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Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
the 15th Kentucky Infantry Regiment ...
i recently read 'the battle rages higher: the union's 15th kentucky infantry regiment' and, thankfully, as i always try to do when i read something ... i learned a whole heck of a lot.
for those unfamiliar, the united states was once engaged in a civil war, lasting from 1861 until 1865 ... granted (no pun intended), this war happened a long time ago, so who could blame you if you don't know anything about it ... but let me preach a bit ... you should know something about it. some 620,000 american soldiers and sailors died (from the federal forces and confederate forces, combined) and an undetermined number of civilians ... we can at least say more than a million americans died in this war, though we may never know the true number ... so by this reason alone, americans should care that the union was nearly lost ... the united states as it exists today would not be so if just a couple of battles had gone differently.
and this can be argued, but in my opinion (which is highly uneducated), even if the confederate states had defeated the U.S., they would have been begging by the turn on the 20th century to be let back in ... while the agricultural base was high in the south, the industrial base belonged to the north, which would have led to such high tariff on imports and exports going both ways, the south could have never survived ... so bocephus can sing all he wants 'if the south woulda won' but i just don't think the south could have sustained in a win, even with england on their side.
but back to the book ...
even though kentucky was considered a border state and a bit of a neutral, the commonwealth still had tens of thousands of soldiers enlist for the union ... in the first two months of the war, more kentuckians volunteered for the union cause than did for the south in the entire war ... nevermind that kentuckians were democrats (and largely remain so) and lincoln was a republican, kentuckians were proud of their place in the united states and took it as an affront to that paternal nature of government prevelant in the early years of our nation.
the 15th kentucky was drawn from around louisville and central kentucky, enlisting citizens who were mainly agrarian in background and irish, scottish and german in heraldy ... most of the 980 plus men that served in the unit over its three-year existence were immigrants to the united states, causing a bit of turbulence with the 'native-borne' soldiers ... kind of sounds a lot like today doesn't it?
the 15th fought at perryville (kentucky's major battle), the battle of nashville, stone's river, chickamauga, chattanooga and took part in the siege of atlanta, most of the time facing across the field into the rifle sights of the first kentucky of the CSA, the 'orphan brigade' ... that unit was also drawn from the same geographic region, so many in both units had friends, family and neighbors in common ... it was a rather unique situation.
more than fifty percent of the unit ended up as a casualty, either killed, wounded or mustered out due to wartime sickness and ailments ... only 30 other units, out of hundreds of union regiments, had higher casualty rates.
after reading the book, even while reading, i was blown away by the history that sits all around us east of the mississippi and at some points west of the big river ... these soldiers camped, trained and fought in fields and villages that are now our backyards and subdivisions ... civil war forts sit all around us, many of them overgrown and forgotten to time ... some communities do well to preserve their history (such as tiny sacramento in webster county or glasgow and their fort williams, which is featured in my default pic) ... others simply allow the remnants of our past to erode and decay, never to be considered again.
in kentucky, the civil war is still a bit of a sore spot for some ... both president lincoln and president jefferson davis were born here, barely 100 miles apart ... we have the jeff davis memorial just to the west of us in fairview in todd county and old abe is 200 in 2009, but i just don't think kentucky is getting with the program ... there is still a bit of work to be done.
we get bent out of shape over high schools with rebel mascots, turn our cannons all sorts of directions to avoid pointing it towards 'the friendly side', our squares contain both confederate and union memorials, we preserve musket balls in home's walls, yet we still do not try to teach our young people just how important the outcome we received in the civil war was and is today. in this part of the country, we have battle re-enactments and there is always a larger number of confederates actors than union, though the state was largely pro-union ... it is certainly fashionable in our part of the world to wear the 'stars and bars' and pledge your undying loyalty to the CSA, even if you have no idea what it all meant.
if there is a point to this blog, it is this ... there are plenty of 'sources' of knowledge out there, but nothing beats getting out and learning on your own ... read a book and then visit the sites it talks about ... ask some of the older folks around where the battles and campsites were; they know these things. it is up to you to learn, because if you are relying on someone else for the truth, you might end up like atlantans waiting for a savior from richmond ... under immense fire and not a prayer in hell, save the pity of god himself.
for those unfamiliar, the united states was once engaged in a civil war, lasting from 1861 until 1865 ... granted (no pun intended), this war happened a long time ago, so who could blame you if you don't know anything about it ... but let me preach a bit ... you should know something about it. some 620,000 american soldiers and sailors died (from the federal forces and confederate forces, combined) and an undetermined number of civilians ... we can at least say more than a million americans died in this war, though we may never know the true number ... so by this reason alone, americans should care that the union was nearly lost ... the united states as it exists today would not be so if just a couple of battles had gone differently.
and this can be argued, but in my opinion (which is highly uneducated), even if the confederate states had defeated the U.S., they would have been begging by the turn on the 20th century to be let back in ... while the agricultural base was high in the south, the industrial base belonged to the north, which would have led to such high tariff on imports and exports going both ways, the south could have never survived ... so bocephus can sing all he wants 'if the south woulda won' but i just don't think the south could have sustained in a win, even with england on their side.
but back to the book ...
even though kentucky was considered a border state and a bit of a neutral, the commonwealth still had tens of thousands of soldiers enlist for the union ... in the first two months of the war, more kentuckians volunteered for the union cause than did for the south in the entire war ... nevermind that kentuckians were democrats (and largely remain so) and lincoln was a republican, kentuckians were proud of their place in the united states and took it as an affront to that paternal nature of government prevelant in the early years of our nation.
