Kentucky Living May 2010

CELEBRATING THE ENERGY OF YOUR COMMUNITY

PROUD OF THEIR PROJECTS Readers’ do-it-yourself success stories

COUNTER INTELLIGENCE

Environmentally friendly floors and tabletops PICTURE THE PEOPLE

Photos from Madison County

GLENDALE LANDMARK

M AY 20 1 0 • K E N T U C KY L I V I N G.CO M

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The Whistle Stop restaurant’s 35-year tradition

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• Never a better time to Ironclad your home with a Meridian Metal Roof GUARANTEED FOR LIFE! • Never Re-Roof Again • Your 35% Energy Savings Plan will pay for your roof

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nd’s favorite >> 34

may 2010 vol 64 • no 5

2010 home improvement issue

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green Countertops and Floors

The answer to your next home improvement project: beautiful and environmentally friendly countertops and floors made from concrete, glass, bamboo, cork, linoleum, and paper.

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Faces of madison County

A yearlong documentary by photographer Tim Webb, the AT&T Reflections: The Faces of Madison County, is a traveling photo exhibit.

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Diy pros Cover story

Get inspiration and ideas from these Kentucky Living do-it-yourselfers—creating a dream back yard, master closet, kids’ clubhouse, redoing a kitchen table, building a basement apartment, or even transforming a trailer into a two-story house. on the Cover Do-it-yourselfers Michael and Rae-Anne Embry of

29 Departments 5 KL On the web 7 KL COmmunity 8 frOm the editOr 10 COmmOnweaLths The Whistle Stop, Scottish history, a Mother’s Day tribute, coal, and more

on the griD

14 the future Of eLeCtriCity Summer coolers

16 CuttinG COsts Energy-efficient recessed lighting

17 GadGets & GizmOs EnERGY STAR accountability

18 CO-OperatiOns Video history, co-ops on Facebook

19 enerGy 101 Electric shock risks

28a LOCaL eLeCtriC COOperative news

kentuCky Culture 35 wOrth the trip Shelby County Saddlebreds

37 events Barbecue, llamas, mountain laurel, soap box derby

43 Chef’s ChOiCe Texas Roadhouse beef

44 earth taLK Cleaning linoleum

45 Garden Guru Tropical plants

46 Great OutdOOrs neighborhood fishing lakes

47 smart mOves Sports injuries, student loan forgiveness

48 COOperative herO Keeping kids safe

49 snap shOt My favorite family memory

53 KentuCKy Kids 54 the view frOm pLum LiCK Journaling for the future

Brandenburg created the back yard of their dreams, shown here enjoying their outdoor grill area. Read more about their DIY project, as well as others, beginning on page 29. Photo by David Modica.

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THIS MONTH AT EDITORIAL STAFF EDITOR Paul Wesslund MANAGING EDITOR Anita

Travis Richter ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Ellie Hobgood CONTRIBUTORS Dave Baker • Byron Crawford • David Dick • James

Dulley • Mike Jennings • Linda Allison-Lewis • Angie McManus • Shelly Nold • Brian Orms • Sara Peak

ADVERTISING STAFF ADVERTISING MANAGER Lynne Christenson ADVERTISING SALES REP. Curt Smith ADVERTISING SALES REP. Monica Pickerill SALES COORDINATOR Arlene Toon ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Kathy Wade

PRODUCTION STAFF PRODUCTION MANAGER Carol L. Smith GRAPHIC DESIGNER/ILLUSTRATOR Kate Wheatley GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jim Battles QUALITY CONTROL Paula C. Sparrow WEB MASTER Tammy Simmons

KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION OF ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES PRESIDENT Bill Corum CHAIRMAN Eston Glover VICE CHAIRMAN Tommy Hill SECRETARY/TREASURER Carol Hall Fraley

OUR MISSION STATEMENT Kentucky Living is published to create a community of people who take pride in thinking of themselves as Kentuckians and as knowledgeable electric co-op members, in order to improve their quality of life.

TO CONTACT US PHONE: (502) 451-2430 or (800) 595-4846 FAX: (502) 459-1611 E-MAIL: e-mail@kentuckyliving.com U.S. POSTAL SERVICE: P. O. Box 32170, Louisville, KY 40232 NON-POSTAL SERVICE SHIPPING: 4515 Bishop Lane, Louisville, KY 40218

SUBSCRIPTIONS 1-800-KY-LIVING (800-595-4846) CO-OP MEMBERS: To report address changes, please call your local co-op office.

WWW.KENTUCKYLIVING.COM Kentucky Living’s award-winning Web presence. Current Web features are previewed at right.

CONTRIBUTOR GUIDELINES Guidelines for submission of writing and photography can be found under the “Ask About Freelancing” heading of the “Contact Us” section of www.KentuckyLiving.com

ADVERTISING OFFICES P. O. Box 32170 (40232), 4515 Bishop Lane (40218) Louisville, KY 1-800-KY-LIVING (595-4846) FAX (502) 459-1611 E-MAIL: lchristenson@KentuckyLiving.com

OUR NATIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE National Country Market Sales Cooperative 611 S. Congress Avenue, Suite #504 Austin, TX 78704 1-800-NCM-1181 • (512) 441-5200, FAX (512) 441-5211

Concrete example Joshua Green of Nomad Industries in Brooks holds a backsplash made of concrete—one of the latest ways toward more environmentally friendly new home construction. After reading about green floors and countertops on page 20, find a list of products, vendors, and suppliers, as well as other info, by going to www.

KentuckyLiving.com, typing “sustainable surfaces” in the Keyword Search box, and clicking “Go.” Photo by Joe Imel.

Fireplace man In addition to the murals Dan McFalls added to his Mt. Vernon home, he installed a dramatic cultured stone veneer fireplace. Find out how he did it by going to KentuckyLiving.com and typing “DIY fireplace” in the Keyword Search box.

Nominate your co-op hero Do you know someone who goes above and beyond to help your community? You can give them the recognition they deserve by nominating them to be a Cooperative Hero, to be featured in Byron Crawford’s monthly column. Go to KentuckyLiving.com/ Co-opHero.html.

AND NOW FOR THE LEGAL STUFF Kentucky Living, Vol. 64, No. 5, (ISSN 1043-853X) is published monthly by the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives Inc., 4515 Bishop Lane, Louisville, KY 40218. Periodicals Postage Paid at Louisville, Kentucky, and at additional mailing offices. COPYRIGHT, 2010, by Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives Inc. All rights reserved. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $2.75 per year for members of co-ops that subscribe on a monthly basis; all others, $15 for one year, $25 for three years. NEWSSTAND COST: $2.95.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Kentucky Living, P. O. Box 32170, Louisville, KY 40232.

ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO Kentucky Living, P. O. Box 32170, Louisville, KY 40232. Kentucky Living assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Manuscripts, photographs, and artwork must be accompanied by self-addressed envelopes with sufficient postage. to be returned. Kentucky Living does not guarantee publication of material received and reserves the right to edit any material published.

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CominG in JUnE

Guide to the 2010 World Equestrian Games Kentucky Living reins in the excitement for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, September 25– October 10, in Lexington. We’ll spotlight interesting people, such as Reese Koffler-Stanfield, above, who has her sights set on riding Kasper in dressage, one of the eight equestrian world competitions during the 16-day event.

And we’ll give you travel tips, added attractions, and where you can be part of the action, whether you’re going (tickets are still available) or staying home. Photo by Tim Webb.

Champion golfer Kenny Perry Since 1986 he’s won 14 PGA Tour tournaments, played on the Ryder Cup team, and finished 5th in PGA official money in 2009. Yet he’s still not a celebrity, but remains the small-town boy who prefers home and family over fame. Read about the competitive 48-year-old Perry, his golf career, and the Country Creek public golf course he built in Franklin.

Shakespeare across Kentucky What’s in a name? With his extraordinary storytelling—comedy, tragedy, history, adventure, melodrama, love stories, and fairy tales—Shakespeare has kept audiences rapt for more than 400 years. Find out where you can catch Shakespeare this summer.

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is published to create a community of people who take pride in thinking of themselves as Kentuckians and as knowledgeable electric co-op members, in order to improve their quality of life.

CHEF’S CHOICE SEND US YOUR FAVORITE CAKE RECIPE .com/ for August by May 23. Submit online at www.KentuckyLiving If we us. to it mail or ” cooking, then click on “Submit Reader Recipe mug. publish your recipe, we’ll send you a Kentucky Living

Cooperative Hero

Nominate the WHO’S THE HERO IN YOUR COMMUNITY? nity. There are commu your in nce person who has made a positive differe er of an elecmemb a be to no age restrictions, although he or she needs complete For er. tric co-op or work for a business that is a co-op memb l. details go online to www.kentuckyliving.com/Co-opHero.htm

SNAP SHOT

SEND US YOUR SNAPSHOTS OF “PET ADVE NTURES” FOR THE AUGUST ISSUE so we receive them by June 15.

Tell us where the photo was taken; identify who’s in the photo (left to right) and where they’re from; the name, address, and phone number of the photographer; your name and contact info; and the name of your electric co-op. Remember that close-ups of people work best.

■ SUBMIT digital images online at www.KentuckyLiving .com/submitsnapshots. html or mail prints to Kentucky Living, using subject line: Snap Shot. No color laser prints, as they do not reproduce well. Photos will NOT be returned unless you include a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

■ GET A HEAD START by sending in photos of “SCHO OL SPORTS” for the SEPTEMBER issue. Those photos are due July 15.

HOW TO SUBMIT For CHEF’S CHOICE reader recipes and SNAP SHOT submissions online, please go to our Web site at www.KentuckyLiving.com and use the form noted above, or look under “Contact Us.” OTHER READER SUBMISSIONS ABOVE CAN BE SENT TO US BY: E-MAIL TO e-mail@kentuckyliving.com MAIL TO Kentucky Living, (Subject Line or topic from above), P.O. Box 32170, Louisville, KY 40232 PLEASE INCLUDE your name, address, phone numbers, e-mail address, the name of your electric co-op, and any additional information noted above in each category.

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From the editor

Uh-oh

Problems in print—and what we’re doing about them

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lectric co-ops rely heavily on the government’s ENERGY STAR program for recommendations on how co-op members can save energy and money. So Kentucky Living paid attention to reports of problems with ENERGY STAR products.

We asked the organization that represents us in Washington, D.C., to look into the criticisms and send a report we could pass along to you.

We printed that report on page 17. The short version of what it says is that ENERGY STAR has become a well-known and useful program. However, it does not test the products it brands with the ENERGY STAR label. That missing step leaves the program open to fraud and abuse, says a government watchdog agency that conducted a ninemonth investigation of ENERGY STAR. The Environmental Protection Agency, which created ENERGY STAR, responded properly. The EPA said it took the criticism seriously, and would make improvements to fix the problems.

ENERGY STAR can be a valuable guide to help all of us be as efficient as possible in using energy. Kentucky Living will print further developments in this story, so you can continue to trust ENERGY STAR products.

The Whistle Stop on track Kentucky Living had its own fiasco you can read about on page 10. In the April issue we printed some bad information about The Whistle Stop restaurant in Glendale. Not only is the eatery open, it received the most votes for non-franchise restaurant as part of the Kentucky Living Best in Kentucky recognitions. The Lighthouse in Sulphur Well received the next most votes.

There’s no worse feeling related to a publication than to know you’ve said something untrue to a wide audience, and there’s no way to take it back. It hurts those involved in the story. It hurts the credibility of the magazine.

To address those two issues, we’ve given The Whistle Stop far more attention in the magazine than we gave to the original mistake, so that as many people as possible will know it’s open for business.

And we’re changing many of our workflow and fact-checking procedures to make as sure as we possibly can that what you read in Kentucky Living is correct.

PaUl WeSS lUnd

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COMMONWEALTHS So many favorites at The Whistle Stop You can always count on Bob and Martha Jean Owsley to order the homemade coconut pie they love so FACT much at The Whistle Stop CHECK restaurant in Glendale.

That is, except when Martha Jean orders the butterscotch pie.

The Owsleys always get their favorite entrees, too, country ham and pork ten-

Tracey Riggs serves regulars at The Whistle Stop in Glendale, Gregg and Mindy Highbaugh, and son Bradley, of Bonnieville. Photo by Joe Imel.

derloin. Except when they try the fried chicken, or the Kentucky Hot Brown, or the meatloaf, or the fried green tomatoes, or…well, you get the idea.

