The roving reporter has a quest for us who live in the Louisville/Cincinnati area. Find the best chicken livers and chocolate pie in the area.

So we started with Smithfield, KY’s Our Best Restaurant last Friday night. Those who were there to help us judge were Bob Stansberry, Larry and Betty Britton, Betty’s friend Pam, Bill and Sue Kiser, Ken and Pat Collins, Lily Jane McCraven and Charlene Collins.

As we sat and told “big” tales about growing up, people we knew and adventures we had, one of the other patrons approached our table. I thought he was going to tell us to keep it down so he could enjoy his dinner in quietness.

Instead he asked if we attended Fleming-Neon, Whitesburg or Stuart Robinson High School. So we knew we had met a good ole mountain boy. Turns out he did not grow up in Letcher County but he had visited and had stories from his grandparents who were raised on Thornton and up in Sergeant. He was a Goins. Bob said that in his travels as an over-the-road truck driver he had met so many people who had ties to Letcher County.

Billy Joe Hall was at Cumberland Lake with his family. Sara Jane was baby-sitting.

Larry found "little" white half runner beans for Lily - he brought a half bushel. She has them strung up so they will be shucky beans she can serve for Thanksgiving dinner. Sue Kiser has been working hard at preserving some good stuff. She has been putting up beans, corn, and lots of other good stuff. She brought apple jelly - most delicious I've tasted - and mixed pickles. Those will go great with the shucky beans. What will this next generation do because I don't think they are learning how to can or freeze anything except if it already comes from the store pre-packaged.

We send get well thoughts to Rosemary Collier, Kelly Boggs and any other classmates who need our support and prayers.
In September a group of us will be checking out the picnic shelters at General Butler State Park to see which one to reserve for our giant 70th birthday party we are throwing for ourselves next June. Join us in September for the selection. If you can’t join us then, you have to make it to the picnic in June 2010.