the 15th kentucky was drawn from around louisville and central kentucky, enlisting citizens who were mainly agrarian in background and irish, scottish and german in heraldy ... most of the 980 plus men that served in the unit over its three-year existence were immigrants to the united states, causing a bit of turbulence with the 'native-borne' soldiers ... kind of sounds a lot like today doesn't it?
the 15th fought at perryville (kentucky's major battle), the battle of nashville, stone's river, chickamauga, chattanooga and took part in the siege of atlanta, most of the time facing across the field into the rifle sights of the first kentucky of the CSA, the 'orphan brigade' ... that unit was also drawn from the same geographic region, so many in both units had friends, family and neighbors in common ... it was a rather unique situation.
more than fifty percent of the unit ended up as a casualty, either killed, wounded or mustered out due to wartime sickness and ailments ... only 30 other units, out of hundreds of union regiments, had higher casualty rates.
after reading the book, even while reading, i was blown away by the history that sits all around us east of the mississippi and at some points west of the big river ... these soldiers camped, trained and fought in fields and villages that are now our backyards and subdivisions ... civil war forts sit all around us, many of them overgrown and forgotten to time ... some communities do well to preserve their history (such as tiny sacramento in webster county or glasgow and their fort williams, which is featured in my default pic) ... others simply allow the remnants of our past to erode and decay, never to be considered again.
in kentucky, the civil war is still a bit of a sore spot for some ... both president lincoln and president jefferson davis were born here, barely 100 miles apart ... we have the jeff davis memorial just to the west of us in fairview in todd county and old abe is 200 in 2009, but i just don't think kentucky is getting with the program ... there is still a bit of work to be done.
we get bent out of shape over high schools with rebel mascots, turn our cannons all sorts of directions to avoid pointing it towards 'the friendly side', our squares contain both confederate and union memorials, we preserve musket balls in home's walls, yet we still do not try to teach our young people just how important the outcome we received in the civil war was and is today. in this part of the country, we have battle re-enactments and there is always a larger number of confederates actors than union, though the state was largely pro-union ... it is certainly fashionable in our part of the world to wear the 'stars and bars' and pledge your undying loyalty to the CSA, even if you have no idea what it all meant.
if there is a point to this blog, it is this ... there are plenty of 'sources' of knowledge out there, but nothing beats getting out and learning on your own ... read a book and then visit the sites it talks about ... ask some of the older folks around where the battles and campsites were; they know these things. it is up to you to learn, because if you are relying on someone else for the truth, you might end up like atlantans waiting for a savior from richmond ... under immense fire and not a prayer in hell, save the pity of god himself.
Christmas Pickles in July - Part 1
Some people love them, others don't. But as a kid growing up in rural Bloomfield, I couldn't wait to get my hands on these each Christmas. Christmas Pickles. Most people think they're apple cinnamon rings or sticks. As a kid, you couldn't have convinced me that these wonderful tasting treats were actually...cucumbers. But in fact, they are cucumbers and you start to see some gardeners making them as early as the summer cucumbers are ready in the garden, canning them and shelving them until Christmas. There is no doubt these sweet and zesty little treats are quite appealing when they rarely appear on the Christmas dinner table. Sometimes they surround a platter layered with lettuce and cottage cheese. Other times they are just eaten right out of the Ball or Mason jar. I happened to be a kid who loved them, as did my younger sister and older brother. My aunt Gail usually provided them. During the summer, my aunt Linda. These crunchy, tangy little red fermented cucumber sticks satisfied my sweet-tooth and there was no such thing as just eating one stick in one sitting. Bottom line, they're absolutely delicious and savory.
Recipes differ from person to person as to how to make them. Christmas Pickles take time to make. Some folks let the process last for six or seven days, others only three days, and others as many as 14 days! Some folks use Alum, others do not. Alum is actually a toxin to humans if too much is consumed, but some Christmas Pickle-makers believe Alum is an absolute necessity in making the "best" pickles. Alum, in addition to pickling lime, is used often in homemade pickling recipes. If properly used in small amounts, Alum is not hazardous to your health.
For the next week, we will be demonstrating how to make Christmas Pickles. Here is Day 1 of the process!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Left-Over Cucumbers? A sweet and tasty alternative
Watch this week for a step-by-step VIDEO process of how you can enjoy cucumbers on a whole new level, and quite old-fashioned at that!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Green Treefrog
Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea)
Family: Hylidae, Treefrogs
Description 1 1/4-2 1/2" (3.2-6.4 cm). Bright green, yellow, or greenish-gray. Has sharply defined light stripe along upper jaw and side of body; side stripe occasionally absent. Sometimes has tiny, black-edged gold spots on back. Large toe pads.
Voice Cowbell-like when heard at a distance. Nearer, sound is quank, quank. Males call while clinging to vertical stems 1-2' (.3-.5 m) above water.
Breeding March to October in southern areas, April to September in northern areas.
Habitat Trees and shrubs growing in or near permanent water. During the day frequently found asleep on underside of large leaves or in other moist, shady places.
Range Delaware south along the coastal plain into Florida and the Keys, west to s. Texas, and north through c. Arkansas and w. Tennessee to Illinois.
Discussion Green Treefrogs congregate in large choruses of several hundred. A typical treefrog, this species prefers to walk rather than jump. When fleeing a predator in the trees it takes gangly leaps into space.
This Day in Weather History
26 July 1984 → An F2 tornado struck Spencer County. Several barns were damaged near Taylorsville. Also, an F1 tornado was seen in Warren County.