Yes, The Whistle Stop is open. Every Tuesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. they serve many of the same favorites as they have since 1975.

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Owners Mike and Lynn Cummins found out just how much the Owsleys and others enjoy The Whistle Stop and how much they would miss it when we at Kentucky Living mistakenly reported that a fire had closed the beloved restaurant. We apologize for the mistake and for the confusion it caused. One customer had even been crying for several hours before calling.

To all of their customers, the Cumminses have a special message: “Thank you for your patronage and your loyalty to The Whistle Stop. We can’t wait to see you again. Please come soon.”

You might also want to try out the Cummins’ latest venture. They have opened Pesto’s Cafe & Bakery in Elizabethtown on Ring Road. Pesto’s serves a mixture of Italian and American fare, including paninis, soups, salads, pastas, and espresso drinks. Pesto’s has some of the same bakery items found at The Whistle Stop and has added even more.

Both restaurants also cater events.

The Whistle Stop has an upstairs room for private parties—birthday parties, rehearsal dinners, Christmas parties—where the food is always served buffet style, whatever the occasion. The room is available by reservation only. Contact The Whistle Stop Restaurant, 216 East Main Street, Glendale, KY 42740, (270) 369-8586, www.whistlestoprestaurant.net.

During summer months when air conditioners work hardest, do energy-intensive tasks such as laundry and dish washing during offpeak energy demand hours, usually in the early morning or later evening.

Women in Rural Electrification (Kentucky W.I.R.E.) is taking applications for $1,000 scholarships. The scholarships are open to any eligible student whose family is served by a Kentucky electric cooperative and has at least 60 hours of credits at a Kentucky college or university by the start of the fall term. W.I.R.E. will award three scholarships. The deadline for application is June 18. For an application form, go to www. kaec.org and click on the link at the bottom of the New Info box, or call your local electric cooperative or the Kentucky Living office. KL

BARDSTOWN GOLF TRADITION For golf, bourbon, and fun, don’t miss the 65th Bourbon Open Golf Tournament in Bardstown, May 14-16. One of the longestrunning golf tournaments in Kentucky, the Bourbon Open includes champion prizes, daily flight prizes, and a hole-inone contest. The tournament at the My Old Kentucky Home golf course annually attracts more than 500 golfers, who also enjoy bourbon tasting and live music on Friday night. For more info, e-mail bourbonopen@bardstown.com.

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Affordable energy in ample quantities is the lifeblood of the industrial societies and a prerequisite for the economic development of the others.

—John holdren, science advisor to President obama

Liz Curtis Higgs’ latest: Louisville author and motivational speaker Liz Curtis Higgs (shown here in the photo) has been telling tales since she attempted her first novel—handwritten in a notebook—at the tender age of 10.

Successful careers in broadcasting, public speaking, nonfiction writing, and children’s books honed Higgs’ author storytelling talents, bringing her back to her first love, writing fiction. The author of 27 books, with more than three million copies in print, Higgs has written five historical novels. Her latest, Here Burns My Candle (WaterBrook Press, $14.99), is a Scottish historical novel spread across the rich backdrop of 18th-century Edinburgh and based on the Old Testament story of Naomi and Ruth. Through the eyes of a wealthy widow and her family, readers experience all the drama of the 1745 Jacobite Rising and all the emotional conflict warfare inevitably brings to a household where loyalties are divided.

The biblical Naomi and the novel’s heroine, Lady Marjory Kerr, both experienced a deep emotional and spiritual growth through their roles as mothers-in-law. Higgs says her research of the book of Ruth made her re-examine her relationship with her own mother-in-law and with her newly acquired daughter-in-law. “Could I be more loving, like Ruth? More supportive? More sacrificial? In a word, yes. Could I share our son with this fine young woman? Would she love him, as we do? Again, a

big yes,” says Higgs.

Both Naomi and Lady Marjory also suffer dramatic reversals of fate and great loss, yet still find hope in the midst of hopelessness, something Higgs wants to convey to her readers. She quotes from 2 Corinthians 4:8, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair.”

Higgs’ speaking and writing has taken her all over the world, so what keeps her in Kentucky? She says, “Quite simply, it’s home. Our family is here, our friends are here, our church is here. And it’s a beautiful place to live. On a sunlit spring morning, when the countryside is carpeted with wildflowers, Kentuckians get a glimpse of heaven on earth.”

A look at Higgs’ photography, one of her hobbies along with reading, seeing period films, and singing in her church choir, only emphasizes her love of Kentucky’s boundless beauty.

Bill Higgs

Biblical hope in a Scottish history

Penny Woods for JosePh-Beth Booksellers, Pennymouse1@yahoo.com,(800) 248-6849, WWW. Jose PhBeth.com.

time 50 years ago in Capsule KentucKy Living

SiLver JuBiLee

“hold on. I’ll talk to you in a minute.”

Rural electric systems all over America are observing this year (1960) a “Silver Jubilee Celebration,” a sort of unified 25th birthday program for the Rural Electrification Administration.

National magazines, newspapers, radio, and TV will carry the story of REA and what it has meant to America’s rural people and to the entire nation. All across the country individual cooperatives and their state associations will hold their own local “birthday parties” for REA. In Kentucky, a luncheon meeting is planned for may 9 in the Flag Rom of the Kentucky Hotel in Louisville to observe the 25th anniversary of the creation of REA by executive order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt on may 11, 1935.

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commonweaLths

Like daughter, like mother

by Cindy Flanagan lamb

When a child embarks upon the task of writing a Mother’s Day tribute, she must count Mom’s favorite things—gardening, canning, collecting antiques, and settling down with a good television program.

One show in particular, The Waltons, got her attention. The eldest, John Boy, could do no wrong. I had one thing in common with the character in that I was a writer, too. So was Mom back in tribute the day—her coverage of the JFK inaugural for the Times Journal in Russell County was the stuff of legend. Her society notes were good but that night in Washington, D.C., was magic.

We lived all over Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas before returning to my father, Dravo Flanagan’s, hometown, Russell Springs in 1975. I headed west not long after.

As a journalist on the Los Angeles arts and entertainment market for many years, Mom’s handwritten letters kept me rooted in family and my home state.

Using business savvy as well as the sturdy will of parenthood, Mom opened a state licensed day Cindy’s mom, Juanita Flanagan, with the Thanksgiving turkey in 2009. care, Toddler’s Inn, under her Photo by Cindy’s sister, Susan Kennedy. own roof. It was a garden of its own, taking the tiny citizens of Russell County from the alphabet and song to table manners and art.

There wasn’t a child who spent quality time with Miss Nita who didn’t arrive in first grade knowing “Yes ma’am,” counting and letters, the value of handwashing, and how to be fair and wait their turn.

They’re out there today, in high school, college, the workplace, most beyond Russell County. I trust their offspring will appreciate things in life much finer than texting and Wii—like planting potatoes eye-to-the-sky; or the fragrance of a steamy kitchen when it’s pickling time; what rivers border the Commonwealth; to ask your grandparents to tell you stories about their childhood; honoring our flag each morning.

My mom knows that raising a family and a garden are much the same: you’re gonna get down in the dirt, it’s hard work, and the rewards nurture you and all others who come to your table.

My Mom turned 80 in April, and I’m struggling with a proper tribute. There are so many events over the years, she is loved and respected by so many, I’ll try to imagine what John Boy would do.

Probably what I’m doing now—remain at his desk, writing what he sees from his window.

Happy Mother’s Day. See you for supper.

Cindy Lamb is a Louisville writer.

the case for coaL Gov. Steve Beshear and other governors met with President Obama in early February to discuss energy policy. Following are excerpts from a letter Gov. Beshear submitted to the president as part of that meeting.

We all want to use our natural resources, whether fossil-based or renewable, in as an environmentally sustainable manner as possible.

As governor of a major coal-producing state that generates more than 92 percent of its electricity from coal, I know Commentary there is much at stake.

Kentucky’s industrial development has occurred because we’ve had relatively low electricity rates based on coal-fired generation. We are the 3rd largest in automobile manufacturing, and we produce 30 percent of the nation’s stainless steel and 40 percent of the nation’s aluminum.

The nation as a whole relies on coal for about 50 percent of its electricity. To meet our nation’s growing energy needs in the next 20 to 30 years, coal will have to be a substantial part of the mix.

During our work on an energy plan for Kentucky, much analysis went into the possibilities for renewables to generate electricity. We simply do not have the solar and wind resources for baseload generation in the state.

I hope you understand my concerns over recent events at the federal level that appear to have the goal of turning coal into a marginal resource. The current focus on coal is not just a Kentucky issue, it’s not just a coal-state issue, it is a national issue.

The future of our nation’s energy security and economic development depends on our ability to continue using our coal resources, our most abundant, reliable, and low-cost energy source.

Efforts to construct newer, cleaner coal-generation facilities are being thwarted, by both federal policy actions and by environmental organizations.

However, our nation’s existing coal-generation fleet has an average age of 40-plus years, and these older facilities are not only much less efficient, they contribute a higher percentage of carbon dioxide emissions than would newer advanced coal technologies. Advanced coal generation needs to be afforded the same opportunities that renewable generation and generation from natural gas are being given. KL

LAND LOANS

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LAND LOANS • CONSTRUCTION LOANS • EQUIPMENT LOANS • OPERATING LOANS • HOME LOANS

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ON THE GRID Summer coolers Two old-fashioned ways to beat the heat get high-tech updates that can lower energy use NANCY S. GRANT

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lacing a pan of ice chunks in front of a small electric fan indoors and wearing a white hat outdoors—great-grandma knew a thing or two about keeping cool on the hottest summer days.

Her simple, low-tech ideas are the inspiration behind two new strate-

“Energy-saving claims about roofing materials must be examined carefully. The angle of sunlight striking the south side of the building, existing shade, and the quality of the insulation and attic ventilation all influence their effectiveness.” gies for summer comfort. One system uses ice as part of the air-conditioning system for a whole building. The other idea uses white and other light colors for reflective roofs.

These new technologies can help lower the amount of electricity used during afternoon peak-demand

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THE FUTURE OF ELECTRICITY times. That’s an important step in helping utilities manage their existing power plants more efficiently.

Reducing daytime demand could also help delay the need to build new power plants. These technologies also mean lower monthly energy bills for consumers.

In most air-conditioning systems used today, a pump compresses a special gas within coils of tubing.

The temperature of the gas regularly moves back and forth between cold and warm. These recurring cycles use a lot of electricity.

Air conditioning with ice Using ice instead of a gas can change that. At night, electricity powers icemakers that freeze water. During the day, when demand for power is high, there’s no need to use more electricity to refreeze the water.

In one version of the new system, air passes over the ice, becomes chilled, and then travels through the building. The ice-making cycle is repeated during the next night, using the water over again.

In the basement of the 1.9-millionsquare-foot Credit Suisse office building in New York, machines turn the water in sixty-four 800-gallon tanks into ice each night. During the

hottest part of the afternoon, air passing across the ice cools the interior of the huge skyscraper.

In another kind of ice-based system, ice cools water instead of air. Under a parking lot at California’s Stanford University, a 4-million-gallon tank of water becomes a huge block of ice. Water in a separate system passes over the ice, then 360 miles of pipes circulate the chilled water to buildings all over campus to cool them. Each night, the water is refrozen for a fresh supply of ice the next day.

Shifting electricity use to nighttime hours helps utilities manage their generating systems, and it can also help large energy consumers.

Commercial and industrial electricity users typically pay different rates for their power depending on the time of day. For really large spaces such as a towering skyscraper or a sprawling campus, using an ice system at night when electricity is cheaper can be an important money-saving strategy.

For the small- to mid-sized commercial buildings common in Kentucky, a third style of ice system may be more useful.

