SIL - Nov / Dec 2021

Southern 

Indiana 

Nov / Dec 2021 

Living 

Making 

Gingerbread 

Memories 

Santa’s 

Haus: 

Visit with 

Santa Claus 

year-round

Wherever you are, 

we are with you. 

You have a choice of how you want to live the rest of your life. Choose the path 

where you can create more moments with the ones you love. When you’re ready, 

we’re here for you. Visit HosparusHealth.org or call 

1-800-HOSPICE. 

2 • Nov/Dec 2021 • Southern Indiana Living

With offices conveniently located in New Albany and 

Corydon, Indiana, Ingle Law Office can provide 

answers and assistance for all your legal needs in 

Southern Indiana. With over 40 years of combined 

legal experience inside and outside the courtroom, there 

is no legal problem that our attorneys Gordon Ingle and 

Sunnye Bush-Sawtelle can’t handle. Call us today for a 

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• Criminal Defense • Estate Planning 

• Estate Administration 

• Family Law • Property Law 

• Personal Injury • Business Law 

699 Hillview Drive 

Corydon, IN 47112 

Office: 812-738-8100 

418 Main Street 

New Albany, IN 47150 

Email: sbsawtelle@ginglelaw.com 

Southern Indiana Living • Nov/Dec 2021 • 3


Featured Stories 

12 | SANTA CLAUS HAUS BECKONS 

Non-profit provides a place for kids to meet Santa 

all year long 

17 

17 | MADE TO LAST 

Local artist carves largest in-situ Celtic Cross in the world 

20 | MAKING GINGERBREAD MEMORIES 

Creative family-friendly ideas for the holiday season 

22 | HOPE THROUGH HOSPITALITY 

Behind the scenes with Crawford County Tourism 

Southern Indiana Living 

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2021 

12 

In Every Issue 

7 | FLASHBACK 

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, Corydon, IN, 1940s 

8 | A WALK IN THE GARDEN WITH BOB HILL 

The Great Pumpkins, Big Turkeys, and Biking Santas of 

Holiday Past 

11 | A NOTE TO BABY BOOMERS 

What are the Rules of Retirement? 

25 | REAL LIFE NUTRITION 

It’s Called Comfort Food for a Reason 

20 

30 | EVERYDAY ADVENTURES 

DIY Nativity 


Marengo Caves Cave Country Canoes Patoka Lake 

Patoka Lake Winery Sycamore Springs Lucas Oil Golf Course 

O'Bannon Woods State Park Red Hill Fiber Mill 

Lodging Camping Fishing Boating Dining Shopping Hiking 

Crawfordcountyindiana.com 

Contact us: info@crawfordcountyindiana.com or 812-739-2246 

@crawfordcountyindiana 


Southern 

Indiana 

Living 

NOV / DEC 2021 

VOL. 14, ISSUE 6 

PUBLISHER | 

Karen Hanger 

karen@silivingmag.com 

LAYOUT & DESIGN | 

Christy Byerly 

christy@silivingmag.com 

COPY EDITOR | 

Jennifer Cash 

Flashback Photo 

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree 

Corydon, Indiana 

~ 1940s 

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Sara Combs 

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// Photo courtesy of the Frederick Porter Griffin Center, Harrison County Public Library 

Southern Indiana Living is 

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Any views expressed in any 

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A large crowd gathers around the town Christmas tree on the square in Corydon, Indiana, for 

a festive celebration in the late 1940s. According to library records, one of the first community 

Christmas programs on the Corydon square occurred in 1923 when the local American Legion 

post and area churches provided a large Christmas tree on the square and invited the public to 

come for a gathering on Christmas Eve. The festivities included singing Christmas carols, treats 

for all, and a visit from Santa. 


A Walk in the Garden with Bob Hill 

The Great Pumpkins, Big Turkeys and Biking Santas of Holidays Past 

As we all now lean toward the 

holiday season, visions of a 

Great Pumpkin, a Big Turkey 

Thanksgiving sweatshirt 

and Santa Claus riding a bicycle 

come into my head. 