Lincoln at Knob Creek
“My earliest recollection is of the Knob Creek place.” So wrote Abraham Lincoln on June 4, 1860 to Samuel Haycraft, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Haycraft had invited the future President to visit his childhood home in Kentucky. The Lincoln family lived on 30 acres of the 228 acre Knob Creek Farm from the time Abraham was two and a half until he was almost eight years old. Here he learned to talk and soon grew big enough to run errands such as carrying water, and gathering wood for the fires. Abraham recalled in later years numerous memories of his childhood here; a stone house he had passed while taking corn to Hodgen’s Mill; a certain big tree that had attracted his boyish fancy; the old homestead; the clear stream where he fished, and the surrounding hills where he picked berries were all impressed on his mind.
He could remember how he stayed by his mother’s side and watched her face while listening to her read the Bible. Lincoln could also remember the baby brother who was born and died on the Knob Creek Farm.
He remembered one occasion when he and his sister Sarah, had planted the garden; Abraham said that he planted pumpkin seeds in every other hill and every other row while Sarah and others planted the corn. The following night a big rain in the hills sent water rushing into the creek, the creek flooded the fields and washed away their garden.
It was also at Knob Creek that Abraham first saw African Americans being taken south along the Louisville - Nashville Turnpike, part of the old Cumberland Road, to be sold as slaves.
Lincoln once wrote that while living on Knob Creek he and his sister, Sarah, were sent for short periods, to an A, B, C school – the first kept by Zachariah Riney, and the second by Caleb Hazel. These were subscription schools and lasted only a few months. Free schools did not come to Kentucky until the 1830’s.
Likewise, he never forgot the time he fell in the swollen Knob Creek while playing on a foot log near his home. Had it not been for Austin Gollaher, a friend and school mate, Abraham would probably have drowned. Austin, with a keen sense of pioneer knowledge, grabbed a long tree limb from the bank and held it out like a strong arm to the struggling Lincoln. Abraham spoke of the incident after he became President.
(The Coulter Plough series heads to Knob Creek. COMING SOON!)
Saturday, July 25, 2009
The Fabulous Humor of Kentucky Folklore
In the hilly parts of Kentucky, people often use funny expressions to talk about how hilly and poor the land is. A man might joke that his farm is "so steep I can look down the chimly and see what my old lady's fixin' fur supper." Another farmer might say, "My land's so hilly I'm askeered a fallin' out-a my field and breakin' my neck." Hill farmers joke that "land's so pore it wouldn't raise a fight" or "so pore a rabbit's gotta carry his dinner when he goes acrosst it."
Many Kentuckians from rural areas are tall and skinny, so there are a number of skinny comparison jokes. "I'm so skinny I can take shelter under a clothesline when it rains and not get wet." Or even better, "I'm so skinny I just turn sideways to hide from my wife."
An old Kentucky funeral custom is to put coins on the dead person's eyes. This custom is thousands of years old. Back then people believed that the dead person's soul had to cross a river. The money was to pay for the ferry ride to the other side.
ONLINE ORDERING COMING SOON!
Online subscriptions to The Coulter Plough DVD Series coming soon via Paypal, Visa, Mastercard, etc. Stay tuned!
Friday, July 24, 2009
EPISODE 1 COMING SOON
Episode 1 of "The Coulter Plough" will be arriving in mailboxes across Kentucky around mid-August.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Sunflower Season
Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are in bloom across Kentucky this week. Get out with your camera or even your paintbrush and enjoy these beautiful plants.
Salted Sunflower Seeds
1. Sort the raw sunflower seeds, removing any that are unusually small or flat, or that have holes in the shell. Check carefully---tiny holes are often caused by insect larvae.
2. Combine 1 quart of water and 1/4 cup salt in a bowl and mix until salt is completely dissolved. Use less or more salt if desired. You will need additional salt water if you plan to roast more than one pound of sunflower seeds.
3. Soak the sunflower seeds in the salt water at room temperature for 8 hours or overnight.
4. Drain the sunflower seeds in a colander or strainer and pat with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
5. Spread the sunflower seeds evenly in a baking pan or cookie sheet. Don't add more than a single layer of seeds.
6. Roast in a preheated oven at 300 degrees F for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the shells are lightly browned and the seeds are fragrant. You can roast the seeds a darker if you prefer, but take care not to burn the seeds.
This Day in Weather History
23 July 1947 → The coolest temperature ever recorded in July at Louisville (49), Lexington (47), and Bowling Green (46).
Random Acts - Cancelations
Random Acts is sad to annouce that the show scheduled for August 1st is canceled. We hope to continue to entertain the community in the near future. Please visit our website for up-to-date information and events.
If you are interested in joining Random Acts or helping out in any way please contact me at:
Thanks
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The Benefits of the Hedgeapple
Folklore provides numerous claims that hedgeapples are repellent to insects and spiders. The fruit of the osage orange has been placed in households for ages.
"They really do work..can't say enough about them. Iowa biologist say that they do work but only on certain things, but I find that they lessen most bugs and insects by at least 50% or more!" - Dany
"I placed one apple in a central location and it worked through out the whole apartment, I did not even cut, smash, core the apple, and it still worked very well." - Julia
The Edible Maple
Maple seeds are edible for humans; some Indians would hull the larger of them and then boil them. So are the sugar-rich young leaves. The inner bark of the maple is one of the more appetizing sap layers and is eaten in times of need, either raw or cooked. But it is for the sap that the tree has been famous since the redskin days.