Up on the roof Instead of putting huge water tanks and ice-making equipment in the basement or underground, a mini icemaker system can be mounted on the roof of a one- or two-story com-

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roof, there is attic space between the roof and the home’s interior. Proper ventilation of this buffer space, plus proper insulation, helps moderate mercial building. Other mini systems allow the ice tank heat transfer from the outermost roof surface to the to be installed in the ground outdoors instead of inside a living space. That can reduce the number of times an airbasement. conditioning system needs to cycle on during the hottest Computer controls allow the building’s owner to part of the day. program the ice system to work with the normal HVAC In a flat roof on a commercial building, the roof and its system according to local weather conditions and electric various layers of insulation touch each other in a weatherrates. The existing gas compressor system cools the buildproof sandwich. Each of those layers can absorb heat from ing during off-peak times. The mini ice system kicks in the sun and quickly transfer it to the building, adding to for four to six hours during peak times. the amount of effort it takes to cool the interior.

Homeowners and commercial property managers are Investigators testing products for the federal ENERGY also taking another look at roof materials and construcSTAR label and independent labs such as the Cool Roof tion methods for other opportunities to reduce summer Rating Council measure roofing materials according to air-conditioning use. two standards. The rating for “solar reflectance” measures For homes with little or no natural shade, a light-colhow well sunlight bounces off a roof. The rating for “therored “cool” roof may help. In a typical angled household mal emittance” tells how well a roofing material can radiate any heat it does absorb back into the atmosphere. Higher numbers are better.

Upgrading to one of these new mateKentucky HVAC contractors must pass a licensing exam and meet certain rials when an existing roof needs to be standards. For more information about the program, visit www.dhbc. replaced may be the quickest way to ky.gov/hvac. lower monthly energy use during the However, there is no state licensing requirement for residential roofing summer in Kentucky. KL contractors. Mike Sasse, owner of Louisville-based Commonwealth Roofing and past president of the Kentucky Roofing Contractors Association, says, “To help consumers, in 2001 KRCA began a certification program for Energy journalist NANCY GRANT is a roofers that is described on our Web site at www.krca.org. KRCA-certified member of the Cooperative Communicators contractors must stay up-to-date about materials, procedures, and safety Association and the American Society of practices.”

KNOW YOUR CONTRACTOR

Journalists and Authors.

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cuttinG costs

Light the way, efficiently I’ve always liked recessed light fixtures, but heard they’re leaky and inefficient. Are there any new types of fixtures that are more energy efficient? Are they difficult to install?—Mike M. JameS duLLey

R

saFety First

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Adjustable eyeball recessed light fixtures are ideal for focusing light on specific objects on a wall or floor.

Juno ligHting

ecessed lights have been popular for decades, and remain the fixture of choice for overhead lighting. New energy-efficient designs can use 80 percent less electricity than inefficient versions while providing the same amount of light.

Recessed light fixtures are mounted within a ceiling. From an energy conservation standpoint, this is not an issue when installed in the first floor of a two-story house. However, if fixtures are installed in the secondstory ceiling or the first-floor ceiling of a one-story house, a hole is created between the living area and the attic.

Without an efficient design and proper installation, a recessed lighting fixture allows air to leak out of the house.

Leakage is a particular problem during the winter when the warmer air inside a home naturally rises to the ceiling.

There are new recessed light fixtures that meet ENERGY STAR standards. These fixtures use fluorescent lights instead of inefficient incandescent bulbs, reducing electricity consumption by 75 percent. The inside surface of the new fixtures is also more reflective than older inefficient versions.

Don’t insulate old fixtures

installing airtight fixtures

If you already have recessed lighting fixtures, do not go up into the attic and wrap them with insulation to try to save energy. Wrapping older fixtures with insulation can hold in too much heat, particularly when standard incandescent bulbs are used. These fixtures are not designed to be airtight and the excess heat buildup can become an electrical or fire hazard.

For fixtures in ceilings where indoor air leakage seems likely, select a new airtight design with a sealed canister.

The canister, when installed properly, forms an airtight seal between the ceiling and the fixture.

These types of fixtures are most often used in ceilings beneath an unheated attic, but they are also effective for unheated basement ceilings, minimizing drafts between floors.

If a fixture will be installed in a ceiling under an insulated floor, select an insulation contact (IC) rated design. These fixtures are designed to touch insulation without overheating the fixture. When installing new non-IC fixtures, the insulation must be kept away from the canister. This insulation void allows heat loss from the room below even if the installation is airtight.

It’s not difficult to install recessed light fixtures. Cut the mounting holes the exact size recommended by the manufacturer. This makes it easier to create a good seal between the fixture and the ceiling. Before cutting holes, make sure your fixture layout clears all floor joists. kl Mail requests and questions to James Dulley, Kentucky Living, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, oH 45244, or visit www.dulley.com.

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GADGETS &GIZMOS Shining up ENERGY STAR Changes likely after investigation finds weaknesses in program In March, the Government Accountability Office completed a nine-month investigation that found weaknesses in the ENERGY STAR program created by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 to rate consumer products’ energy efficiency.

The GAO, a nonpartisan congressional watchdog agency, submitted fake products, such as a gasoline-powered alarm clock, and listed nonexistent companies for evaluation. At the end of its audit, the GAO found ENERGY STAR to be primarily a self-certification program “vulnerable to fraud and abuse.”

The EPA responded: “We take this report very seriously. We welcome all efforts, internal or external, to improve the (ENERGY STAR) program. That’s why we have started an enhanced testing program and have already

taken enforcement actions against companies that violated the rules.”

The GAO review follows other ENERGY STAR concerns. The New York Times reported last October that some manufacturers were testing appliances for ENERGY STAR certification internally instead of using independent laboratories.

ENERGY STAR reacted by increasing oversight of product ratings. It revoked the ENERGY STAR label for some refrigerators while raising the bar for efficiency expected from TVs. Starting this year, ENERGY STAR is expanding third-party evaluations and implementing a two-step internal testing process to broaden the evaluation of ENERGY STAR-qualified products.

— NATIONAL RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION

ECO CONSUMER ENERGY STAR proves popular with public Most households recognize ENERGY STAR label Consumers have largely embraced the ENERGY STAR program.

A survey by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency—a group including members such as the Tennessee Valley Authority and Bonneville Power Administration, a federal power marketing agency in the Northwest—found that 77 percent of American households recognize the ENERGY STAR

label. Of these consumers, 73 percent purchased an ENERGY STAR-labeled product within the last year.

Federal energy-efficiency tax credits for appliances and home heating and air-conditioning systems typically require qualifying products to be ENERGY STAR-rated. As always, research a product before making a purchase.

CA NRE

SMART SHOPPER EPA assures public about rating system A 2009 EPA review found 98 percent of ENERGY STAR-rated products tested met or exceeded requirements. Devices carrying the ENERGY STAR logo, such as computers and electronics, kitchen and household appliances, residential lighting, and windows, deliver the same or better performance and use 20 percent to 30 percent less energy on average than comparable models.

“ENERGY STAR uses a series of checks to ensure consumers are getting products that cut energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions,” explains a joint statement from the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy, a partner with EPA on the ENERGY STAR program.

“One of the reasons the system has worked…is that manufacturers have a market incentive to test competitors’ products and report violations, which supports the program’s own independent testing, verification, and enforcement initiatives.”

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Co-oPERATIoNS

owenTon SomerSeT GLaSGow

Lines from the past, Facebook to the future pauL weSSLund

aTwitter over Facebook

Teaching efficiency

aTLanTa, GeorGia

SomerSeT

Whitney Duvall, manager of Communications and Advertising for Owen Electric Co-op based in Owenton, participated as a speaker on a panel addressing the use of social media at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s annual meeting. Duvall spoke about how member cooperatives can

South Kentucky Rural Electric Co-op based in Somerset participated in the Engineering Pathways to Success Symposium held for the Pulaski County School System’s fifth-graders. Co-op Member Services and Marketing team leader Alan Coffey told how to build a more energy-efficient home. Energy advisors Nora Wall and Jeff Girdler worked with students who “built” energy-efficient “cardboard box” homes that they had to insulate. The final activity was a contest to see which home would keep a piece of ice intact the longest.

Jeff Girdler, an energy advisor for South Kentucky rural electric Cooperative based in Somerset, works with students at a pulaski County school, using a cardboard box to demonstrate the importance of insulating a home for energy efficiency. photo

by Joy Bullock.

improving the quality of life in the communities we serve. These video archives will be a scrapbook that can help tell our co-op’s story and guide us into the future.” KL

Living history

nreca

GLaSGow

manager of Communications and advertising at owen electric Cooperative based in owenton, whitney duvall, seated, was a panelist on social media at the annual meeting of the national rural electric Cooperative association in atlanta.

strengthen member connections and raise awareness of key issues through the use of social media, and how sites such as Twitter and Facebook are helping some co-ops keep a robust two-way communication with members flowing.

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Farmers Rural Electric Co-op, based in Glasgow, began a living-history project this spring by videotaping a conversation with 90-yearold retired lineman Henry Staples.

With good-natured humor, Staples recalls adventures and dramas from every decade of his work life from the late 1930s until his retirement in 1980. Jerry Carter, vice president for Member and Corporate Services at Farmers RECC, says, “Henry is by far our oldest retiree, but this isn’t just a ‘tell ’em about the old days’ project.

We want our member-owners to see that ever since we started in 1938, Farmers RECC has been dedicated to

although 90-year-old Henry Staples retired from Farmers rural electric Co-op in Glasgow in 1980, he’s still willing to hop onto a pole for the benefit of a photographer. photo by Joe imel.

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Shocking The common mistakes that pose deadly risks for do-it-yourself electricians While do-it-yourself projects can be very satisfying, they pose special risks when it comes to electricity.

“Mistakes can be costly—or even deadly,” warns John Drengenberg, consumer affairs manager for Underwriters Laboratories Inc. “The first and best safety tip is to call in an expert rather than be your own electrician.”

The Quincy, Mass.-based Fire Protection Research Foundation has uncovered typical DIY wiring mistakes. Some of the most common:

Working with a live wire. Thousands of DIYers receive electric shock injuries each year. Always turn off the circuit breaker (or remove the fuse) before working on or replacing electrical equipment.

Using the wrong light bulb. Most light fixtures have a sticker on the socket listing the proper type and maximum wattage of bulb to use. Installing a different type of bulb, or one with higher wattage, could damage the lights and cause a fire.

Not being grounded.

ElEcTrical SafETy foundaTion inTErnaTional

energy 101

Don’t hook up new lighting to old, inferior wires. To avoid this fire hazard, check your wire rating first.

For optimal safety, receptacles should be wired with the proper grounding and polarity.

Generally, three-pronged outlets signify an effective ground path in the circuit. However, homes built before the mid-1960s probably don’t have a grounding path, and simply replacing the existing outlet with a three-pronged outlet won’t create one.

— UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES INC.

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2010 HOME

IMPROVEMENT ISSUE

Countertops and Floors Sustainable surfaces made of concrete, glass, bamboo, cork, linoleum, and even paper are not only eco-friendly but also beautiful

Go GR Five years ago, few of

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Brian and Kelley Marriott recently built a new home near Bowling Green and had environmentally friendly concrete installed throughout by Nomad Industries. All the kitchen’s countertops are polished concrete in a Lanon stone color, and the two-tier circular bar, opposite, features a beautiful etched edge. Concrete is also used for the splash under the window, electric outlet wall plates, windowsill, and bowls.

Photos by Joe Imel.

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Joshua Green’s clients would have imagined purchasing countertops made from the same material that covers their garage floors. But now, as homeowners grow more environmentally aware, that’s exactly what they’re doing.

“When we first talk about concrete, people think about their driveways or the pavement they walk on,” says Green, owner of Nomad Industries, a firm located in Brooks that specializes in decorative concrete, including design and installation of concrete countertops and flooring.

“But when they see it, they want it.”

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e surfaces oncrete, boo, cork, and even not only y but iful

GREEN

BY PATRICE D. BUCCIARELLI

Concrete, glass, and paper Concrete—made of a cementitious material, water, and aggregate (sand, gravel, or crushed stone)—has been used as a construction material for centuries.

Today’s cementitious materials—cement—are likely to be green. Fly ash, for example, is a recycled byproduct of coal-fired furnaces at power-generation facilities.

Though concrete has been used since ancient Rome, it is getting lots of attention from homeowners who want more environmentally friendly materials on the countertops and floors.

“It’s all-natural, durable, versatile, and when it’s embedded with recycled glass or agate, every piece is a unique work of art,” Green says. “It’s perfect for anyone who wants something green.”

