thekaintuckeean – Page 68 – The Kaintuckeean

No DestiNATEion (see what I did there?) – Alice Lloyd College

Founder’s Cabin at Alice Lloyd College, Pippa Passes, Ky.

This a rarity here folks – a No Destination post by Mr. Kentucky120.

My wife is a proud graduate of June Buchanan School – a K-12 school located on the campus of Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes, Ky.

I certainly knew that June Buchanan School was small; my wife was in a graduating class of nine. But for some reason I don’t know what I was expecting when I finally made the trip over to Pippa Passes. Alice Lloyd College is quite a wonderful little place. The school was founded in 1923 by Lloyd and Buchanan, who travelled to Kentucky trying to improve the educational system of those in Appalachia. What began as a model Appalachian community transformed into the Caney Junior College. The school became a four-year college in 1982, the same year that June Buchanan School was founded.

Interestingly, all students, regardless of how much they pay to go to school, are required to perform some job at the school. They may work as janitors, tutors or do some other work study, but all of them must have a job. The school averages around 500 students.

The origin of the name Pippa Passes is among the more interesting stories I’ve heard. I always assumed it had something to do with a mountain “pass.” The real story is more interesting though. The name comes from one of Alice Lloyd’s favorite poems – “Pippa Passes” – by Robert Browning. The poem is famous for the line – “God’s in his heaven – all’s right with the world.” The name Pippa Passes actually relates to the unknown goodwill and happiness that the title character Pippa brings to those that she passes.

NoD: Jesse Stuart

Jesse Stuart Memorial
Courthouse Lawn, Greenup, Ky.

On the county courthouse lawn of Greenup County sit a number of memorials. One of these is dedicated to Greenup County’s finest son, Jesse Stuart. Stuart was born in Riverton, Greenup Co. in 1907. He was named Kentucky’s poet laureate in 1954. At the time, and until 1990, poet laureates in Kentucky were selected by the General Assembly and held the title for life (since 1990, the Governor has annually named a poet laureate for the Commonwealth). [*]

Stuart famously said, “Write something to suit yourself and many people will like it; write something to suit everybody and scarcely anyone will care for it.” His poems, short stories and autobiographical sketches illustrate Kentucky’s people and places with vivid descriptions.

One of the classic Jesse Stuart’s is the Split Cherry Tree wherein a young boy is kept late at school for climbing and damaging a cherry tree. His uneducated father, upset that the youth wasn’t home to help with his chores, goes to the school to quarrel with the boy’s teacher. In the end, the father realizes the importance of education.

The marker on the courthouse lawn reads: “By your own soul’s law learn to live. / And if Men Thwart You, Take No Heed. / If Men Hate You, Have No Care. / Sing Your Song, Dream Your Dream. / Hope Your Hope and Pray Your Prayer.” Which is peculiar, as this poem is attributed not to Stuart but to Pakenham Beatty. (Anyone know the story on that???) Mr. Stuart died in 19984.

New Mayors

Jim Gray and Greg Fischer supporting their respective basketball
teams on Friday, Dec. 31, 2010. H-L Photo.

Kentucky’s two largest cities inaugurate new mayors this week. In Louisville, Greg Fischer replaces Jerry Abramson who has held the office since 1986. In Lexington, Jim Gray defeated incumbent Jim Newberry to take office. Both men speak to the rich histories and bright futures of their communities. There is also a good indication that they will, as businessmen, work together to improve not only their cities but the region and Kentucky as a whole. I wish them both the best!

The two mayor-elects had a friendly wager at the basketball game on Saturday pitting the Kentucky Wildcats against the Louisville Cardinals. The Wildcats demolished the Cardinals in Louisville’s Yum! Center. Resulting from their wager, Fischer will put a wildcat on his desk and has invited Gray to Churchill Downs for the next Kentucky Derby.

Merry (White) Christmas!!

Snowy Jessamine County, Ky.

Christ Church Cathedral
Lexington, Ky.

Merry Christmas, Kaintuckeeans!!

The snow is falling on this beautiful day – and the ground has a fresh cover of snow. Amazingly, today is only Lexington’s 13th white Christmas since 1872. [*]

Last night, the trip to and from Christ Church Cathedral was full of snow and the candlelight Eucharist service was full of beauty and wonder. Our family celebrates the Christmas season Scandinavian style (I am 25% Swede, 25% Norse). I’ve posted a lot of pictures of our julbord (a Christmas smorgasbord) on my flickr account.

However you celebrate this day, Merry Christmas to you and yours!!

Kentucky Capitol Ornament

Kentucky Capitol Ornament

In June, Kentucky’s Capitol building in Frankfort celebrated its Centennial. I picked up the above Christmas ornament carved from Kentucky maple and cherry. A numbered piece, it was designed by K&M Crafts of Kentucky in Campbellsville – I’ve seen some of their other work and all of it is beautifully done.

The ornament now hangs on the tree. Merry Christmas!

Maker’s Mark Cookies

Maker’s Mark Cookies. Merry Christmas!