This Day in Weather History
22 July 1995 → A Louisville man was slightly injured when lightning struck a utility pole and traveled through the phone lines into his living room. Lightning also damaged a house in Bardstown (Nelson County).
22 July 1970 → Bowling Green's coolest July high: 67 degrees.
22 July 1901 → Richmond, Kentucky's hottest temperature on record: 108 degrees.
Local Recipes
The Legendary Hot Brown Recipe
Ingredients (Makes Two Hot Browns):
2 oz. Whole Butter
2 oz. All Purpose Flour
1 Qt. Heavy Cream
1/2 Cup Pecorino Romano Cheese, Plus 1 Tablespoon for Garnish
Salt & Pepper to Taste
14 oz. Sliced Roasted Turkey Breast
2 Slices of Texas Toast (Crust Trimmed)
4 slices of Crispy Bacon
2 Roma Tomatoes, Sliced in Half
Paprika, Parsley
In a two-quart saucepan, melt butter and slowly whisk in flour until combined and forms a thick paste (roux). Continue to cook roux for two minutes over medium-low heat, stirring frequently. Whisk whipping cream into the roux and cook over medium heat until the cream begins to simmer, about 2-3 minutes. Remove sauce from heat and slowly whisk in Pecorino Romano cheese until the Mornay sauce is smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste.
For each Hot Brown, place one slice of toast in an oven safe dish and cover with 7 ounces of turkey. Take the two halves of Roma tomato and set them alongside the base of turkey and toast. Next, pour one half of the Mornay sauce to completely cover the dish. Sprinkle with additional Pecorino Romano cheese. Place entire dish under a broiler until cheese begins to brown and bubble. Remove from broiler, cross two pieces of crispy bacon on top, sprinkle with paprika and parsley, and serve immediately.
Calling Local Musicians!
We are planning to feature local musicians from all over the Commonwealth in The Coulter Plough series. E-mail us at (jcoulter@tunnellmill.com) for more information!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Welcome to B & B Business Solutions!
We are proud to welcome B & B Business Management Solutions, PLLC of Bardstown to The Coulter Plough series!
This Day in Weather History
21 July 1896 → Shelbyville, Kentucky's wettest day on record, with 7.15 inches of rain.
21 July 1973 → Louisville's wettest July day, with 5.09 inches of rain.
21 July 1996 → An F1 tornado touched down south of Corydon IN. The tornado moved southeast about a mile before lifting. Several trees were down, and a mobile home was destroyed.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Poor Richard's Books - Frankfort, KY
Poor Richard's Books in Frankfort has long been a favorite place for me to visit. Owned by former Kentucky Poet Laureate Richard Taylor, Poor Richard's specializes in Kentucky titles, and also has an attic full of bibliophilic treasures awaiting their rightful home. You can listen to music, and ease into your reprieve from the hectic world with a delicious, iced latte. Definitely visit the upstairs attic and enjoy the creaking floors.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Cumberland River Update
The Cumberland River below Cumberland Lake near Burkesville, Kentucky is one of the best kept trout fishing secrets in the Southeast. As of July 13, the river was still a bit high but fishing is excellent for Trout, Walleye, and White bass in the creeks.
• Brown trout are hitting spinners and crank baits at the ends of gravel bars.
• Walleye are hitting Night Crawler Rigs.
• White bass are in the creeks hot and heavy with good 2 to 3 pound fish being caught.
• Some good stripers are showing up around Burkesville and are being caught on live bait.
• Walleye are hitting Night Crawler Rigs.
• White bass are in the creeks hot and heavy with good 2 to 3 pound fish being caught.
• Some good stripers are showing up around Burkesville and are being caught on live bait.
A new lure by Nemire Lures is catching a few fish. It is the Nemire Redfish Spoon in Orange and in Black. Both Stripers and Walleye are hitting the new lure. Do a search for Nemire Lures to find them. The Spoon and spinner combo is working well also on the white bass in white.
(Source: Fishin.com)
Autumn in Mid-July?
There are 66 days until Autumn and it's 67˚degrees outside. Very un-seasonal for mid-July and feels very much like fall. Enjoy!
(Photo by Donna Shepherd)
This Day in Weather History
18 July 1915 → The Lexington weather office moved from State College on South Limestone Street to Rooms 1408 and 1410 of Fayette National Bank at Main and Upper streets.
18 July 1944 → The Lexington weather office moved from 41 Montelle Park to the Administration Building at Blue Grass Field.
18 July 1971 → An F2 tornado was seen in Henry County. It destroyed three barns and a silo in the Pleasureville-Defoe area along the Shelby County line and US 421.
18 July 1988 → An F1 tornado struck Meade County.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Summer Garden Green Beans & Steamed Potatoes
Green beans are being harvested in gardens across Kentuckiana now. Slow cook them with water, home-cured country bacon and potatoes.
Fresh Blackberries Ready to Pick
Blackberries stewing in a cast-iron skillet and freshly picked from Coulter's Good Earth Farm owned and operated by Chris and Amy Coulter of Bloomfield. See right-hand side of blog for their advertisement and contact information.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
kentucky's wild fruit bounty, the blackberry
It is mid-July and in Kentucky - other than thunderstorms and 100-degree heat indexes - this means blackberry-picking time. And no, tech-savvy readers, I am not talking about a day of hijacking other folks' mobile data devices ... I speak of course of the delicious fruit of our state's wild brambles.
Chances are, unless you have someone you buy your already-picked berries from or you are the proud owner of a bramble trellis in your backyard, you are going to need to head out into the edges of fields, by the shoulders of country roads or into the electric company's rights-of-way to find your blackberry yield.