In fact, the ranks of consumers who want to beau-

tify their homes without blemishing the environment are on the rise, says Glen Dentinger of Bluegrass Green Co., a distributor of environmentally friendly home improvement supplies.

“People are hearing about environmental issues,” Dentinger says. “They know that mining raw materials can be destructive and energy-intensive, and they understand the impact products such as vinyl flooring have on the environment.”

So, in addition to concrete, they’re also turning to other renewable or natural materials suitable for countertops and floors, including those made from recycled glass and paper.

With most of its products made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper, PaperStone lends a clean, modern appearance to kitchens and baths.

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Joshua Green, right, owner of Nomad Industries that specializes in custom concrete projects for businesses and homeowners, shows Marriott the finished concrete backsplash that will be installed in his kitchen. Photo by Joe Imel.

Return to true linoleum Marmoleum is also becoming a favorite flooring material of consumers concerned about indoor air quality. Made from linseed oil, pine resin, wood flour, and limestone affixed to a natural fiber, jute backing, Marmoleum is the latest version of linoleum, a material that has covered residential and industrial floors for generations.

“It’s true linoleum as it was manufactured 150 years ago, with improved technology and color palettes,” says Scott Day, marketing communications manager

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forbo flooring systems

PaperStone uses a water-based resin system that contains nonpetroleum-based phenols (phenols are caustic compounds found in plastics and other materials) and is virtually formaldehyde-free.

IceStone, primarily a countertop material, is manufactured from 100 percent recycled glass and concrete. Some styles contain sustainably harvested mother-of-pearl obtained from recycled oyster shells. IceStone surfaces are manufactured to be free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in less environmentally friendly materials.

“These types of products are especially appealing to young parents who are concerned about their children being exposed to chemicals,” Dentinger says. n

Made primarily of natural materials, Marmoleum Click floor panels are available in a wide range of color palettes for creating imaginative rooms, go down without glue, are durable, but also easy on the feet and quiet due to a cork backing. The company also offers Marmoleum products for wall, furniture, and bulletin board applications.

for Forbo Flooring Systems, maker of Marmoleum.

Besides drawing its components from nature, Marmoleum’s smooth surface is virtually hypoallergenic.

“The floor produces no static electricity, so it

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Bamboo can be harvested every five to six years and cork every nine years, whereas hardwood trees take 40-120 years to mature

does not attract dust, dirt, or pet dander,” says Day. “That’s why it’s been installed in commercial and hospital settings.”

In fact, Marmoleum Click, designed for easy home installation without glue, is the first flooring product to be approved by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America for use in homes where asthmatic and highly allergic children and adults reside.

Like concrete, the product also lends a highly contemporary look to rooms where it is installed.

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Teragren’s three-ply, chestnut Strand bamboo countertop/ table tops come in large furniture-grade panels and are extremely durable—154% harder than oak. All of Teragren’s flooring and countertop/table products are LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified as “rapidly renewable materials,” as bamboo can be harvested every five to six years.

Teragren Fine Bamboo Flooring, Panels + Veneer

Bamboo and cork Homeowners who prefer the look of wood without sacrificing trees to get it are choosing more sustainable materials such as cork and bamboo for their countertops and for their flooring materials.

“Bamboo is comparable to hardwoods, and both bamboo and cork are factory-finished to make their surfaces resistant to scratches,” says Skip Sutton of Floorcoverings International, a retailer that carries eco-friendly products. Technically, bamboo is considered a grass rather than a tree. It grows more quickly than most hardwood trees, and can generally be harvested every five to six years, rather than the 40 to 120 years it takes hardwood trees to mature; and, whereas new trees must be replanted to replace those that were harvested, bamboo simply grows back again.

Applied as a countertop or as flooring, bamboo lends a visual texture similar to hardwood, and is similar in terms of durability and maintenance. It is also stain- and bacteria-resistant.

Like bamboo, cork is a wholly sustainable material.

It is obtained when the bark of a cork oak tree is harvested, generally every nine years. Cork is highly sustainable because the trees are never cut to obtain the material and the harvested bark regenerates over time.

The material has long been harvested to manufacture bottle stoppers. Material used to make countertop and flooring material is derived from bottle stopper manufactured waste.

Consumers with an eye for design appreciate cork’s texture and its ability to add visual warmth

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Chris O’Neal of Louisville, a concrete artisan with Nomad Industries, puts finishing touches on the concrete fireplace surround in polished river gravel with a chipped black stone pattern. The concrete hearth matches the fireplace surround, and three large panels below the hearth include key stones and is a Lanon stone in color to accent the Marriotts’ kitchen.

Photo by Joe Imel.

Can you DIy? Sustainable flooring and countertop materials are great for the environment, and many fit well into home improvement plans. But are these materials DIY-friendly? Depending upon the material—and the homeowner’s experience—they are.

Homeowners who have experience with floating floor systems should easily be able to install socalled “click”—or floating—flooring systems and some countertop materials with the right tools.

“But if they’re in doubt, they should talk to their retailer about the project and their level of comfort doing it themselves. If they’re not comfortable doing the job themselves, ask the dealer to refer an installer,” says Glen Dentinger of Bluegrass Green Co. However, some improvements, such as adding concrete floors and countertops, are usually best left in the hands of an experienced contractor.

Product suppliers can provide a list of contractors in your area. Misty Wilburn, general manager for Suburban Decorative Concrete Supply in Louisville,

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offers these tips for finding the right person for the job.

Ask how long the contractor has been working with the materials you intend to install.

Ask to see a portfolio of previous work. “The portfolio will show the contractor’s work. But anybody can get pictures. Ask for a list of references, too,” Wilburn says.

Contact and chat with references. Not only is checking references a good way to verify a contractor’s performance, it’s also a good way to talk with people who have installed these surfaces. Ask how the surfaces are performing, and whether the materials are living up to the homeowner’s expectations.

ANd wheN hIrINg A CONTrACTOr yOu ShOuLd ALwAyS: • Request a detailed written estimate that includes costs for labor materials, as well as project starting and completion dates.

• Get warrantees on materials and labor in writing.

• Request proof of workers’ compensation insurance.

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In addition to concrete, people are turning to renewable materials for countertops and floors made from recycled glass and paper

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The Marriotts’ home receives decorative concrete steps at all entrances, featuring integral colored concrete (color throughout the mix), highlighted with nutmeg accents throughout the chipped stone pattern. Steps are textured for beauty and safety. Photo by Joe Imel.

ONLINE

to kitchens and other residential spaces. But the material’s attributes are more than superficial.

Because in nature the cork bark protects its tree from pests, cork countertops and flooring are resistant to mold, bacteria, and insects.

Cork, bamboo, concrete, and other eco-friendly materials continue to win over environmentally aware homeowners. But they are not the only ways manufacturers are helping them bring sustainable and recycled products into their homes. Some are already

Sustainable surfaces resource list For a complete list of the products, vendors, and suppliers discussed in this feature, as well as additional Web resources to learn more about sustainable surfaces, go to www.KentuckyLiving.com and type “sustainable surfaces” in the Keyword Search box.

fabricating sinks from recycled automotive parts and turning chalkboards into countertops. Other products are sure to follow.

“The trend is rising,” says Dentinger, “and it’s not going away any time soon.” KL

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The his-and-her vanity features a one-piece polished concrete countertop with backsplash in a smoke color. Green says, “Concrete is a 30-year-plus product built for the long haul using products designed by Mother Nature, and only limited by the artisan’s mind.” Photo by Joe Imel.

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Faces of

PHOTOS BY TIM WEBB

Madison County The pictures on these pages come from a photo exhibit traveling the state. Richmond-based photographer Tim Webb, who regularly contributes to Kentucky Living, took them to tell the story of Madison County.

The AT&T Reflections: The Faces of Madison County project was the product of a yearlong photo documentary on the people of this central Kentucky county.

After spending more than a year capturing and creating more than 3,000 images, the project was edited into a traveling exhibit of 30 framed prints, with an electronic version of more than 200 images.

The exhibit is now making its way through Madison County, stopping in several sites. For a schedule and locations, go to KentuckyLiving. com, click on Kentucky Showcase on the left, then click on the link to The Faces of Madison County. KL

■ Kenton Davis, top, uses mules to work his family farm beneath the West Pinnacle in Davis Hollow, near Berea, with his son Kenny Davis Jr. ■ Inspiring is one word used to describe lifelong Richmond resident Chastity Ross, above. A working mother, she balances volunteer activities with the youth at First Christian Church, with the needs of her growing family, as well as working with adults with physical and mental disabilities.

■ Edna Alexander, right, lives by choice in a log cabin without a telephone, electricity, or running water. She has a deep faith in God, and lives self-sufficiently, growing and canning her own food, and making her own lye soap.

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■ Dorothy Miller worked more than 40 years as a teacher in Madison County before retiring as the librarian at Whitehall Elementary in 1976. She is seen here in the one-room schoolhouse on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University.

■ Ron Marionneaux is a retired professor of geography and planning at Eastern Kentucky University, where he chaired the department from 1977-1986. He currently operates RM Associates Inc., a consulting firm specializing in community planning and development.

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2010 HOME IMPROVEMENT ISSUE

Do it yourself

PROS

BY ROBIN ROENKER

Kentucky Living readers tackled these DIY projects with overwhelming success—you can too!

For the do-it-yourselfers out there, tackling that next project—no matter how big or how small—is a personal test of will. Their own mini-Everest.

When that room is repainted, or the bathroom’s retiled, or the landscape is done, these folks take pride in knowing they’ve done it themselves—and saved bundles of cash in the process.

We asked Kentucky Living readers to tell us about their own DIY success stories, and we heard about everything from remodeling an entire home to building a cozy front porch swing.

Here, we’re featuring five of the most unique projects from Kentuckians who are truly do-it-yourself pros.

Perhaps they’ll inspire you to tackle that next project on your to-do list.

KIERSTA TUCKER

There are two types of people in this world: those who hire to have things done. And those who do it themselves.

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Kiersta Tucker took a plain blue table that didn’t match the kitchen, and turned it into an artsy table. See page 33 for step-by-step directions.

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Michael and Rae-Anne Embry, Brandenburg, sit around the large fire pit they built using massive limestone rocks that were unearthed from digging the basement.

Photo by David Modica.

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Another Diy project by Michael Embry was customizing their master closet in three days, by installing prefabri– cated wood cabinets, brass-plated rods for hanging clothes, and creating a wonderful shoe storage area for Rae-Anne. Photo by David Modica.

Backyard bliss and closet contentment When Michael and Rae-Anne Embry of Brandenburg built their dream home in 2004, they knew they wanted their back yard to be a destination: a gathering point where their friends and family could relax and enjoy one another’s company.

With ideas Rae-Anne had clipped from magazines, the couple made plans to add an outdoor grill, fountains, and stone fire pit to complement the in-ground pool they’d had installed. Never mind that Michael hadn’t ever worked with stone or with electricity. He was up for the challenge.

To build their 2-1/2-foot tall, 12-foot wide fire pit, Michael used several massive limestone rocks— the biggest weighing 800 to 1,000 pounds—that were unearthed when their home’s basement was dug out.

With his front-loading tractor, he dry stacked the stones one at a time where Rae-Anne directed—a delicate and slow-moving process that took about two weeks.

Before running an underground electric line from

their home to the outdoor fountains, Michael consulted with an electrician.

“That was my first electrical project that I had ever taken on, and it turned out very well,” says Michael.

Installing the grill brought another challenge: Michael had to rent a hammer drill to bore out a 6-inch hole in the concrete that surrounds the pool, in order to run electric, water, and gas lines to the grill.

The result was the back yard of their dreams. “We do a lot of entertaining out there,” Michael says. “It’s the only place you’ll find us when the weather’s nice.”

But Michael’s handiness isn’t limited to outdoor projects. Customizing ClosetMaid products he purchased from Lowe’s, in just four days Michael gave Rae-Anne a closet any woman would covet—with ample space to organize all her clothes and shoes.

The Embrys’ latest project is customizing a nursery for their first son, who is expected in August. “He’s going to be a do-it-yourselfer, too,” Michael says.

Feeling inspired?

