personal favorite is the Great White: garlic, onions, broccoli, chicken feta and provolone in olive oil sauce. Just thinking about it takes me back to celebrating the last day of finals there every year.

Wednesdays at Pazzo's are Pint Night. A special beer is put on tap. Order a pitcher and you take home two beer glasses from the brewery. I know many people who have amassed a treasure of pint night glassware!

If the weather is nice, it's worth it to try to get a spot on the patio. Sitting under the awning on South Limestone staring at campus is just a fun environment.

For another treat, be sure to order a pretzel. Chewy nom city.

Joe Bologna's

Joe B.'s is located in a Victorian Gothic building  between campus and downtown that has served as both a Presbyterian church and a Jewish synagogue. With over 40 stained glass windows, it really is a unique place to dine. In addition to pizza's, they also have tremendously delicious Italian food and salads.

My favorite Joe B.'s pizza is the Lite Supreme: Thin crust and homemade sauce with onions, green peppers, hot peppers, green olives, black olives, pineapple, mushrooms, zucchini, carrots, tomatoes and romano cheese. They also have a gluten free crust option which is a welcome inclusion for many.

You can't visit Joe B.'s without eating a breadstick. You simply must. The massive-doughy-warm-deliciousness sits in a dish of garlic butter. You can also get it with marinara sauce, but it definitely doesn't need it to be edible. Nom.

Any other Lexington pizza places we haven't covered?

Reason #2 to come visit

So, the last reason I gave you to come visit was kinda gross...fascinating but gross.

Then Lydia wrote her awesome tutorial and I was reminded of the real reason you should come to Paducah. Such a good reason I ranked it #2! (#1 being ME...of course)

THE QUILTS!

Paducah is Quilt Capitol of ... wait for it... the WORLD!

We have a Quilt Convention. We have a Quilt Museum. We have lots and lots and lots of quilts.

So, what's the big deal you ask? A bunch of blankets. Who cares?

GASP!

Quilts aren't just blankets. Quilts are ART and until you've stood inches from tee tiny stitches which are not only exactly the same size but were done by hand.  Then you may not look down upon the art of quilting.

It's not just the incredible skill that is required.

(Side note: Upon graduation from college, I decided to make my now husband a quilt. I spent an insane amount of money on fabric for a quilt that ended up being about the size of a crib sheet and was pushed to tears in frustration. I've all but blocked the entire memory.)

Real quilters create incredible tableaus that put color and shape together in ways you can't even imagine.
The quilts themselves are beautiful. They are unique. They are definitely worth a visit.

~ Sarah Stewart Holland

Quick and Easy Baby Shower Gift

If your life is anything like mine, you’re finding out every week about a friend or relative who is expecting an addition to their family. This cute baby tag blanket is perfect for the beginning sewer!

MATERIALS:
• ¾ yard quilting cotton
• 1 piece cotton batting – 20.5” x 20.5”
• grosgrain ribbon – various colors, totalling 18 feet
• coordinating thread
• straight pins
• washable marker or chalk
• sewing machine
• iron

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Cut batting into a 20.5” x 20.5” piece. A ruler, mat and rotary cutter aren’t at all necessary, but they do make things easier!

2. Cut two pieces from quilting cotton – each 20.5” x 20.5.” One will be the front of the blanket. The other will be the back of the blanket.

3. Using basting spray or pins, baste batting to the wrong side of the front fabric piece.

4. Mark quilting guide lines on the right side of the fabric you just pinned the batting to. This photo shows straight, diagonal lines. Feel free to be creative with your quilting. Mark lines so that there isn’t more than about two inches of open space between them. Be sure to fill the entire square.

5. Set your machine stitch length to a longer than normal one. I normally set my machine stitch length to 3.5, to give a nice wide quilting stitch. If your machine doesn’t have a variable stitch length, that’s okay, too! Work with what you have. Just take your time if you’re feeling uncertain!

6. Quilt, as desired, stitching along each of your marked quilting lines. It is best to start from the innermost lines and work your way out.

7. Admire your quilting!

8. Cut your ribbon into 36 pieces measuring 6” long. Ribbon should be grosgrain, but can be any width under 1.” Consider using multiple colors!

9. Find the middle of one side of the quilted piece of fabric. Mark with a pin.

10. Fold each ribbon in half. Pin the first ribbon piece in the middle of the quilted piece of fabric so that cut edges are even with fabric edge and the folded end of the ribbon is toward the center of the fabric.

11. Repeat ribbon pinning every two inches. Each side should have nine ribbons pinned to it, working from the center to the corner.

12. Machine baste around outside of blanket, using a 1/4” seam allowance. For the very beginner, machine basting is just straight sewing but with a very long stitch. Your machine probably features a basting stitch.

13. With right sides together, pin the back fabric piece to the front, leaving an unpinned area (about 5” wide) for turning, later.

14. Beginning at that opening, sew around the outside of all four sides of the blanket, using a 1/4” seam allowance. At each corner, stop stitching 1/4” from the end of that side. End with the needle in the down position. Lift the presser foot, pivot the blanket, lower the foot and continue sewing along the next side. Stop sewing on the other side of your turning opening. (I don’t recommend sewing over pins as that can damage your machine and be dangerous if a needle or pin is to break. Instead, sew right up to the pin, stop, then ease the pin out and continue sewing. With practice, this becomes an almost automatic movement.)

15. Turn blanket right side out through opening. Reach in and push out corners with your finger.

16. Press all edges. Turn the seam allowances in at the opening where you turned it inside out and pin.

17. Starting at the pinned opening, topstitch about 1/8” from the edge around the entire blanket. For you beginners, don’t be intimidated by the word “topstitch” or the fancy foot I have on my machine in the picture below. Sure, it’s nice to have that foot, but it’s not necessary. Topstitching should be done close to the edge of the fabric and be straight since all the stitching shows. So – choose a point on your presser foot to line up the outside of the fabric with. Go slowly and sew straight, keeping your fabric aligned with that point on your presser foot.

18. Press, and admire your handiwork!

I think this little blanket would look AWESOME in some Kentucky Blue and White. I also think it would look okay in your team’s favorite colors! Paired with a bib and/or cute onesie, you’ve got a baby gift that you can be proud of!

If you have any questions about this tutorial, please contact Lydia.

Feel free to use this tutorial for your personal use, however, please remember that all images and text are copyrighted and that all rights are reserved.

Lexington Pizza: Puccini's & Mad Mushroom

Two of my favorite pizza places in Lexington are Puccini's and Mad Mushroom.

Puccini's Smiling Teeth is located in Chevy Chase and has AMAZING pasta in addition to their pizzas.  I have been there many a time and scarfed down their house salad with a pizza or pasta.  The thing I love most about Puccini's is the casual atmosphere.  You could see friends from college or families dining with their kids. 

Mad Mushroom, not to be confused with Mellow Mushroom is one of those late-night treats that you can't imagine unless you experience it first-hand.  Cheese sticks.  Dipped. in. ranch. 

You can't tell me that you went to UK and never had the cheese sticks late at night.