All were products of this column-writing 

stuff – or lead into this 

column-writing stuff, which was the 

kindest fate of all. The Great Pumpkin 

was born, of course, in the Peanuts 

comic strip when Charles M. 

Schultz had one Linus van Pelt sitting 

out in the pumpkin patch on Halloween 

evening waiting for the Great 

Pumpkin to appear. 

The ever-innocent Linus was 

convinced the Great Pumpkin was a 

supernatural figure who rose up on 

said evening to fly around the world 

bringing toys to sincere and believing 

children months before Santa Claus 

and elves let loose his sled and reindeer. 

Linus was mocked for this, but 

never lost that childish belief, a trait 

that most of us sadly lose in adulthood 

when our kids are born and the 

bills come due. 

But I’ve always treasured such 

innocence, and one day many years 

ago – OK, many, many years ago – I 

thought it might be fun to become 

Linus for an evening and go out on 

Halloween night and wait for the 

Great Pumpkin myself. The fact that I 

was a newspaper columnist and had 

a column due the next day had nothing 

to do with it. 

I didn’t know anyone who 

owned a big-enough pumpkin patch 

for such investigation, so I decided 

to get in touch with my inner Linus, 

head out to a local park after dark, 

find a quiet place and just sit and wait 

for the Great Pumpkin to show up. 

I realized my chances were 

small, but that little kid in me has still 

never quite gone away. It was a nice 

night, a little chilly but clear, a good 

moment to spot the Great Pumpkin 

flying over riding in a … well, I had 

no idea what mode of transportation 

a Great Pumpkin might use, which 

was part of the charm of the whole 

8 • Nov/Dec 2021 • Southern Indiana Living 

adventure. 

Maybe an old wooden wagon 

with a team of flying horses or a 1947 

pickup truck with wings. 

I sat there about an hour, the late 

October temperature dropping, staring 

up into the sky wondering how 

my journalism brethren might be doing 

while seated in some heated indoors 

covering a city council meeting 

or such. 

I was just about to leave when 

from about 100 feet away … and I am 

not making this up … came a shout 

from behind a clump of trees … “BOB 

HILL … I AM THE GREAT PUMP- 

KIN.” 

Again came the message … 

“BOB HILL … I AM THE GREAT 

PUMPKIN.” 

Part of me was thinking I could 

be on to something, the Great Pumpkin 

may be hiking the world this year, 

until I realized that voice sounded familiar 

... maybe a little too familiar. 

It turned out to be that of a good 

In between 

listening to kids 

tell me their needs 

– and absolutely 

promising them 

every wish – I 

went to the sports 

department, 

grabbed a bicycle 

and rode around 

the store in my 

Santa Claus suit 

yelling “Ho, ho, ho” 

to customers and 

management. 

friend who had been turned on to my 

adventure and decided to come out 

and play Great Pumpkin for the evening. 

And me. 

He bellowed out his “I AM THE 

GREAT PUMPKIN” message a few 

more times, then showed his non-supernatural 

self. 

“Aaugh!” I thought, followed 

by “Good grief!” followed by about 

10 years of his rubbing it in. But I still 

haven’t totally given up on a Great 

Pumpkin arrival, either. Who wants 

to get that old? 

The Big Turkey Thanksgiving 

story is a little less complex and at 

least comes with a souvenir. My history 

of nicknames includes “Butch” 

as a youngster, “Razz” as a high 

school student quite willing to razz 

anybody in shouting distance and 

“Wolf” in college with a lean face 

that resembled such a critter. The fun 

part of that was whenever I got into a 

basketball game – generally when it

was already decided – the fans would 

erupt in wolf calls. 

Closer to home, and somewhat 

keeping in character, when family 

and friends got together for Thanksgiving, 

and I would perform some 

silly verbal tricks, I was labeled a “Big 

Turkey.” 

My wife, Janet, made that permanent 

with a sweatshirt labeled the 

same. 

Santa Claus on a bicycle will 

be the final seasonal story. I graduated 

from college having absolutely 

no idea what I would do for a living 

and neither did the outside world. I 

remember going over to the college 

placement center where college seniors 

interviewed for jobs and being 

told, “Sorry, Bob, there are no more 

companies coming.” 