Picking the blackberry is not for those without fortitude and determination. Seems like blackberries never grow anywhere it is easy to get to, so prepare yourself for much tramping and tromping to find the best brambles. And the bramble does not give up its fruit easily, so there is a bit a preparation you need to keep in mind before you head into the brush.
Long pants, long sleeves, a hat (baseball cap works best) and ankle-high leather boots are always my 'musts.' If the thought of wearing long sleeves seems a bit much for middle-of-summer attire, consider that the wild blackberry bramble is thorny and enjoys each of every opportunity to grab, prick, slap and scratch at exposed skin.
Once you have your picking spot chosen, how do you know what is ripe for picking? Well, folks, these are 'black'berries, so you want the ones that are a deep black and appear glossy in sunlight. A berry that is black but appears flat in direct light, is most likely overripe. These types of berries are fine if you making a jam or cobbler, but if you plan on snacking on the fruit, overripe is not going to do it. Specimens that appear with bits black and others reddish or purple are fine for picking, but will taste a tad bit more sour than glossy, black berries.
Picking the actual fruit is going to be a test of your pain threshold. The thorns of the cane are small and sharp. Most brambles will be of the type with angled thorns, which will grab and not want to let go. The best remedy is to make slow and steady movements in the bramble. Sudden movements tend to bring blood to the picker, even through clothing. If you move slowly, your clothing should protect you. You may be tempted to wear gloves. Don't bother. How are you going to handle the delicate fruit of the bramble if you can't feel it between your thumb and forefinger?
When moving into a bramble, understand that to get the best berries, you are going to have to work. You must be willing to move into the middle of thickets. This is accomplished mostly with your feet and legs. Push briars and weeds down and out with your feet, being mindful to not tramp down the blackberry brambles. You may want to come back to this spot next year.
Once to a prime picking area, pick first those berries you can see while standing upright. Once those berries are gone, try squatting underneath the bramble. It is important to reach into the bramble for berries you see, because sometimes going for one berry will reveal the location of several more. Grabbing multiple berries at once is possible, but understand when the fruits are ripe, they are very easily knocked to the ground with slight touch or shaking the bramble. Squatting will help you catch a few, but nothing is more frustrating to the berry picker than to have a three-quarter-inch jewel of juiciness fall out of reach just as you get to it.
Be mindful of where you are picking? Is it public land or privately-owned? If privately-owned, always ask permission. If there is an area you would like to search, ask most landowners and they might agree ... that is, for a share of bounty. Which leads to another issue ... be mindful of passers-by if on a country road. Chances are these folks know you, will know exactly what you are doing and will attempt to talk you out of your fruit. Because, you see, blackberry picking is tough business and they know it. That's why they are not in there with you. But sharing makes me feel good, so I never turn anyone down.
Depending on the thickness of the bramble and whether or not anyone else has come before you to a spot, picking a gallon or two of berries may take an hour or two. This really depends on the thickness of the bramble. To make picking easier, cut the top from a milk jug, leaving the handle. Then run a belt through the handle, so you will not be carrying your picking container and have two hands free. You should plan on needing both hands free for blackberry picking.
I picked today for about four hours and came away with three gallons of berries. Because blackberries are so tough to obtain, if you are planning on buying them from an individual, get ready to pay. Prices can range from $10-a-gallon to $20-per. Picking your berries on your own will save you some money and something about picking them yourself makes the eating so much better.
So get out there and start looking. There's probably only about a week left of prime harvest. And as always, as in anything else in Kentucky ... be mindful of snakes, wildlife and insects. You will want to shower soon after picking, as small ticks and bugs will want to be taking up residence on your person. A partner may be required for a thorough checking-out.
We made a cobbler with part of our harvest tonight ... went great with the meatloaf, mashed new potatoes, fresh cut corn and rolls.
Blackberry Cobbler
1 cup butter or margarine, divided
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour*
1/3 cup milk, room temperature
2 cups fresh blackberries
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons sugar
Directions
In a 10-in. round or oval baking dish, melt 1/2 cup butter; set aside. In a saucepan, heat sugar and water until sugar melts; set aside. Place flour in a mixing bowl; cut in remaining butter until fine crumbs form. Add milk, stirring with a fork until dough leaves sides of bowl. Turn out onto a floured surface; knead three or four times. Roll out to an 11-in. x 9-in. rectangle 1/4 in. thick. Spread berries over dough; sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll up, jelly-roll style. Cut into 1/4-in. thick slices. Carefully lay slices in baking dish over butter. Pour sugar syrup around slices (syrup will be absorbed). Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes. Sprinkle sugar over top and bake 15 minutes more. Serve warm or cold. (*If self-rising flour is not available, use 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus 1/4 teaspoon salt and 2-1/4 teaspoons baking powder.)
Blackberry Jam
6 cups crushed blackberries
1 package powdered pectin
8 1/2 cups sugar
Directions:
Put measured crushed berries in a pot. Add pectin and stir well. Place on high heat and stir constantly bringing quickly to a full boil with bubbles over the entire surface. Add sugar, continue stirring and heat again to a full bubbling boil. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and skim. Fill and seal containers. Process 5 minutes in boiling water bath.
Blackberries are used in a variety of ways, either eaten alone as a snack, baked into a cobbler (we'll give you a recipe later), stirred into yogurt, as a topping for vanilla ice cream, converted to jam (we have a recipe for this, too ... later) and, I am told (ahem), blackberries provide a wonderful mast base for homemade wine.
