Yellow and Green Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt
Every Thursday, I show y'all one of the beautiful quilts that my grandmother has made for me over the years. This week's Quilt of the Week is a yellow and green Grandmother's Flower Garden pattern.
I love the interlocking hexagons that form this pattern. It looks deceptively simple, but my granny assures me that it takes a great deal of concentration and precision!
It's easy to see why the Grandmother's Flower Garden has been a favorite for decades.
Pink and White Double Wedding Ring Quilt
Every Thursday, I share photos of a quilt my grandmother has made for me. They're such gorgeous works of art -- and such an important part of my Appalachian heritage! Today's quilt is the popular double wedding ring pattern.
This is one of those patterns that everyone has seen. Because the interlocking circles represent wedding bands, it's the quilt that a lot of people undertake to present as a wedding gift. And, according to my granny, it's a hard one to make. Every piece has to be cut just perfectly. The seam allowances have to be precise. It's not a quilt for a newbie, nor is it one that you can make in a hurry. But it sure is gorgeous.
If you're feeling up to the challenge, click here to download a pattern of your own.
Sophie just had to be part of the photo shoot; she jumped on the bed when I wasn't looking!
10 Things That Every Bourbon-Loving Kentuckian Knows (But Might Not Admit)
The secrets of bourbon-loving Kentuckians.
This is National Bourbon Heritage Month. Or, as we call it here in Kentucky, September. In the spirit of bourbon celebration, I thought it would be fun to round up a list of some of the things that every bourbon-loving Kentuckian knows, but might not admit.
1. There's a reason there are so many cornfields in Central Kentucky. It has nothing to do with food for humans or livestock.
Cornfields near Maker's Mark Distillery, as seen through the passenger's side window. As you can tell, I was wearing seersucker that day.
2. We take a lot of "bourbon history" with a grain of salt. Most labels are relatively new, and a lot of claims of novelty and history come from marketing departments.
3. Most of us secretly mix a bourbon and coke from time to time. It's easy and it goes down smoothly.
Maker's Mark warehouse
4. We like to stick with basic cocktails. A Manhattan, a whiskey sour, or an old-fashioned are about as adventurous as we get.
5. Most of us have an economy-priced favorite, too. Real bourbon lovers know there's a time and place for Old Grand-Dad or Early Times. We aren't above drinking what's in front of us.
Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Chris Morris and Master Taster Elizabeth O'Neill char a barrel.
6. Few things are as lovely as the aroma of a barrel that's being charred. It's like a gossamer mix of the cleanest vanilla and a delicately toasted homemade marshmallow wafting delicately through the air.
7. We know people who work at different spirits companies. We tend to change our orders when they're around.
8. We're just as sick of all these bourbon-flavored food products as y'all are. A few of them are good; a lot aren't.
9. We're all about trying new flavors, but we aren't afraid to stick with what we know. Sometimes you choose a label because it reminds you of the holidays, or because it's what you always take to a tailgate.
The Liquor Cabinet at Jim Beam. Every one of these has their purpose.
10.Pappy is delicious. Nobody is claiming otherwise. But when y'all come in from out of state and want to wow us with your purchase, we secretly know that there are a lot of other tasty, more moderately-priced labels on the menu.
What are your bourbon-loving secrets?
Maiden Alley Oktoberfest: Paducah’s Celebration of All Things Fun
Day drinking?
Live music outdoors during the peak of amazing fall weather?
Food prepared by very capable hands, including an array of sausages, tons of pretzels, cheeses, strudels, kraut, potato salad, beef tongue (maybe), homemade buns, and so much more?
Five craft breweries?
An art fair?
A German car show?
Dirndls?
Lederhosen?!?
If you can’t help but exclaim a resounding “HELL YES!” to all these questions, then you are truly ready for the Paducah event that is Maiden Alley Oktoberfest!!!