There are tons of great DIY Web sites offering step-by-step guidelines for projects to try in your home. Here are just a few: www.doityourself.com www.diynetwork.com www.diyideas.com

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Jason Lee Thornsberry built this sturdy outdoor play set—clubhouse with steering wheel, slide, a rock climbing wall on the back side, two swings—for about $120 for his son Chandler—as well as an attached adult swing.

JAson THornsberrY

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Sensational swing set

So, he built his own for about $120.

Despite blinding pain and rainy weather, Thornsberry did the bulk of the construction in four nine-hour workdays just before his gall bladder surgery last spring (talk about a DIY warrior).

With help from his wife, Natalie, he constructed the center swing-set portion of the play set first, using 4x6s to build a sturdy frame.

Then he constructed the clubhouse portion of the play set using plywood and 2x4s. They added a blue plastic slide from a former swing set. Chandler’s “Papaw” Bill Runyons built a homemade “rock” climbing wall—really just plywood with 4-inch-long durable plastic blocks as the grips. The roof is a simple 2x4 frame covered with blue tarp. The final touch was the addition of the larger swing, so the couple can enjoy watching Chandler play.

Thornsberry completed the entire project with basic tools: a hammer, 18-volt drill, handsaw, and small electric saw. This summer, he plans to add on to the clubhouse and build a tunnel for Chandler to climb through.

“It turned out really nice,” he says. “I think it’s a lot stronger than the ones they sell for $2,500. It’s just a father and son thing. I’m so happy that I could do this for my son.”

Trailer transformation Looking at Tammy Huff’s spacious Glens Fork home now, you’d never know it was once a humble 28x60 double-wide trailer.

Huff and her friend Pam Cundiff first purchased the trailer together in 1998. With the additions of

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TAMMY HUFF

Jason Lee Thornsberry of Mt. Sterling wanted to give his son, Chandler, age 6, an outdoor clubhouse and play set.

But he didn’t want to spend the $2,500 to $3,000 most stores were asking.

Tammy Huff, along with Brent and Pam Cundiff, transformed a double-wide trailer into a huge, beautiful home with a basement, an upstairs, and a front wrap-around porch with a log-cabin feel.

Cundiff’s husband, Brent, and their son, Ty, age 3, all under one roof, they knew they needed more room.

Working since last fall, Brent, Pam, and Tammy dug out and constructed a 16x60 basement and added a 16x60 upstairs floor to the trailer, dramatically changing its former roofline. They sided the home and added a wrap-around front porch to give it a logcabin feel.

The threesome did roughly 95 percent of the work themselves, from dry-walling and installing plumbing and electricity, to even felling and cutting their own 2x10s and 2x4s from timber on Pam’s family’s land.

It’s not uncommon now for sightseers to travel down Huff’s dead-end road just to see the transformation.

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dAn MCFAlls

you truly feel as if it’s a gorgeous fall weekend when you step into Dan McFalls’ basement apartment. A highlight of the walkout is the beautiful large-scale murals, which he purchased online. the apartment includes a bedroom with double closet, tub-shower bath, dining area, living room with fireplace, and a kitchen with foyer that opens out to a deck.

“Everyone’s surprised at how well it turned out,” Huff says. “I can’t believe it myself. Coming home from work every day, I say, ‘Isn’t that a pretty house.’

It’s been a dream of mine to have something like this.

To see it come true has been wonderful.”

Dramatic dining table When Kiersta Tucker of Custer saw her friend Keith Lucas’ dated, blue-tiled dining room table, she knew a little paint would go a long way to giving it some much-needed pizazz. With some creativity and just $40, she gave the table new life. Here are her stepby-step directions for tackling this inexpensive, highimpact project.

1. Cover entire table top with two coats of regular primer. Tucker used original Kilz brand primer, applying it with a standard paintbrush. Wait a few hours between coats. Allow second coat to sit one day before beginning painting.

2. Paint the tiles using a basic color scheme.

Tucker selected five colors, purchasing inexpensive $1/bottle acrylic paint available at any arts supply store. To keep track of your pattern, Tucker suggests painting one color at a time, working left to right.

Give each tile two coats of paint before moving on to the next color.

3. Once all tiles are painted, use a small craft brush to apply white paint to the grout.

4. When all paint is dry, use a standard paintbrush to apply a glossy brush-on lacquer. Tucker applied eight total coats of lacquer over a four-day period. The lacquer gives the table its glossy appearance and keeps the paint from chipping or flaking.

walls that say wow

for $80 each, his two fall scene murals were easy to install.

1. Make sure walls are smooth and free of pits or bumps. Since McFalls was dealing with concrete, he used a hammer and chisel to remove bumps and drywall mud and sanded to smooth over pits.

2. The mural will arrive in several sections, or sheets. Roll out the sheets and let them acclimate to the room until they lie flat.

3. Visualize and plan where you want to place the murals, following the pattern (panel 1, panel 2, etc.) as directed.

4. Mix the mural glue—which typically comes with the murals—as directed. It will look like a congealed Jell-O-type compound.

5. Installing the mural panels is similar to wallpapering. Loosely place the mural on the wall where you want it, then work from the center to the sides to affix it to the wall, working out bubbles as you go, pushing large bubbles out to the sides using a damp rag. If there are very small bubbles that won’t budge, you can nick them with the point of an X-Acto knife blade or other small razor. Be careful not to tear the paper. KL OnLIne

diY stone veneer fireplace Like mcFalls’ dramatic cultured stone veneer fireplace? Go to www.KentuckyLiving.com and type “dIY fireplace” in the Keyword Search box for a guide to how he did it.

dAn MCFAlls

n

Dan McFalls of Mt. Vernon wanted a way to brighten up his basement walls. So he opted for dramatic wall murals that bring the outside in. Purchased online

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• Louisville, kystatefair.org • facebook.com/kystatefair • twitter.com/kystatefair

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KentucKy culture High-stepping fun in Shelby county sHelbYville/sHelbY CoUnTY visiTors bUreAU

KAtHERinE tAnDy BRown

T

op American Saddlebreds compete every summer in the prestigious Junior League Horse Show in Lexington, while America’s best high-steppers are crowned at the World Championship Horse Show during the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville.

But it’s rural Shelby County—just east of Derby City and 45 minutes west of Fayette County’s racehorse farms—that has garnered honors as “The Saddlebred Capital of the World.” Thanks to a state legislative proclamation, water towers on Interstate 64 now sport murals stating that fact.

The county is home to 83 Saddlebred breeding and training operations, where leggy foals cavort in lush pastures defined by well-kept white or black fences, and top-class trainers coax wanna-be young show horses into their natural gaits.

“Due to the concentration of Saddlebred farms, Shelby County has everything a horseman could need—vets, trainers, boarding farms, farriers—and that brings many other breeds to the area as well,” says Katie Fussenegger, executive director of the Shelbyville/Shelby County Visitors Bureau.

One of a number of farms open to visitors is a haven of history, equine and otherwise. At the 100-acre Undulata Farm, breeding ground for world-class American Saddlebred horses since the late 1800s, Civil War

tours offer children and adults an up-close and personal look at Shelby county’s American Saddlebred horse farms. tours are provided by appointment only through the Shelbyville/ Shelby county visitors Bureau.

Worth the trip cavalry hero Harry Weissinger bred the great stallion American Born.

These days, the farm flourishes under the ownership of popular horseman Edward “Hoppy” Bennett, who has been restoring its main house since 1994, garnering a spot on the National Register of Historic Sites.

The visitors bureau arranges complimentary tours of this historic breeding and training establishment, where guests can learn about Saddlebreds and other Kentucky breeds and their economic impact, see mares and foals, watch horses being ridden and driven, and go through the lovely, three-story 1895 home.

“The tours spread goodwill in the community and help educate the public about Kentucky’s horse industry,” Bennett explains. “Most people don’t know the horse business is considered agriculture, and we’re the number-one agriculture

industry in the state.”

Twenty-one years ago, he and the family of legendary Saddlebred trainer Redd Crabtree began the annual Shelbyville Horse Show, a multiday, gala August event voted by the United Professional Horse Show Association—the horsemen themselves—as the best in the country.

“On one night, back when the population of Shelbyville was around 8,000 (it’s since grown to 10,000),” says Bennett, “we had four governors, three or four lieutenant governors, two Miss Americas, a United States senator and speaker of the House, and the U.S. secretary of labor, all in attendance at the horse show.”

A heartwarming, educational, horsey add-on to farm tours is a stop at The Luci Center. At this therapeutic riding center, horses help individuals with disabilities gain confidence on 26 peaceful acres.

Though Shelby County is an extraordinary destination for horse fans, even folks who are not quite

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sure which end the oats go in can find plenty to do.

Pairing bucolic with sophisticated, Shelbyville’s WakefieldScearce Galleries boasts one of the largest collections of museum-quality antique English furniture, antique silver, and antique home décor in the country. It has an international clientele. The gallery is located in a handsome, 78-room, red brick building, which it shares with five upscale shops and a restaurant. The building, which dates back to the 1790s and is on the National Register of Historic Places, was a school for young ladies in the 1800s called Science Hill.

Tradition continues today in the Science Hill Inn dining room, where scrumptious Southern food has been served for 175 years on white linen tablecloths. Generations of families

have made the pre-Christmas brunch a holiday mainstay.

The Science Hill complex is part of Shelbyville’s National Register Historic District, which, according to Charlie Kramer, visitors bureau tour director, is filled with “every architectural style imaginable.” The town was founded in 1792—the year Kentucky became the nation’s 15th state—and was named after the first governor, Isaac Shelby. From April into June, dogwoods donated as a memorial gift from a resident morph its main thoroughfare into a vibrant pink-and-white reception line for a self-guided tour.

Folks so inclined can get out of town to hit the links at 18-hole Weissinger Hills Golf Course, catch a bass at Guist Creek Marina, or pick summertime strawberries at Gallrein Farms. KL

More attractions in Shelby County Wine lovers will delight at the opening of a branch of a well-established Lexington vineyard and winery. Located at I-64, Exit 32, Talon Shelbyville is open year-round for production tours and wine tastings. Bring your own picnic mid-April through early September for live concerts.

Shelby County is also home to two historic eateries.

Started in 1968 by Colonel Harland Sanders’ wife, the Claudia Sanders Dinner House serves fingerlickin’ fried chicken and country ham at a hefty Sunday buffet.

A former stagecoach stop, Simpsonville’s Old Stone Inn, circa 1817, is a National Historic Landmark where General Stonewall Jackson and General Lafayette once stayed. You can feast on fried catfish, hot browns, and bread pudding with bourbon sauce.

Rest your belly overnight at the Yellow Carriage House Bed & Breakfast, perfect for special occasions, with a fireplace, clawfoot tub, antiques, and a candlelit breakfast on fine china. Or for a woodsy retreat for two to 25, Chandler Ridge is a 3,250-squarefoot log home with a water-view deck and plenty of peace and quiet.

Chandler Ridge www.chandlerridgeky.com (502) 220-0141

Claudia Sanders Dinner House www.claudiasanders.com (502) 633-5600

Old Stone Inn www.old-stone-inn.com (502) 722-8200

Shelby County/Shelbyville Visitors Bureau www.shelbyvilleky.com (800) 680-6388

Talon Shelbyville www.talonwine.com (502) 633-6969

Yellow Carriage House Bed & Breakfast www.yellowcarriagehouse.com (502) 722-2039

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event calendar

Bluegrass, Blues & Barbecue Come for the food, stay for the fun! May 7–8 enjoy a weekend full of food, entertainment, shopping, sporting, and special events, all the while celebrating Owensboro’s proud heritage for world-famous barbecue.

For more information, go online to www.bbqfest.com or call the Owensboro-Daviess Convention and Visitors Bureau at (800) 489-1131.

Mountain Laurel Festival The Mountain Laurel Festival, founded in 1931, celebrates the beauty of spring and the blooming of the Mountain Laurel. The festival includes a parade, folk singing and dancing, and tours of the mountains. The highlight is the coronation of the festival queen. Come to Pineville on May 27-30 and celebrate spring. For more information, visit www. kmlf.org or call (606) 337-6103.