In our family, we don’t change the Christmas cookie lineup often – perhaps once a generation. This year, our Christmas cookies have a new star this year: gingerbread. Not boring gingerbread cookies, mind you. At the World Equestrian Games, my wife picked up a cookie cutter at the Maker’s Mark store shaped like a bottle of Maker’s. Her immediate thought were gingerbread cookies.

And are they great. Sure, gingerbread cookies are, well, not the most exciting cookie in the world. Find a recipe you like and go with it. But first, go buy the cookie cutter from Maker’s online store or make the pilgrimage to Loretto. For the icing, we used:

2 cups powdered sugar

teaspoon Maker’s 46

2 tablespoons milk

Red food coloring

Mix the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk together. Once dry add small amounts of milk and stir until the icing is runny enough to drizzle lightly from a spoon. Now add the food coloring, remember to do this a drop at a time as a little bit can make a dramatic difference.

It takes a lot of food coloring and we’ll continue to play with the recipe. (Please share suggestions!) Maybe work some Maker’s into the dough batter as well. But the icing… my God was it good!

Oh, and Merry Christmas!

NoD: Southern Lights

Southern Lights Display at the Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, Ky.

At Lexington’s Kentucky Horse Park, the winter lights of Southern Lights have been on display for several weeks. They are a popular area attraction – and a great holiday tradition! It is an outdoor light display which you enjoy from your vehicle – it really is spectacular with the all the grand displays.

In addition to the light show, you can get out of your car (at the end) and go into the museum area where you will find a trade show, a fantastic model railroad display (my 2 year old was enthralled!) and a impressive dollhouse exhibit. Plus snacks and hot cocoa and a petting zoo, etc. A lot of fun; a great evening. It is open through the end of the year.

As a personal disappointment, another blogger (an equine health blog) has actually posted on Southern Lights using my pictures before I could. So I guess that means a hat tip goes to the Jurga Report?

Check out all the pictures from Southern Lights posted to my flickr account. And if you can’t make it out with all the hustle of Christmas 2010, add Southern Lights to your 2011 calendar? Have you been before? What is your favorite part?

NoD: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

The Red Doors of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Newport, Ky.

Aside from the Cross, the most recognizable sign of a church (Episcopalian) is the red door – they are great for spotting from a block away. Also impressive is the number of Episcopal churches in Kentucky which are historical points of reference.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Newport is such a church. It’s ivy-covered stone clock-tower next to the courthouse square makes for a beautiful church. The congregation began in 1845 and construction began on this church building in 1871. It is worth noting that the Episcopal Church in Kentucky did not split during the Civil War as did other denominations; this was a principal cause for St. Paul’s continued growth. “By 1870…the political prejudices and antipathies engendered by that terrible catastrophe were largely removed; and Federalist and Confederates together knelt in brotherly love and good-will at the same altar.” [*] Services were first held here in 1873, but the building was not completed until 1888. The project was over budget at a cost of $33,000 rather than the expected $19,452. The church, however, has weathered many storms: an 1880 earthquake, the flooding of the Ohio River in 1884 and 1937, as well as tornadoes in 1915 and 1986.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Newport, Ky.

But it is the people who attended St. Paul’s that complete its story (and cause it to have a historic marker, #1511):

For a century and a quarter, a St. Paul’s Episcopal Church has stood on this corner. Since 1871, the bell in the towering spire atop this native stone church has rung for services. Here worshipped Gen. James Taylor, War of 1812; Henry Stanbery, who defended President Andrew Johnson at his impeachment trial, 1868; Brent Spence, 37 yrs. in Congress, a lifetime member.

The church offers many social services for its urban community and continues to hold weekly services.

Contest Winner: Me

Yesterday, I learned that I won the grand prize of a twitter-contest: over $300 worth of books from the University Press of Kentucky (@kentuckypress). I’m obviously very excited because all of the books are Kentucky-centric. If you have a twitter account, follow @kentuckypress (and me… @kaintuckeean). Check out the University Press of Kentucky anytime… they have a terrific collection of works and often a pretty good deal! Anyway, I’m looking forward to learning more and sharing with you. I’m most excited about the book pictured to the left – How Kentucky Became Southern – is a book which I’ve wanted to pick up but haven’t yet had the chance. I’ll be sure to read it soon now! The other books won are:

NoD: World Peace Belll

World Peace Bell, Newport, Ky.

You’d think something called the World Peace Bell would be in New York, right? Near the U.N.? Perhaps in Europe – Switzerland would be a good spot. Nope and nope. [Well, OK. There are other peace bells, too.]

The World Peace Bell is located in Newport, Ky. Dedicated on 12-31-1999, it first rang when the 2000s began – it could be heard from a distance of 25 miles. The bell, a Verdin, was cast in France and sailed the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico to New Orleans before navigating the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to reach its Kentucky home. The bell itself is 12 feet high, 12 feet in diameter and weighs 66,000 pounds! (With clapper and support, the total weight is nearly 90,000 lbs.) It rings at noon, daily.

Check out the other pics of the World Peace Bell from my flickr photostream.