It is our 5th year, which means it is time to add more fun stuff to the agenda. Up until now we have only highlighted the beer from our amazing friends at Schlafly Beer. They have been the signature beer of Maiden Alley Cinema from the beginning and they have been with us through it all. A big hats off to this amazing company!!!
BUT it is time to expand the event as we have more people to please! Starting in 2011 we were over the moon to have around 130 attendees. In 2014 we had over 600. The word is spreading!
So... we needed MORE beer. It was a no-brainer to reach out to our two new breweries located right here in Paducah, KY - Dry Ground Brewing Company and Paducah Beer Werks!
Dry Ground even took it a step further and partnered with Schlafly to make a collaboration beer that will be revealed at this year’s event. Done in the Kentucky Common style and aptly named Common Ground, this beer will offer a blast from the past.
Kentucky Common Beer is a once-popular style of ale from the area in and around Louisville, Kentucky from the 1850s until Prohibition. This style is rarely brewed commercially today. In addition, we will also have the amazing beer of West Sixth out of Lexington, KY and Tin Man out of Evansville, IN.
This event really is about 4 things; great beer, great music, great food, and a great cause.
By joining with the amazing crew at Kirchhoff’s Bakery & Deli you know the food will be top notch and of the highest caliber. Louie doesn’t mess around when it comes to a Bavarian spread.
Just as Kirchhoff’s is a Paducah tradition, we like to think that Maiden Alley Cinema is one as well. Through expanding our programming to include live music as well as film, we have found that our audience has become more diverse and broad. This event helps us to raise much needed operating support for the non-profit cinematic art house. Our mission is film, which allows us to bring a new independent/foreign film or documentary to the big screen every weekend, offer several films series (i.e. Faith in Film, Movies for Me and Film Brew), host rotating art exhibits in our lobby and keep amazing music on our stage through Music@MAC.
Photo by MAMC Photography
Speaking of music, we have a stellar line-up this year and as well as one additional hour to enjoy the festivities. Starting the day with local favorites Chris Black & the Eagles of Unemployment and then on to the Paducah Jazz Ensemble Polka Band for some traditional music to match the theme of the day.
Then, we have the Solid Rock’it Boosters - who always bring down the house. After that, we venture outside our great city to bring in Curio of Chicago, IL, and then the Loot Rock Gang of St. Louis, MO. To headline the day, we have Paducah’s own Jessica Lee Wilkes.
There will also be an after party at JP’s Bar & Grill, featuring live music by The Swamp Tigers, Commander Keen, and a few others to be announced.
And if you are feeling frisky and want to kick off the weekend in style, don’t miss our Maiden Alley Oktoberfest Beer Dinner Friday, October 16 at 7 pm. With food being prepared by German chef we can’t wait for a truly authentic meal. There will be 4 courses with a beer pairing for each course. Anita White of Gold Rush Café is even bringing her mother in from Germany to help in the process.
Tickets and more information can be found at www.maidenalleycinema.org
Also, you can purchase tickets for both events with CASH or CHECK ONLY at any of these fine Paducah establishments: Roof Brothers Wine & Spirits (Park Ave. location), Kirchhoff’s Bakery, Dry Ground Brewery, Etcetera & Etcetera Squared, Bricolage Art Collective, Gold Rush Café, Max’s Brick Oven, and of course Maiden Alley Cinema.
Bear Bryant and the Kentucky Wildcats
Remembering a legend of college football.
On September 11, 1913, Paul William Bryant was born in Munro Bottom, Arkansas, the eleventh of twelve children born to Wilson Monroe and Ida Kilgore Bryant. From a young age, he was undertaking legendary things, like the time when, at age 13, he agreed to wrestle a bear at a carnival. The nickname "Bear" stuck.
Kentucky Coach Bear Bryant with Team Captains Vito Parilli and Doug Mosely, 1953. Image via KDL
By 1930, Bear was a high school football player whose team won the Arkansas state championship, but he didn't quite make it to graduation. In fact, when the Bear was offered a football scholarship to the University of Alabama, he had to finish up his degree at a Tuscaloosa-area high school while undertaking fall practice with the Tide.