“But wait a minute,” I thought, 

“nobody’s hired me yet.” 

A college friend helped me out 

and thus began my full-time, somewhat 

adult working life as a management 

trainee for the Montgomery 

Ward retail chain, which later died a 

natural if not well-deserved death. 

My immediate problems at the 

time included not being much good at 

management or as a trainee. I worked 

in the sports department and disliked 

everything about the job except the 

discount I got on sports equipment, 

which, being married at the time, 

took a bunch of income needed at 

home, but that’s another story. 

I lasted the obligatory management 

trainee six months and immediately 

gave two weeks’ notice, at 

which point – this being the Christmas 

season – they made me Santa 

Claus, perhaps as punishment. 

Failed that, too. In between listening 

to kids tell me their needs 

– and absolutely promising them 

every wish – I went to the sports department, 

grabbed a bicycle and rode 

around the store in my Santa Claus 

suit yelling “Ho, ho, ho” to customers 

and management. 

Lesson learned. After that, if I 

didn’t like a job, I left with or without 

a Santa Claus suit. Which one 

more take-this-job-and-shove-it experience 

got me into writing, which 

I liked. Still do. But that’s another 

story. Meanwhile, may all your holiday 

needs, wants and wishes come so 

true.• 

About the Author 

Former Courier-Journal 

columnist Bob Hill 

enjoys gardening, good 

fun, good friends and 

the life he and his wife, 

Janet, have created on 

their eight bucolic acres 

near Utica in Southern 

Indiana. 

The Overlook Restaurant is 

FOR SALE. Call 812.267.6063 

or 812.267.6477 for more 

information. 

Open 11AM-7PM. 

Thanksgiving Day 

Reservations for any number. 

No call ahead seating. 

Please be patient as we are 

very understaffed. 

OVERLOOK HOURS: 

11:00AM-7:00PM EVERYDAY 

Reservations Available for 13 or More. 

CARRY-OUT AVAILABLE 7 DAYS A WEEK 

Hours Subject To Change Due To COVID-19 

Walk-Ins Welcome. No Call Ahead Seating. 

812-739-4264 • TheOverLook.com • Facebook @TheOverLookRestaurant 


• Christmas Parade 4:00PM 

• Activities 10:00AM - 9:30PM 

• Wagon Rides 

• Santa and Pictures with Santa 

Follow Us on Facebook at Main Street Corydon for Updated Information on 

Activities and Other Happenings at this Event 

Brought to you by The Town of Corydon, 

Main Street Corydon and many community partners. 

#LightUp Corydon 


What Are the Rules of Retirement? 

A Note to Baby Boomers 

Ihave this relative who seems 

good at anything. Now he wants 

to be good at retirement. 

He asked me how, like I 

know. 

I am still upright, still solvent 

and still as sane as ever. So, my relative 

assumes I am qualified to serve 

as GPS to his new life without steady 

paychecks and impossible bosses. He 

wants nothing more than most of us 

want when we clean out our desks 

and switch off our alarms. 

He does not really know what 

he wants, in other words. 

He just knows he wants less 

stress, few commitments and no good 

reason to keep all those neckties. 

This is all attainable. It is not all 

automatic. 

Year’s end is his end as a wellrespected 

corporate specialist. He 

leaves increasingly whipped and 

frustrated like so many of us leave. 

My last five years of work were nowhere 

near as enjoyable as my first 

five. Career became something to survive 

as much as to relish. 

So I sprinted into retirement to 

be saved, to be refreshed. Then I took 

one misstep, then another, a few public. 

I stumbled along the path I figured 

I should, not the path that made 

sense for me. 

As some point, I declared to myself 

that enough is enough. And this 

is where my advice to my relative begins: 

Custom-make your retirement 

from its first day. 

Do not return to work – whatever 

work – because you might feel 

like a bum if you do not. Bring in beer 

money only if you really love beer. 