All-American Soap Box Derby

Annual Llama & Alpaca Daze

Come be a part of a sport that is American as apple pie, the BB&T AllAmerican Soap Box Derby in Bowling Green on May 21–22. Youth soap box derby has run nationally for more than 75 years teaching youngsters some of the basic skills of workmanship, the spirit of competition, and the perseverance to continue a project once it has begun. Be sure to come out and support this American tradition. For more information, go online to www.bgkiwanis.org.

May 29 is your chance to get up close with a llama or alpaca, at the Annual Llama and Alpaca Daze in Georgetown. Numerous llama farms will showcase their animals from the babies to the stately adults. One might even give you a kiss. Vendors will sell fiber, llamarelated merchandise, and food will be available. For information contact Charlotte at (502) 857-9100.

Kentucky Living Events Calendar brought to you by the Kentucky Department of Travel. For a complete listing of destinations, attractions, and events happening in your own back yard or throughout the entire state, visit KentuckyTourism.com.

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EvENT cALENDAR SAT MAY 1

THU MAY 13

Derby Day Festival

Golden Dragon Acrobats Cirque D’Or

(859) 824-3322 Williamstown.

Rebel Rodders Cruisin’

(859) 498-9874 Mt. Sterling.

Contra Dance

(606) 677-6000 The Center for Rural Development, Somerset.

The Corvette Gathering

(859) 552-5433 ArtsPlace, Lexington.

(800) 538-3883 Through the 15th.

Bowling Green.

FRI MAY 7

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

International Bar-B-Q Festival (800) 489-1131 Through the 8th.

Owensboro.

Bagdad Days

(502) 747-5174 Through the 8th.

Baptist Church, Bagdad.

Mother’s Day Weekend

(270) 432-2276 Through the 15th. Barn Lot Theater, Edmonton.

FRI MAY 14

Little Shop of Horrors (270) 821-2787 Through the 16th.

Glema Mahr Center for the Arts, Madisonville.

The Bardstown Opry

(270) 618-7500 Through the 10th. Long C Trails, Scottsville.

(859) 336-9839 Bluegrass Entertainment & Expo Complex, Bardstown.

SAT MAY 8

3rd on 3rd

Strawberry Festival (270) 539-7631 Through the 15th.

Adairville.

Earth Day Celebration

(502) 321-5927 Red Orchard Park, Shelbyville.

Forkland High Tea

(859) 516-3189 Forkland Community Center, Gravel Switch.

Jenny Carols Mother’s Day Memorial 5K Run/Walk

(606) 303-7009 Danville.

MON MAY 10

Birdhouse Contest (270) 826-3003 Through the 21st.

Henderson.

(800) 638-4877 Through the 15th.

Bardstown.

Bourbon Open Golf Tournament

(502) 348-3528 Through the 16th.

Old Kentucky Home Country Club & Kenny Rapier State Park Golf Course, Bardstown.

Homegrown Bluegrass & Creative Arts Festival (270) 826-2247 Through the 15th.

Audubon State Park, Henderson.

Cushman Club

(502) 425-1997 Through the 16th.

Community Center, Finchville.

Living in History: Hidden Treasure Home Tour

WED MAY 12

(502) 875-8687 Frankfort.

Improvisational Scrap Quilt Workshop

Athens Schoolhouse Antique Show

(270) 442-8856 Through the 15th.

National Quilt Museum, Paducah.

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(859) 255-7309 Through the 16th.

Lexington.

Thoroughly Modern Millie Junior (859) 336-5412 Through the 15th.

Opera House, Springfield.

Honor the Elders Native American Gathering

Lincoln Trail Master Gardeners Plant Sale (270) 765-4121 Elizabethtown.

Pulaski County Duck Derby (606) 872-0493 Trinity Springs Park, Somerset.

(270) 317-6200 Through the 16th.

Hardin County Fairgrounds, Elizabethtown.

Birding at Cave Hill Cemetery

MainStrasse Village Maifest

K&T Railfan Day

(859) 491-0458 Through the 16th.

Covington.

Contra Dance

(859) 552-5433 ArtsPlace, Lexington.

SAT MAY 15

Louisville Art Festival

(954) 472-3755 Through the 16th. The Summit, Louisville.

KAEE Getaway Day: Terrific Trout Trek (270) 343-3797 Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery, Jamestown.

Saturday Night SockHop Show (859) 336-9839 Bluegrass Entertainment & Expo Complex, Bardstown.

Rolling Rods Car Club Bar-B-Q Festival Car Show (270) 670-3812 Fountain Run.

Edible Plants

(502) 429-7270 Tom Sawyer State Park, Louisville.

Scavenger Hunt

(270) 830-7660 Ruby Moon Vineyard & Winery, Henderson.

Kentucky Gourd Show (877) 765-8594 Through the 16th.

Spencer County Elementary, Taylorsville.

Pennyrile Classic Car Club Summer Cruise-In (270) 498-1795 Hopkinsville.

(502) 451-5630 Louisville.

(800) 462-5664 Big South Fork Scenic Railway, Stearns.

Bar-B-Q Pitt Festival (502) 966-6979 Pitt Academy, Louisville.

Glendale Springfest (270) 369-9677 Glendale.

Bark in the Park

(859) 734-3314 Old Fort Harrod State Park, Harrodsburg.

Lake Cumberland Master Gardeners Garden Tour (606) 679-6361 Somerset.

Jessamine County Piece Quilters Quilt Show (859) 885-9309 Christian Church, Nicholasville.

Relay For Life Taylors Survivors Motorcycle Run

(606) 678-7611 Pulaski County Park, Somerset.

Kentucky Sheep & Fiber Festival (502) 352-2434 Through the 16th.

Masterson Station Park, Lexington.

Cruisin On Main

(606) 682-9398 London.

SUN MAY 16

Composting Trash into Treasure (502) 429-7270 Tom Sawyer State Park, Louisville.

Downtown Car Show (270) 869-4699 Henderson.

MON MAY 17

Red Cross Lifeguard Training

(502) 429-7270 Through the 22nd. Tom Sawyer State Park, Louisville.

Oldboystoys Car Show (270) 866-7294 Russell Springs.

TUE MAY 18

Nature Rocks! Family Nature Club (270) 343-3797 Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery, Jamestown.

Quilt Appraisal Day

(270) 442-8856 National Quilt Museum, Paducah.

THU MAY 20

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

(270) 432-2276 Through the 22nd.

Barn Lot Theater, Edmonton.

FRI MAY 21

The Bardstown Opry

(859) 336-9839 Bluegrass Entertainment & Expo Complex, Bardstown.

Kentucky Heritage Quilt Society Show (270) 842-6842 Through June 6.

Kentucky Museum, Bowling Green.

Legends of The Grand Ole Opry Show (606) 416-2251 The Center for Rural Development, Somerset.

SAT MAY 22

Louisville Chorus Hope for the Children (502) 968-6300 Beargrass Christian Church, Louisville.

Rose Show

(270) 781-2592 American Legion Hall, Bowling Green.

Fundamentals of Nature Photography (270) 343-3797 Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery, Jamestown.

Sweet Owen Arts in the Park

(502) 484-3450 Fairgrounds, Owenton.

Hepcats Swing Dance (859) 420-2426 Lexington.

Somernites Cruise Car Show (606) 872-2277 Somerset.

Art in the Alley Festival

(270) 932-4298 Greensburg.

Music Across Nolin

(270) 286-4240 Nolin Lake State Park, Bee Spring.

Contra Dance

(859) 985-5501 Russell Acton Folk Center, Berea.

SUN MAY 23

Historical Walking Tour (502) 451-5630 Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville.

Twilight Driving Tour (502) 451-5630 Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville.

THU MAY 27

City Fair

(502) 957-5280 Through the 29th.

Hillview.

Corvette Forum Cruise-In

(800) 538-3883 Through the 29th.

Bowling Green.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

(270) 432-2276 Through the 30th.

Barn Lot Theater, Edmonton.

FRI MAY 28

The Bardstown Opry

(859) 336-9839 Bluegrass Entertainment & Expo Complex, Bardstown.

Summer Band Concert

(800) 638-4877 Bardstown.

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Friday After 5

(270) 687-2770 Through September 3. RiverPark Center, Owensboro.

Godspell

Spring Craft Festival (270) 362-4271 Through the 30th.

Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park, Gilbertsville.

(859) 336-5412 Through may 6. Opera House, Springfield.

MOn MaY 31

Contra Dance

(859) 552-5433 artsPlace, Lexington.

(606) 636-0445 mill Springs National Cemetery, Nancy.

Sat MaY 29

tUe JUn 1

Arts & Crafts Festival

Barbourville Water Park

(270) 830-7660 Ruby moon Vinery & Winery, Henderson.

Chamber Music Festival of the Bluegrass

Memorial Day Observance

(606) 545-9674 Through September 1.

City Park, Barbourville.

Farmers Market (270) 826-8387 Henderson.

(800) 734-5611 Through the 30th.

Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg.

Happy 20th Birthday

Lincoln Train

Teacher Appreciation Month

(800) 272-0152 Kentucky Railway museum, New Haven.

Cornbread Festival (606) 348-7624 mill Springs Park, monticello.

Kentucky Guild of Artists & Craftsmen Spring Fair

(859) 986-3192 Through the 30th.

Sloan Convention Center, Bowling Green.

Llama & Alpaca Daze (502) 857-9100 Scott County Park, Georgetown.

A Gift from the Desert: The Art, History, & Culture of the Arabian Horse (859) 259-4232 Through October 15.

Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington.

Masonic Car Show (270) 585-0807 Russell Springs.

Kentucky Reggae Festival

(502) 583-0333 Through the 31st.

Water Tower, Louisville.

(800) 762-2869 Kentucky Down Under, Horse Cave.

(800) 762-2869 Through the 30th.

Kentucky Down Under, Horse Cave.

Muhlenberg County Fair

(270) 338-0313 Through the 5th.

Powderly.

Wed JUn 2

400-Mile Sale at Chatteris Estate (270) 495-8992 Through the 6th.

Campbellsville. tHU JUn 3

Crescent Prim Rose Quilting Workshop

(270) 442-8856 Through the 5th.

National Quilt museum, Paducah.

Glasgow Highland Games (270) 651-3141 Through the 6th.

Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Glasgow.

400-Mile Sale

(270) 781-6858 Through the 6th.

Paducah to maysville.

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7E VE GOT LEGS 400 Mile Sale

(270) 782-0800 Through the 6th.

Bowling Green.

400 Mile Yard Sale (270) 885-9096 Through the 6th.

Hopkinsville.

Antiques, Collectibles, & Stuff Sale (859) 734-2364 Through the 6th.

Harrodsburg.

Live at the Park Concert Series (502) 348-5971 Bardstown.

FrI JUn 4

The Bardstown Opry

GLASGOW BARREN COUNTY TOURIST COMMISSION

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(859) 336-9839 Bluegrass Entertainment & Expo Complex, Bardstown.

Summer Band Concert

(800) 638-4877 Bardstown.

Relay For Life

(800) AcS-2345 Through the 5th.

Henderson County High School, Henderson.

Farmers Market (270) 826-8387 Through the 5th.

Henderson.

Yellowbanks Dulcimer Festival (270) 684-1631 Through the 6th.

English Park, Owensboro.

First Friday Art Gallery Opening Reception & Exhibit (859) 498-6264 mt. Sterling.

The War in Rowan County

(606) 783-1926 Through the 6th.

Old Rowan County Courthouse, morehead.

“Centre College & Friends� Exhibit

(502) 584-5353 Through July 30.

Flame Run, Louisville.

Mountain Memories

Cricketeer Antiques & Collectibles Show (859) 608-3232 Through the 6th.

Harrodsburg.

Civil War Living History Celebration (606) 783-1926 Through the 6th. morehead.

Australian Glass Masters Edols & Elliott Exhibit

(502) 584-5353 Through July 30.

Flame Run, Louisville.

Clack Mountain Festival

(800) 654-1944 Through the 5th. morehead.

Sat JUn 5

Ken-Ducky Derby (606) 545-9674 Water Park, Barbourville.

Kids Catch a Rainbow Derby

(270) 343-3797 Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery, Jamestown.

Civil War Days

(502) 268-5858 Through the 6th.

Bedford.

Ghost Trek

(859) 576-5517 Bardstown.

Blooming Bardstown Garden Tour (502) 348-9204 Bardstown.