Chances are, unless you have someone you buy your already-picked berries from or you are the proud owner of a bramble trellis in your backyard, you are going to need to head out into the edges of fields, by the shoulders of country roads or into the electric company's rights-of-way to find your blackberry yield.
Picking the blackberry is not for those without fortitude and determination. Seems like blackberries never grow anywhere it is easy to get to, so prepare yourself for much tramping and tromping to find the best brambles. And the bramble does not give up its fruit easily, so there is a bit a preparation you need to keep in mind before you head into the brush.
Long pants, long sleeves, a hat (baseball cap works best) and ankle-high leather boots are always my 'musts.' If the thought of wearing long sleeves seems a bit much for middle-of-summer attire, consider that the wild blackberry bramble is thorny and enjoys each of every opportunity to grab, prick, slap and scratch at exposed skin.
Once you have your picking spot chosen, how do you know what is ripe for picking? Well, folks, these are 'black'berries, so you want the ones that are a deep black and appear glossy in sunlight. A berry that is black but appears flat in direct light, is most likely overripe. These types of berries are fine if you making a jam or cobbler, but if you plan on snacking on the fruit, overripe is not going to do it. Specimens that appear with bits black and others reddish or purple are fine for picking, but will taste a tad bit more sour than glossy, black berries.
Picking the actual fruit is going to be a test of your pain threshold. The thorns of the cane are small and sharp. Most brambles will be of the type with angled thorns, which will grab and not want to let go. The best remedy is to make slow and steady movements in the bramble. Sudden movements tend to bring blood to the picker, even through clothing. If you move slowly, your clothing should protect you. You may be tempted to wear gloves. Don't bother. How are you going to handle the delicate fruit of the bramble if you can't feel it between your thumb and forefinger?
When moving into a bramble, understand that to get the best berries, you are going to have to work. You must be willing to move into the middle of thickets. This is accomplished mostly with your feet and legs. Push briars and weeds down and out with your feet, being mindful to not tramp down the blackberry brambles. You may want to come back to this spot next year.
Once to a prime picking area, pick first those berries you can see while standing upright. Once those berries are gone, try squatting underneath the bramble. It is important to reach into the bramble for berries you see, because sometimes going for one berry will reveal the location of several more. Grabbing multiple berries at once is possible, but understand when the fruits are ripe, they are very easily knocked to the ground with slight touch or shaking the bramble. Squatting will help you catch a few, but nothing is more frustrating to the berry picker than to have a three-quarter-inch jewel of juiciness fall out of reach just as you get to it.
Be mindful of where you are picking? Is it public land or privately-owned? If privately-owned, always ask permission. If there is an area you would like to search, ask most landowners and they might agree ... that is, for a share of bounty. Which leads to another issue ... be mindful of passers-by if on a country road. Chances are these folks know you, will know exactly what you are doing and will attempt to talk you out of your fruit. Because, you see, blackberry picking is tough business and they know it. That's why they are not in there with you. But sharing makes me feel good, so I never turn anyone down.
Depending on the thickness of the bramble and whether or not anyone else has come before you to a spot, picking a gallon or two of berries may take an hour or two. This really depends on the thickness of the bramble. To make picking easier, cut the top from a milk jug, leaving the handle. Then run a belt through the handle, so you will not be carrying your picking container and have two hands free. You should plan on needing both hands free for blackberry picking.
I picked today for about four hours and came away with three gallons of berries. Because blackberries are so tough to obtain, if you are planning on buying them from an individual, get ready to pay. Prices can range from $10-a-gallon to $20-per. Picking your berries on your own will save you some money and something about picking them yourself makes the eating so much better.
So get out there and start looking. There's probably only about a week left of prime harvest. And as always, as in anything else in Kentucky ... be mindful of snakes, wildlife and insects. You will want to shower soon after picking, as small ticks and bugs will want to be taking up residence on your person. A partner may be required for a thorough checking-out.
We made a cobbler with part of our harvest tonight ... went great with the meatloaf, mashed new potatoes, fresh cut corn and rolls.
Blackberry Cobbler
1 cup butter or margarine, divided
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour*
1/3 cup milk, room temperature
2 cups fresh blackberries
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons sugar
Directions
In a 10-in. round or oval baking dish, melt 1/2 cup butter; set aside. In a saucepan, heat sugar and water until sugar melts; set aside. Place flour in a mixing bowl; cut in remaining butter until fine crumbs form. Add milk, stirring with a fork until dough leaves sides of bowl. Turn out onto a floured surface; knead three or four times. Roll out to an 11-in. x 9-in. rectangle 1/4 in. thick. Spread berries over dough; sprinkle with cinnamon. Roll up, jelly-roll style. Cut into 1/4-in. thick slices. Carefully lay slices in baking dish over butter. Pour sugar syrup around slices (syrup will be absorbed). Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes. Sprinkle sugar over top and bake 15 minutes more. Serve warm or cold. (*If self-rising flour is not available, use 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus 1/4 teaspoon salt and 2-1/4 teaspoons baking powder.)
Blackberry Jam
6 cups crushed blackberries
1 package powdered pectin
8 1/2 cups sugar
Directions:
Put measured crushed berries in a pot. Add pectin and stir well. Place on high heat and stir constantly bringing quickly to a full boil with bubbles over the entire surface. Add sugar, continue stirring and heat again to a full bubbling boil. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and skim. Fill and seal containers. Process 5 minutes in boiling water bath.
COULTER PLOUGH TV SPOT COMING SOON!
Homes to Be Featured
Ever been interested in seeing inside someone's home? The Coulter Plough show will highlight various homes across Nelson and surrounding counties and their unique interiors!