Or, like me, you have earned at 

least pittance since your barely-teen 

years and you are hooked on pay. But 

please treat your next gig simply as a 

fix, not a duty. Starting a new career 

is less a picnic than tolerating the old 

one. I learned this one the hard way. 

Any retiree should stay busy, of 

course. The trick is the definition of 

busy. Getting off the couch will not 

alone get you nicely through retirement. 

In our jobs, our careers, we accomplished. 

We completed tasks. We 

met deadlines. We helped employers. 

We helped ourselves. 

We succeeded. 

We retirees can and must find 

new and pleasant ways to succeed. 

We fix up the house, we read, we help 

with the grandkids, we write checks 

to charity. My relative has much to 

contribute, but he has to decide to 

contribute. 

We all can contribute. 

This can be a save-the-world 

type contribution, but it need not be. 

We retirees have done our part and 

can declare so without guilt. Needs 

go on, nonetheless, and we go on 

better when we remain citizens, not 

simply residents. 

The Jeffersonville Study Club 

consists of citizens, some of that city’s 

best. 

Never heard of it? Many haven’t, 

I’d guess. The club exists not to be 

known, for that matter, much less 

to stand out. It is small, private and, 

at 90 years old, expects somehow to 

grow still older without its first-ever 

real membership drive. 

It is for women – less than two 

dozen presently – who welcome 

routine opportunities to talk and to 

listen, to debate what they read and 

to learn. Membership requires effort. 

Study, indeed. 

“We try to open our minds, and 

others’ minds, to different things,” 

member Phyllis Nelson told me. 

Ninety years ago, women lacked 

many such chances. Few went to 

college or were afforded leadership 

in community or in commerce. The 

club helped fill an inexcusable gap. 

Has it outlived its usefulness? 

Most members are retirees, smart, 

accomplished women keenly 

aware that there is no line of eager 

replacements. “Today they’d rather 

watch Netflix than read a book,” 

member Sue Pfau said. 

Of retirement age herself, Vicki 

Hartlage is among the club’s young 

bloods. “When I joined this group I 

was curious about a group of older 

ladies who were still interested in 

learning,” she said. “And I continue 

with them because of my deep 

admiration and affection for them.” 

Some days, for me, worry No. 

1 is what’s for lunch followed by if 

lunch will come off my shirt. If only 

there were more study clubs, groups 

from which my about-to-retire 

relative and all of us would benefit 

by thinking and challenging without 

ending up at one another’s throats. 

Why not start something like that in 

your town, your neighborhood? 

Remember, don’t merely be 

busy – be fulfilled. 

Meanwhile, the Jeffersonville 

Study Club manages through the 

pandemic. It plots how to go on 

without compromise, with protection 

of principles that have stood the 

test of time. “I would love for it to 

continue,” Pfau said. 

“I don’t think it will implode,” 

member Beth Shockey said. “If it 

doesn’t last, it will be a foregone 

Any retiree should stay busy, of course. The trick 

is the definition of busy. Getting off the couch will 

not alone get you nicely through retirement. 

conclusion of the members.” 

Retirement is not as testing as 

marriage or parenthood. But it is more 

testing, by far, than I had figured. 

Retirement can prove a four-letter 

word. Keeping original body parts, 

remembering what day the garbage 

is picked up, staying a step ahead of 

the bill collectors, these likewise add 

to the trick. 

Should my relative save more 

or spend more? Yes. How’s that 

for sage advice. Make exercise a 

priority, of course; same with travel. 

Procrastinating, at our age, only gets 

riskier. 

Finally, we retirees need to 

remember proudly how we got better 

at our jobs. We can get better too at 

not having jobs. OK, I will try to teach 

my relative a thing or two. 

Before long, he’ll be teaching 

me. • 

After 25 years, Dale Moss 

retired as Indiana columnist for 

The Courier-Journal. He now 

writes weekly for the News and 

Tribune. Dale and his wife Jean 

live in Jeffersonville in a house 

that has been in his family 

since the Civil War. Dale’s e- 

mail is dale.moss@twc.com 


Holidays In SoIN 

Santa Claus Haus Beckons 

Kids of all ages can visit St. Nick year-round 

Elf Ally and Santa with Santa’s sleigh, Silent Night 

Story by Carol Ubelhor-Troesch 

Photos by Hope Davis 


“One of the most unusual gifts 

ever requested was from a little 

boy, about 6 years old, who said 

he wanted a stick for Christmas,” 

Santa shared. “I asked him 

what he was going to do with a stick, 

and he said he was going to make a 

guitar.” 