National Trails Day (502) 429-7270 Tom Sawyer State Park, Louisville.

Downtown Walking Tour (270) 830-9707 Henderson.

Kids Birding 101

(270) 826-2247 audubon State Park, Henderson.

Creatures of the Night Adventure Trek (270) 826-2247 audubon State Park, Henderson.

(606) 768-3803 Through the 5th.

Frenchburg.

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Free Fishing Weekend

(270) 826-2247 Through the 6th. audubon State Park, Henderson.

National Fishing & Boating Week

(270) 826-2247 Through the 13th. audubon State Park, Henderson.

Adventure Day

(800) 734-5611 Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg.

Cruise-In Car Show (859) 498-9874 mt. Sterling.

Rick Smith’s Fishing in the Park (859) 498-5123 Easy Walker Park, mt.

Sterling.

Day Out with Thomas (800) 272-0152 Through the 6th.

Kentucky Railway museum, New Haven.

Swingin’ on Main (859) 420-2426 Through the 6th.

Lexington.

Art in the Garden (606) 756-2958 augusta.

Summer Theater

(270) 879-8190 Through September 25. Pine Knob Theatre, Caneyville.

L&N Day

Grayson County Ministerial Association Fundraiser

4

(270) 879-8190 Pine Knob Theatre, Caneyville.

Rebel Rodders Cruisin’

(859) 498-9874 mt. Sterling.

Music Across Nolin & Cornhole Tournament (270) 899-0066 Wax Recreation Shelter, Clarkson.

An Evening for the Children (606) 875-9500 Seven C’s Ranch, Nancy.

Wine & Cheese Tasting

(800) 638-4877 Spalding Hall, Bardstown.

SUn JUn 6

R&W Nitro Tracker Team Tournament Trail (270) 469-0060 Barren River State Park, Lucas.

Marine Corps League Motorcycle Rally (502) 541-2099 GT’s, Louisville.

Birding 101 for Adults (270) 826-2247 audubon State Park, Henderson. KL

(800) 598-5263 Berea.

to view a comprehensive listing of events, go to www.KentuckyLiving. com and select travel & Events. you can search by month, city, or event.

Published events are subject to change. Please call ahead to confirm dates and times.

Events are published as space allows, must be submitted at least 90 days in advance, and include a telephone number for publication. To submit an event online, go to www.

KentuckyLiving.com and select Travel & Events, or send your info to Kentucky Living, Events Editor, P.O. Box 32170, Louisville, KY 40232, or fax to (502) 459-1611.

• •

• •

• Visit us at www.moneyoutlet.com • www.K E n t u c K y L i v i n g . c o M • m aY 2 0 1 0

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, CHEF S CHOICE

READER RECIPE Beef Bar-B-Q

Here’s the beef

3 lb ground chuck beef 1 medium onion 2 Tbsps butter 2 Tbsps vinegar 2 Tbsps brown sugar 4 Tbsps lemon juice 3 Tbsps Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp mustard 1 ⁄2 C (or more) water or beer 1 ⁄2 C celery, chopped 1 C ketchup Salt and pepper to taste

Texas Roadhouse shares its recipe for prime rib to please Kentucky’s home cooks and their dinner guests.

LINDA ALLISON-LEWIS

is a 35year veteran of the restaurant industry who joined the Texas Roadhouse team in 2000 and is responsible for menu research and product development.

Texas Roadhouse has several locations throughout Kentucky. The chain’s president and CEO, G.J. Hart, says, “Texas Roadhouse is on a mission to share its passion for well-prepared and well-cut beef.”

To educate consumers and to promote beef, Texas Roadhouse partnered with the Kentucky State Beef Council the past two years to present the Texas Roadhouse Roadshow at the Kentucky State Fair on the Kentucky Beef Producers’ Gourmet Garden Stage.

More than 600,000 fairgoers have had the opportunity to learn how to cut their own steaks from several of Texas Roadhouse’s talented meat cutters—and, of course, enjoy the beef itself.

Texas Roadhouse is known for its hand-cut steaks and falloff-the-bone ribs, but the menu also features several chicken and seafood selections.

TEXAS ROADHOUSE

BAUCCO

Texas Roadhouse Prime Rib 3 ribs (about 7 lb) of first-cut beef rib roast (from the small or strip end of the prime rib) Adjust oven rack to low position and preheat oven to 200°. On stovetop, heat large roasting pan on mediumhigh heat. Place roast in hot pan and cook on all sides until nicely browned, about 2 minutes a side. Remove roast from pan. Set wire rack in pan, then set roast on rack. Season generously with salt and pepper, or with a mixture of salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic. Roast in oven until meat is 135° using a meat thermometer (for medium-rare, the temperature will continue to rise to 145°), about 3-1/2 hours (or about 30 minutes per pound). Tent with aluminum foil and let the roast stand 20 minutes (a bit longer is fine) before serving. Resting the roast will allow it to reabsorb the juices. Transfer roast to cutting board and carve.

Serves 7-8.

Brown beef, onion, and celery in skillet to brown.

Put mixture in a larger pot and add remaining ingredients. Simmer for 20-30 minutes or until cooked down. (You can use beer instead of water for flavor. Add liquid as needed to keep meat from sticking.) Serves 6-8.

Submitted by PEGGY MITCHELL, Lexington, Blue Grass Energy, who writes: “The original recipe was given to me by a friend in Louisville when we first got married, 48 years ago.”

2010 Beef Festival

TEXAS ROADHOUSE

CHEF STEVE

With this simple recipe, cooks can prepare delicious, juicy prime rib at home.

LINDA ALLISON-LEWIS writes from her

home in Bullitt County. A former restaurant critic, her latest cookbook is Kentucky Cooks:

Don’t miss the 5th Annual Kentucky Fort Harrod Beef Festival, June 4-5 at the Mercer County Fairgrounds in Harrodsburg.

On Friday night, listen to free music at 6:30. A Wine and Cheese Tasting (7-9 p.m.) features Kentucky Proud wineries; tickets are $20 per person.

Saturday morning kicks off with a Steak and Eggs breakfast, 7:30-10:30, $5 per person.

Saturday‘s main event is the Grill-Off where teams compete in Brisket, Burger, Steak, and Rib categories. Purchase $6 bracelets for noon tastings until the meat is gone.

There are also free chef demonstrations and tastings, with bluegrass bands sponsored

by WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour.

Saturday night ends with a sanctioned truck pull and bull riding at 7 p.m.; $12 a person, ages 6 and under free.

For the kids, Carnival Corral offers free activities and inflatables both days.

For more information, go online to www.fortharrodbeeffestival.org or call (859) 734-5546 or (859) 734-4378.

Favorite Recipes of Kentucky Living.

Submit your recipe. See page 7 for details.

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green clean for linoleum

W

hether you chose linoleum flooring for its no-fuss functionality, the soft feel underfoot, its distinctive look, or its green attributes, you definitely want to take care of your investment in an eco-friendly way.

Real linoleum—distinct from synthetic versions or vinyl—is made only from natural materials. As such, it is one of the greenest flooring options available. Given how green linoleum is, cleaning it with harsh synthetic chemicals and maintaining it with polymerbased waxes just wouldn’t be right.

Melissa Breyer of the green lifestyle Web site Care2.com recommends sweeping, dust-mopping, or

44

sTeven lUsCHer, CoUrTesY FliCKr

earth talK

vacuuming linoleum frequently to cut down on abrasive dirt that can build up and mar the finish.

As for actual cleaning, she says to use a damp mop with a mild natural liquid dish soap and warm water.

Adding half a cup or so of vinegar to the rinse water will increase shine if that’s the look you want. To get rid of scuff marks, Breyer suggests dipping a sponge in jojoba oil and rubbing lightly before wiping it up. Pencil erasers also work wonders on linoleum scuff marks.

Breyer recommends avoiding solvent-based products, which can soften and damage linoleum. Typical floor-cleaning solutions will leave a sticky residue, so use something like

Real linoleum is one of the greenest flooring options available—and there are many safe, nontoxic ways to keep it clean.

Ivory Liquid dish soap. Avoid scouring tough stains; instead, make a paste of baking powder and gently wipe with a wet rag until the stain fades.

Several greener varieties of floor wax are now available. Livos’ BILO is an organic, biodegradable paste wax designed for wood, cork, tile, and linoleum. It is derived from beeswax and linseed oil, and produces a semigloss finish after buffing.

For Marmoleum, the true linoleum that’s back in style, see page 20. KL GOt an envIrOnMentaL qUeStIOn?

Write EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881 or e-mail earthtalk@emagazine.com.

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Garden GUrU tropicals brighten our summers Heat and HUMIdItY can make even the best gardens look tired and worn out by the time August rolls around. A spring planting of geraniums or petunias may not have much left to give in the dog days of summer. Fortunately, tropical plants thrive in our long, hot summers. A well-placed tropical can add lushness to a garden bed. Many of these plants get big, even in a single growing season, so one plant can make quite a statement. tropicals can be kept indoors over the winter if desired. tHe trOPIcaL HIBIScUS, whose gorgeous flowers invoke feelings of an island getaway, is familiar to most of us. Recent breeding work has expanded the color palette from simple reds and pinks to bright yellows and oranges.

Mandevilla is another common tropical plant that seems to flower better the hotter it gets. Pink, red, or white flowers adorn this vigorous vine, which quickly covers 12 to 15 feet of fence. Duranta erecta, sometimes called golden dewdrops or pigeonberry, features small blue flowers in large drooping clusters. Deadheading ensures continuous flowers through fall.

OtHer FavOrIte FOLIaGe trOPIcaLS are bananas, elephant ears, and various palms. the broad foliage of an Abyssinian banana, Ensete ventricosum, shown here, underplanted with Angelonia or summer snapdragon, will certainly give your garden an island feel.

A

AndY sMArT

ManY trOPIcaLS are GrOWn for their beautiful foliage, not just their flowers. one of our favorites is ‘Macho Fern,’ which, as you might guess from the name, can easily get 4 to 5 feet tall and wide. the dark green leaves work well as a contrast to lighter or variegated leaves, whereas the green and yellow leaves of variegated ginger brighten shady corners, looking fresh all summer.

SHeLLY nOLd is a horticulturist and owner of The Plant Kingdom. Send stories and ideas

to her at The Plant Kingdom, 4101 Westport Road, Louisville, KY 40207.

aSK tHe Gardener q After a Phalaenopsis orchid has finished blooming, where and what part do you cut off? a Phalaenopsis orchids, also known as a moth orchid, are the commonly found orchids with larger blooms that are quite stunning. although there are varying opinions, the practice we recommend is to remove the stem all the way down to the base of the plant, leaving just an inch or so. This will allow your orchid to concentrate all its energy on the roots, foliage, and producing a new stem that will eventually bloom again.

Keep your orchid in a space where it will receive bright filtered light, preferably a south-facing window. Do not allow the orchid to completely dry out. Depending on the temperature and humidity of your home, your orchid should be watered about once per week. Continue to feed it with your favorite water-soluble orchid fertilizer once a month, using a half-strength dose. It is always better to underwater and -feed than to overwater or overfeed your orchid.

If you follow this process, your orchid should be in bloom for two to three months a year, and be out of bloom the rest of the year.

Repot your orchid every two years with a good quality orchid medium.

AngiE McMAnuS Have a GardenInG qUeStIOn? Go to

www.KentuckyLiving.com, click on Home & Garden, then “ask The Gardener.”

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great outdoors

Get hooked on fishing State hopes to lure more anglers by stocking neighborhood lakes dav e ba K e r

INSIder TIP include five rainbow trout, four catfish, 15 sunfish, and one largemouth bass more than 15 inches long. Because newly stocked fish are easier to catch than fish that have been in the lake for a time, local governments that own lakes in the FINs program have stricter limits on the number of fish that anglers can keep. These limits allow more people to catch more fish.

THe daILY LIMITS

46

dave baker

T

hreading a wax worm onto a Popeye jig isn’t easy when your 3-year-old is watching so intently that his nose hovers a few inches from the bait. Likewise, having a toddler “help” when you’re trying to cast a bobber and jig to some nearby tree roots is a challenge.

I figured my son and I would practice fishing for half an hour that day. Keeping him focused and somewhat still for any longer would require magic worthy of Houdini.