January 1, 1951 -- Bear Bryant's Wildcats win the Sugar Bowl
Now, here in Kentucky, we know Bear Bryant as the Coach who toughened up the Wildcat football team for eight seasons and reinvented the way we recruited our players. He took the 'Cats to their first Bowl game in 1947 and on to their first SEC Conference title in 1950.
Sugar Bowl Champion Kentucky Wildcats. Image via Big Blue Fans.
The 1950 Wildcats went on to upset the #1 ranked Oklahoma Sooners in the Sugar Bowl, with a final score of 13-7. That Sugar Bowl game is considered one of the greatest upsets in college football history, as the Wildcats ended Oklahoma's run for an undefeated season.
Now, as we all know, Coach Bryant stayed in Lexington through 1953. The stories are murky about why he left us to coach the A & M Aggies. Some say it's over a fight with Coach Rupp over a Cadillac, a watch, or maybe a cigarette lighter. Others say that the rivalry between the two legendary Kentucky coaches has been over-dramatized. In 1966, Bryant himself told Sports Illustrated: "The trouble was we were too much alike, and he wanted basketball No. 1 and I wanted football No. 1...In an environment like that one or the other has to go."
When you have the two best coaches ever to coach their respective sports, the stakes are high.
I hear that, after his 8 seasons at Kentucky were over, he tried his hand at coaching Down South and took to wearing a snazzy hat. I'll leave the stories of those years to our friends in Alabama who can tell them way better than I ever could.
Here's to Coach Bryant and the 1951 Sugar Bowl. Go Big Blue!
Pink and Green Plaid Butterfly Quilt
Every Thursday, I share photographs of a quilt my grandmother has made for me. My quilt collection is something I cherish deeply, both because my sweet granny has put so much time, skill, and love into the finished product, and because quilts are such a valuable key to the Appalachian culture in which I was raised.
My granny has always been really sweet about using the exact fabrics I pick out, even if they seem a little over-the-top when we're planning the quilt. I love the fresh, preppy colors of this one; the bright, almost chartreuse, green really adds a springy, preppy look to the room!
HerKentucky Gridiron Report: Saturday, September 5
Happy College Football Day, y'all! If you're like me, you didn't think it would ever get here, and you've spent the past month ensuring that there is absolutely no reason to leave the couch all day! In fact, going to one of these games is the only legitimate excuse I can think of for getting off the couch!
Division I Kentucky College Football Games
University of Louisville v. #6 Auburn, 3:30 p.m. (CBS) A whole lot of Cards fans are in Atlanta this weekend for the Chick Fil-A Kickoff Classic at the Georgia Dome. Auburn comes in as a pre-season Top Ten team, but Cards fans have placed a lot of faith and funds in hopes of an upset. As of Friday night, the spread was Auburn -10, with money lines Louisville (+330) and Auburn (-420). My prediction? You'll see a whole lot of squintin' and cussin' from Petrino AND ol' Gus Malzahn. Get some chicken strips for me, traveling Cards fans.
Morehead State at James Madison, 6 p.m. I don't reckon many Eagles fans are making the trek to Harrisonburg for this one.MSU Head Coach Rob Tenyer looks to rectify last year's 4-8 record, while JMU players are wearing helmet decals in honor of slain JMU alumna and newscaster Alison Parker.
University of Kentucky v. Louisiana-Lafayette, 7 p.m. (ESPNU). It's already been a big week for the Bunning-Townes clan; here's hoping QB Patrick can keep the streak alive as the Cats take on the Ragin' Cajuns. The spread is Kentucky -17, with money lines Louisiana-Lafayette (+550) and UK (-1100). My prediction is that we'll all turn over to the Bama-Wisconsin game by halftime, Pawwwlll.
Whether you're tailgating or watching at home, here's to a great day of college ball; may your favorite team win!
{Disclaimer: Do not place wagers based on lines I've taken from the internet. Y'all have better ways to spend your paychecks.}