Santa’s favorite memories of 

Christmas are plentiful, and many 

include the children who stop to see 

him and share the magic. 

“I’m also asked many times for 

things that Santa just cannot do, so I 

suggest we pray about those things. 

If they approve, we start praying 

right there. Some people say I am 

the ‘Praying Santa,’ but I just believe 

that’s what Santa is about.” 

These wonderful thoughts of 

Christmas, and the strong feeling that 

America’s Christmas Hometown, 

otherwise known as Santa Claus, Indiana, 

needed to have a Santa available 

to the entire community yearround, 

led to the idea of Santa Claus 

Haus. 

Nestled behind the fire station 

in Santa Claus, Indiana, Santa Claus 

Haus is currently located at 200 Patricia 

Koch Drive, within the Santa 

Claus Community Center, but the 

plan doesn’t stop there. 

When the COVID-19 pandemic 

basically kept Santa himself out of the 

town in 2020, Santa began to dream. 

One of the businesses had decided 

not to have Santa during the usual 

time frame of May through December, 

and instead planned only a couple 

weeks in July and then for parts 

of November and December. Another 

location decided to have only a “virtual” 

Santa. 

This bothered Santa, he said, because 

“I have become quite fond of 

this community over the years and 

have a passion for it, and its beginnings. 

After a couple of very restless 

weeks, I came up with an idea.” 

It was his dream for Santa to not 

belong to any one particular entity or 

business. He needed his own place 

where everyone could comfortably 

visit with Santa and have their photo 

taken or stop by for a chat with a feeling 

as though they had walked into 

Santa’s living room for a visit. 

He also knew that the venture 

had to be a nonprofit, so it could exist 

in perpetuity. It would have to meet 

the gold-seal standards of nonprofit 

501(c)3 corporations. 

“I started talking to several people 

about the idea and where this 

could possibly be located for now,” 

Santa explained. “During the process, 

I did not find one person who 

was negative about the idea. In fact, 

I found several people who were 

very enthusiastic about it.” Those 

enthusiastic people were then asked 

to serve on the fledgling Board of Directors. 

Several declined, but some 

wholeheartedly agreed. The board

has understandably undergone some 

changes this past year, as people discovered 

it was initially going to take 

more time than they could offer. 

Originally incorporated under 

the name of Santa Claus House, the 

group soon realized that there was 

already one under that same name 

located in North Pole, Alaska, but 

after a few quick calls, the name was 

changed to Santa Claus Haus, which 

is very fitting in a predominantly 

German-heritage community. 

Even though there have been a 

few minor changes as the plan took 

shape, the group’s original mission 

has pretty much stayed the same 

from the beginning. 

Santa explained, “Our Mission 

Statement is simply this: ‘To ensure 

that Santa is available to serve the 

community year-round, to assist in 

supporting other charities, especially 

those that have to do with the health 

and welfare of children; to assist 

wherever welcomed and to enhance 

other businesses and events in the 

community.” He also added that ‘the 

community” includes all of the surrounding 

area. 

“We want families and tourists 

who visit to experience Santa here 

in Santa Claus, Indiana, which is 

also Santa’s first permanent home in 

North America established between 

1852-1856, depending on what records 

you’re checking.” 

“As a group, we would like everyone 

to have the opportunity to in- 

Santa shares a “nice list” award with a visitor. 

“I’m also asked many times for things that Santa 

just cannot do, so I suggest we pray about those 

things. If they approve, we start praying right 

there. Some people say I am the ‘Praying Santa,’ 

but I just believe that’s what Santa is about.” 

- Santa 

Pictured: (left to right) Chris Ambs, Vicky Ambs, Kathy Reinke, Santa, Susan Wagner, James Wagner,Alyssa Guth, Mrs. Claus, and Crystal Guth helped with the ribbon cutting on August 14. 


clude Santa at their different events. 