Then the bobber dipped below the surface.

The tip of his 3-foot Pirates of the Caribbean fishing pole plunged toward the water as I set the hook. “We caught a fish! We caught a fish!” my

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife employees net thousands of channel catfish from a hatchery pond for stocking in the neighborhood lakes program.

son with the happy feet proclaimed.

Thirty minutes turned into an hour, until we ran out of bait. This turned into a magical day—thanks to a fishing program started in 2006 by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

It’s called the Fishing in Neighborhoods program, or FINs for short. Its concept is simple: get more people fishing by heavily stocking local park lakes with fish.

The program, which started with five lakes, expanded to 29 locations this year. You’ll now find FINs lakes in Anderson, Boone, Campbell, Daviess, Franklin, Grant, Harlan, Jefferson, Jessamine, Kenton, Knox, Martin, McCracken, Montgomery, Nelson, Scott, and Warren counties.

If you want to know more about each lake, go online to www.fw.ky. gov and search under the keywords “fishing in neighborhoods.” This site

includes all kinds of useful information, such as when each lake receives fish and how to get there. You can post photos of your catch online.

All lakes in the program receive stockings of 8- to 12-inch rainbow trout in the spring and fall. Several lakes receive two additional bonus stockings.

FINs lakes also receive at least two stockings of channel catfish that average more than 1 pound each.

These stockings occur in April and September. Some lakes receive bonus catfish stockings in March and May. If you’re looking for something fun for the whole family this summer, consider visiting your local FINs lake. You might discover some magic of your own. KL dave baKer is editor of Kentucky Afield

magazine, with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Visit www.kyafield.com or call (800) 858- 1549 for more information.

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smart moves

Playing it safe Take steps to avoid spring sports injuries ALLiSon ELLiott

SMart MOneY special programs offer student loan forgiveness SARA PEAK

A

SMart HeaLtH

s the weather warms up, children and adults alike rush outdoors to take in the sunshine and make up for a long winter of inactivity. All too often, though, spring also brings a rash of injuries as people plunge into sports like softball, soccer, and running.

“The health benefits of physical activity are well-known— you feel better, have more energy, and maintain a healthier weight. However, exercise or sports participation can increase risk of injury,” says Jennifer McKeon, an athletic training expert and professor in the University of Kentucky’s College of Health Sciences.

“People may not be aware that serious sports injuries in

Learn MOre For more information, visit these web sites: uK Healthcare orthopaedics and Sports Medicine www.ukhealthcare.uky.edu/ ortho uK Athletic training Program www.mc.uky.edu/ athletic_training

young people can increase the likelihood that they will develop arthritis— sometimes as young as their 20s or 30s,” says McKeon, who herself suffers permanent pain from high school sports injuries.

Before you put on your sneakers, follow a few simple steps to prevent sports injuries.

McKeon recommends: • Stay in good shape yearround so you’ll be ready for warm-weather sports.

• Have a checkup with your physician and talk about your plans to take up a new physical activity.

• Make sure you have the proper equipment (shoes, pads, clothing) for a sport. Be sure it fits well and is in good shape.

• If you are injured, seek evaluation from a trainer or physician.

• Take care of any injuries promptly to prevent further damage. Do not attempt to “walk it off.”

With this common-sense advice, people of all ages can prevent sports injuries—or at least minimize permanent damage. KL

With education costs skyrocketing, consider programs that offer some type of student loan forgiveness. Typically, loan forgiveness programs center on volunteer, medical, legal, educational, and military duties.

PUBLIc ServIce although there are many restrictions to qualify, the College Cost Reduction act of 2007 established programs that forgive loans after 10 years of full-time employment in public service. Public service workers include police, social worker, child-care providers, and librarians. vOLUnteer WOrK ameriCorps, Peace Corps, and Volunteers in Service to america are examples of organizations that offer stipends and forgiveness programs.

MILItarY aId The army National Guard offers student loan repayments of up to $10,000 to those who qualify. The Navy, air Force, and other branches of the armed services offer similar opportunities. teacHerS Full-time elementary teachers who instruct low-income students may qualify to have a portion of their federal Perkins loans forgiven. In Kentucky, teachers who work with special-needs students may also receive loan forgiveness.

MedIcaL and LeGaL Equal Justice Works provides information on loan forgiveness for law students who serve in public interest or nonprofit positions. The National Institutes of Health offers similar programs for medical students interested in practicing in specific areas that lack adequate care.

For more information, go online to www.finaid. org/loans/forgiveness.phtml.

Sara PeaK is a Certified Financial Planner. Have

aLLISOn eLLIOtt provides health

a money question? E-mail us at e-mail@kentucky

information for UK HealthCare.

living.com.

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cooperative hero

Armed only with heart Volunteer Kevin Rigsby helps keep kids safe, eases load for Glasgow police ByR on cRAw FoRD

Kevin rigsbY

D

Kevin Rigsby works as a security officer at t.J. Samson Hospital in glasgow and volunteers with the police, taking on duties such as directing traffic.

“i don’t fish or hunt or any of those things, but volunteering at the police department is just something i enjoy doing.”

48

riving through Glasgow as schools were dismissing, you may have seen Kevin Rigsby working as a crossing guard at Highland Elementary or Glasgow Middle School.

You may have seen him directing traffic at a high school ball game or at an intersection where a parade was passing.

If you’ve been fingerprinted for a background check while applying for a job in Barren County, Rigsby may have handled the fingerprinting.

He is not paid for this work.

Often, he completes a 12-hour shift on his regular job as a security officer at Glasgow’s T.J. Samson Hospital before donating his spare time serving as a school crossing guard or helping with other noncriminal assignments for the Glasgow Police Department.

The 43-year-old married father and member of Farmers RECC began serving as an auxiliary police officer in Glasgow in 1992, but is now a member of the VIPS program— Volunteers In Police Service.

“From a teenager on up, I was always interested in police work, but never chose it as a career,” Rigsby says. “I guess I felt I didn’t have the ability to take all the training that they have to do, and I guess I felt a little insecure about it.”

The death in 1990 of his younger brother, Eric, a passenger in a car

involved in a reckless driving accident in a neighboring county, may also have helped draw Rigsby to volunteer police service.

Rigsby hopes that in some small way his volunteer efforts may help free up patrol officers to spend more time preventing deadly highway accidents.

“It’s kind of always in the back of my mind,” he says.

Glasgow Mayor Darrell G. Pickett calls Rigsby an asset to the police department and to the community.

The assistant police chief, Lt. Col. James Duff, describes him as a hardworking, honest, “great guy who’d do anything he could for you.”

And what warms Rigsby’s heart on those icy winter afternoons when he is working as a crossing guard outside Glasgow Middle School?

“Some of those middle school children will come across there— and I wouldn’t even think they’d notice me, but more of them than you would think will stop and thank me.” KL BYrOn craWFOrd is Kentucky’s

storyteller, a veteran broadcast and print journalist, known for his colorful backroads tales from The Courier-Journal, WHaS TV and Radio, and KET’s Kentucky Life.

Nominate the hero in your community!

See page 7 for details.

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SnaP SHOt

t BeHOLd, MY FIrSt GrandcHILd Don wells, Lawrenceburg, with granddaughter Jessica Peyton Handy.

Photo by grandmother Jayne wells, members of Blue grass Energy cooperative. u eXPLOrerS David vaughn and son Benjamin of Magnolia go exploring near their home in the gumm Spring community. Photo submitted by Rhonda vaughn, members of taylor county REcc.

my favorite family memory

p SandY SantaS the Hall family kids—Karidyn, Ashton, Aubrie, Kylee, and Austin—on a family vacation in Palm Beach, Florida, last December.

Photo submitted by Kris Ann Hall, members of owen Electric cooperative. t FUn aUnt aMY An afternoon of family fun and body painting for the Adams family on a warm summer day last year. Shown on front row, Emily, age 3, and Madalyne, 4; back row, Annabelle, 7, and fun Aunt Amy. Photo submitted by grandma Pat Adams, campbellsville, taylor county REcc. Submit your photo! See page 7 for details.

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Watermelon, strawberries, and peaches are just some of the sweet, ripe fruits that can make a great dessert!

WATCH OUT FOR

POISON IVY

When you are outside playing, there is a plant you should avoid called poison ivy. Not only can the green leaves of these plants blend right in with other plants, but poison ivy can grow anywhere. It can be in the woods or your own back yard. Poison ivy has three leaves, so the best advice is: if you see leaves of three, let them be!

Green Team Tip Reuse your water bottles.

Tip submitted by James Taulbee, age 12

Win a T-shirt!

Send us your Green Team Tip, and if it gets printed, we'll send you a free CFL Charlie T-shirt! Send your best tip for conserving energy, in 50 words or less, and name, address, and shirt size to KYKids@KentuckyLiving.com or Kentucky Living, Green Team Tip, P.O. Box 32170, Louisville, KY 40232.

GOING BUGGY

Each ladybug has a twin with the same number of spots. Can you find each match?

A)

B)

C)

D)

E)

F)

G)

H) Answers: A/C, B/E, D/G, F/H

• Learn what poison ivy looks like, so you can stay away from it.

Keep it closed!

• Avoid areas where you know there is poison ivy.

Keep the doors to your home closed.

That way, the air conditioner won’t work so hard to cool your house. Don’t keep the doors to the refrigerator or oven open too long, either. Your appliances will use less energy to do their jobs better!

• Wear long sleeves and long pants when you’re in areas where poison ivy might be.

Did You Know?

The lightning bug is a member of the beetle family, even though they are sometimes called fireflies or glowworms.

1

KENTUCKY LIVING • OCTOBER 2009

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JOKE!

It’s a

What did the fisherman catch without any bait?

Send your favorite joke to KYKids@KentuckyLiving.com.

Put Jokes in the subject line.

SNIF!

A cold.

Submitted by Breanna Grant, age 13

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The View from plum lick

A precious gift for future generations DAviD DicK

M

ay’s the month of the Kentucky Derby, but it’s also the month of many who’ve never seen the inside of a Thoroughbred stall, much less Millionaire’s Row at Churchill Downs.

“Love whose month is ever May,” wrote Shakespeare, who understood a thing or two about human nature, a thing or two, in fact, about preserving personal histories.

So, the idea is to move beyond the first Saturday in May, whether or not you have a winning ticket, past Shakespeare, too, to another richness beyond compare.

We’re talking about you and your family—mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, brother, sister, cousins, aunts, uncles, and all those other critters who howl and meow at the moon.

Keeping a journal is not for everybody, but The View from Plum Lick holds it out as a new habit worth considering. It won’t guarantee a better day at the track, and Shakespeare will hardly be disturbed.

He might even be proud.

Why do it?

Because we’re more than another entry on a page of vital statistics. Each of us is as important as any other bursting bough of May. None of us is perfect, yet keeping a journal as honestly and completely as we might dare is essential in our quest for knowledge about who and where we are, where we might be heading, and where we might have been.

A hardbound diary is recommended. Scraps of paper are lost too easily. Daily entries are steps welltaken. Writing on the leading edge of life is exciting, never mind the spelling or the grammatical correctness. Time spent away from manufactured “entertainment” becomes a priceless moment of better truth.

What were Mother and Father, Grandmother and Grandfather really like? Were they betrayed? Were they often in the wrong place at the wrong time doing

54

what turned out to be the wrong thing? Let them have their secrets, their wish-it-weren’t so’s, but breathe life unto what might have been their sweetest dreams.

And may each of us add to those possibilities without being judgmental.

We are the sum of all those who’ve gone before, are we not? We’ve all made mistakes, and we’ll likely make some more. In the homestretch what matters most is staying on course and never, never, never giving up.

So, here on Plum Lick, we give thanks for another merry, merry month of May. No maybes about it.

Winter is behind us. Summer waits patiently. Another year flies by.

Some of the best medicine is keeping a family record. Chances are hardly any of us will win a Nobel Prize, but that’s not the point.

A life lived well as we learn each day to keep it simpler and saner, that is our security. That is the inheritance we leave for the next generations.

Oh, to be a community, a nation, and a civilization caring enough to remember and be remembered. kL DaviD Dick , a retired news correspondent and University of

Kentucky professor emeritus, is a farmer and shepherd.

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