This Day in Weather History
16 July 1995 → At 2pm Louisville recorded an exceptionally high dew point of 83 degrees.
16 July 1980 → Record heat baked Kentucky as Louisville reached 101, Lexington 100, and Bowling Green 107.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Go Play!!
School is just around the corner, bringing early mornings, hard studies, and team sports. Getting ready for fall season, tryouts, camps, and practices are being called across the state for soccer, football, volleyball, golf, cross country, and many others. Get involved. Join a team or cheer on your local schools. We will be updating The Coulter Plough with game information and highlights on local school players so be sure to log on and subscribe!
Laughing Out Loud
"The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter." - Mark Twain
Laughter can turn even the most serious situations around and help to mend even the deepest pains. Endorphins, the body's natural painkillers and protectors against depression, are released at a rapid rate when a person laughs. In fact laughter is such a strong healer that it is used in methods of therapists and doctors. It has been found to relieve stress, increase tolerance to pain, prevent heart attacks and stroke, increase the brains ability to retain and process information, stimulate the immune system and improve functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, muscle activity, and stomach acidity.
In 1979, it was recorded that a man by the name of Norman Cousins recovered from ankylosing spondylitis (severe arthritis in the lower back) with the help of laughter. Cousins found that ten minutes of "belly laughter" allowed him two hours of painless sleep. Cousins recorded his healing process and experience in his inspiring novel titled Anatomy of an Illness.
But not just any laugh will do. These effects only occur if the laughter is true, honest laughter... your body doesn't respond to fake laughter (clearly you can't fool yourself). So laugh at the little things, be in good company, find and hold onto the silver lining, and by all means feel free to laugh out loud.
This Day in Weather History
15 July 1936 → Lexington's hottest temperature on record: 108 degrees. Also Frankfort's hottest temperature on record: 111 degrees.
Local Blogs - Savoring Kentucky
Here is a wonderful blog about the great pleasures of eating and drinking what comes from Kentucky's soil, water, air, and growers. www.savoringkentucky.com
Local Recipes
Best-Ever Bread and Butter Pickles
Nina H. Lee
4 qts. sliced cucumbers
1/2 C. salt
1-1/2 qts. sliced onions
1 qt. vinegar
4 C. sugar
1 T. celery seed
2 T. mustard seed
1 T. ground ginger
1/2 t. ground turmeric (opt.)
1/2 t. white pepper (opt.)
Gently stir salt into thinly sliced cucumbers; cover with ice cubes; let stand 2 or 3 hours or until cucumbers are crisp and cold. Add more ice if it melts; drain. Add onions.
Mix remaining ingredients; bring quickly to a boil. Boil 10 minutes. Add cucumbers and onion slices; bring to a boiling point. Pack loosely at once in hot jars; adjust lids. Process in boiling water bath for 15 minutes. Remove jars from canner; complete seals unless closures are self-sealing type.
Makes 8 pints.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
This Day in Weather History
14 July 1936 → Louisville's hottest temperature ever recorded: 107 degrees.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Kentucky's connections to space program deepen.
When NASA finally has a day the weather and its own shuttle launch systems cooperate, Kentucky will add another astronaut to its list of those who have connections here and have flown in space.
Tim Kopra, an Army colonel and astronaut, will take his first flight into space aboard the space shuttle Endeavour as soon things can come together to get STS-127 off launch pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The astronaut is married to the former Dawn Lehman of Lewisburg in Logan County.
Kopra's connection to Kentucky does not stop there, as he served three years at Fort Campbell in the western part of the state as a aeroscout platoon leader in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). It was while Kopra was serving with the Screamin' Eagles that he met his wife, who was attending Austin Peay State University in nearby Clarksville, Tenn.
Kopra is also part of the Expedition XX International Space Station mission team and is scheduled to remain on the ISS for three months, once the mission is launched.
STS-127 has met with five 'scrubs' in its launch window. Hydrogen leaks in the main external tank postponed the launch on June 13 and June 17. On Friday, July 10, lightning strikes near the launch center caused mission planners to postpone again, while the vehicle was inspected. And on Sunday, the crew of seven astronauts was already sealed in the orbiter when dangerous storm clouds gathered within the 20-mile radius around the shuttle's 'abort' landing site. The delay on Monday was again due to inclement weather.
The launch has been rescheduled for 6:03 p.m. (ET) Wednesday. NASA officials have said the new launch date will be important, as an unmanned Russian is headed to the space station on July 27.
But Kopra's connection to the tiny hamlet of Lewisburg (pop. 900) in southcentral Kentucky is not the only one for a NASA astronaut.
Col. Terry Wilcutt, a Marine, was born in Russellville, Ky., and grew up near Lewisburg before moving to Louisville and graduating from Southern High School. He completed undergraduate work at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green.
Wilcutt, who now serves as Deputy Director, Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, has flown on the shuttle four times - STS-68 Endeavour (Sept. 30 to Oct. 11, 1994), STS-79 Atlantis (Sept. 16-26, 1996), STS-89 Endeavour (Jan. 22-31, 1998) and STS-106 Atlantis (Sept. 8-20, 2000).
Two of his missions took him to the Mir space station, with his final mission filled with preparations for the first permanent crew to occupy the ISS.
He was pilot for his first two missions and commanded the last two. Wilcutt has logged 1,007 hours in space and has flown more than 17.2 million miles. He is also the recipient of NASA's Outstanding Leadership Medal and the Distinguished Service Medal.
Leroy Gordon 'Gordo' Cooper, Jr., was one of the orginal seven Project Mercury astronauts, those made famous with 'The Right Stuff.' Cooper was born in Shawnee, Okla., but spent part of his childhood in Murray in Calloway County where he attended public schools.
Cooper is perhaps best-known for being the first American to sleep in orbit and the last astronaut to launch and conduct a mission alone in space. He was an air force pilot and is one of few NASA astronauts to have ever gone on record with claims of sighting an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO). Cooper often claimed the government was covering up any evidence it had regarding UFOs.
He also flew as part of the Gemini program and was selected for flight in the Apollo program, but was pulled from the schedule after a disagreement with NASA management.
Cooper died from complications from Parkinson's Disease on Oct. 4, 2004.
Story Musgrave, was born in Boston, Mass., yet claims Lexington, Ky., as his hometown. Musgrave, a medical doctor, interned at the University of Kentucky Medical Center from 1964 until 1967 before being selected for astronaut's training. He continued to served on a part-time basis at UK until 1989.
Musgrave is the veteran of six space flights, all on the space shuttle, including STS-6 in April 1983 - the maiden flight of Challenger, which was lost with crew in January 1986. The STS-6 mission included the first EVA to test new space suits that Musgrave himself has designed.
He is the only astronaut to have flown on Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour, all of the space-flight ready of the fleet. The first glider-test vehicle is Enterprise. Musgrave was the last of the Apollo-era astronauts to retire from flight status.
Certainly, Kentucky's contribution to space flight goes beyond the astronauts connected to the Commonwealth, as there are engineers, electricians, military personnel and scientists contributing on a daily basis to the future of manned spaced flight in the United States. Engineering and science programs at the state's university's - most notably at Western Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky - help assure the Bluegrass will be contributing to the exploration of space for some time to come.
Contributing Writer: C. Josh Givens
Hey folks, Josh here.
Just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and thank John and Anna for welcoming me aboard 'The Coulter Plough.' Seems ol' John thinks I might just be able to add something to the ongoing conversations here, so I'm gonna give it my best.
A little about me, I am Kentucky born and bred, hailing from Diamond Springs in Logan County. I have been writing and taking photographs for more than 20 years now, sometimes for pay, most times, not. Being a journalist type - and naturally-inquisitive - has allowed me opportunities to meet and write about some of the most interesting people and places our Commonwealth.
What types of posts should you expect from me?
Well, let's see ... seeing how my interests are broad, it would be safest to lay claim to a broad stroke of the keyboard when posting. I have a huge interest in Kentucky history, politics, books, writing, music and oh so, so much more. That leads me to believe we are all going to have quite a good time.
So, again, happy to be here and I hope to keep ya'll interested.
Peace.
Random Acts LIVE! at Spinghill Winery
Come see Random Acts live at Springhill Winery August 1 at 8pm.
3205 Springfield Rd
Bloomfield, KY 40008
502-252-9463
Call for Ticket Prices and Reservations
Random Acts is a newly formed comedic improv group that performs games from the famous "Whose Line Is It Anyway" starring Drew Carey, as well as personally written comedic skits.
August 1st, come see Random Acts and special guest comedian Nathan Royalty.
WARNING: The show is rated PG-13, mature audiences only!
Anna Shepherd LIVE! at Wooden Duck
Singer/Songwriter ANNA SHEPHERD will be performing live at Wooden Duck Entertainment (Bardstown) Sunday, July 19 at 1 p.m. The performance is FREE to the public. Wooden Duck is located at 1002 Granite Drive.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Upcoming Events at Smith-Berry Winery
A couple years ago I took a drive to Port Royal and stopped at the Smith-Berry Winery in New Castle. I enjoyed a nice dinner, a tremendous Kentucky atmosphere, and a night of music with many guests in attendance. It was even better to talk with Wendell Berry inside the tobacco barn there. I sampled some of their wonderful wine and brought home a bottle. It may be my favorite Kentucky-made wine. Highly recommended. Here are some of the upcoming events at Smith-Berry.
July 25:
Nervous Melvin and the Mistakes
Great Pop/Rock
August 8:
Arnett Hollow
A fantastic blend of traditional
bluegrass, rock, jazz, and world music called Newgrass
August 22:
Hog Operation
We love their super charged bluegrass
September 12:
Leo Night and the Moonlighters
Dance to the great Motown sound of Henry County's own
September 26:
The Jimmy Davis Band
Funk infused rock, our favorite dance music
October 3:
Johnny Berry and the Outliers
Well rooted and timeless classic country
Larkspur Press, Monterey, Kentucky
Larkspur Press books are highly acollectible for their scarcity, beauty, and that they are important works. They often feature Kentucky writers such as Wendell Berry, Guy Davenport, James Baker Hall and Bobbie Ann Mason.
This Day in Weather History
12 July 1979 → A tornado touched down briefly with F1 strength in Scott County KY.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
The Beauty of Wood Engraving
I am fascinated by wood engraving art, a relief printing technique, and have been every since the fifth grade at Bloomfield Middle School (the old high school building) and reading "The Beatinest Boy" by Jesse Stuart which contained several woodcuts and engravings for illustrations. The work by Clare Leighton (United Kingdom, 1901-1989) has long been profoundly moving to me, too. Her engravings appear in The Time of Man (University Press of Kentucky) by the late Springfield, KY author Elizabeth Madox Roberts. Andy English in the United Kingdom has a blog and website devoted to his tremendous work in wood engraving. Both sites are very helpful and informative. Click here for Andy's awesome blog.
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