Our role as a nonprofit charity is to 

raise enough money to keep it happening 

for many decades to come.” 

Santa Claus Haus also has a gift 

shop, which includes some items 

from national suppliers, but the focus 

is on local talent and products that 

can be offered. 

The long-range vision is to someday 

have a free-standing structure 

name and hometown on the list. Santa 

will then always know what day 

each child came to see him. 

In addition to being at Santa 

Claus Haus each Tuesday through 

Saturday, you’ll also get to see Santa 

and his sleigh, Silent Knight, at local 

events, such as parades and fests. 

His updated plans can be found each 

morning on their Facebook page. You 

can also see his calendar of events on 

financially sound in what I would 

call Phase 1. Phase 2 will be locating 

property that will be as central to 

the downtown area as possible and 

building our own place that will go 

on forever.” 

Anyone wishing to get involved 

as a volunteer is welcome to stop by 

and speak to the gift shop manager 

or visit the website. Tax-deductible 

donations can also be made via the 

“I think my biggest inspiration comes from the looks on children’s 

faces when they see me. Children can be as old as 99.” 

that would really give the feeling of 

walking into Santa’s house. It would 

be a big building so Santa’s living 

room would be larger than it is now, 

with a larger gift shop, and perhaps 

maybe even a small coffee shop that 

would offer home-baked pastries. 

Another idea would be to have 

a roadside attraction next to the Haus 

that would not require someone to 

be there all the time. Details on this 

plan are being kept as a surprise for 

the future. 

Additionally, they would also 

like to have a building to house the 

“International Santa Claus Hall of 

Fame,” which is just in virtual existence 

currently. 

Without hesitation, Santa said 

that the favorite part of his day is 

when Santa Claus Haus opens. Each 

day, he checks “Santa’s Nice List,” 

writes the date and updates the 

“days until Christmas.” As each child 

comes to visit, they write their first 


the website at santaclaushaus.org. 

Santa was inducted into the “International 

Santa Claus Hall of Fame” 

in 2017. There are some other very 

important people inducted into from 

the area, as well. The inaugural Class 

of 2010 includes Santas Jim Yellig and 

Ray Jochum. In 2014, James Martin, 

Santa Claus, Indiana’s first postmaster, 

who began answering letters to 

Santa in 1914, was inducted. In 2015, 

Patricia Koch was also inducted. 

“I feel very honored to be listed 

in the same category as these greats, 

and it is quite humbling as well,” 

Santa said. 

“I think my biggest inspiration 

comes from the looks on children’s 

faces when they see me.” And, he 

noted, “Children can be as old as 99.” 

Reflecting on what is next for 

the organization, Santa said, “We 

know that we don’t have enough 

space now, so we are going to be getting 

ourselves firmly planted and 

website, or by stopping by. 

The gift shop hours are Tuesday 

through Saturday from 10 a.m. 

until 5 p.m. Central time. But even 

when Santa Claus Haus is closed, the 

spirit and magic of Christmas is present. 

Sundays are a day reserved for 

volunteers to worship as they choose, 

and to also spend time with family 

and friends. On Mondays, Santa 

takes the time to visit nursing homes, 

hospitals and hospice patients. 

Santa sums it all up in one simple 

sentiment: “The reason for the 

season is daily.” • 

For more information, go to santaclaushaus.org 

or facebook.com/Santa-Claus- 

Haus, or call 812-626-4287 (HAUS). 

Pictured: ( from bottom left, clockwise) Sometimes you 

just need a fist bump from Santa; An inside look at Santa’s 

sleigh, Silent Night; Santa ‘s nice list; A visitor tells Santa 

his wish list; An ornament at the gift shop reminds visitors 

that the true menading of Christmas the birth of Christ


LEAVE A LEGACY FOR ALL SEASONS. 

For 25 years now, Harrison County Community Foundation has been helping our community reap the benefits 

of philanthropy through every season – and every season of life. 

Scholarships for young people and adults. Funding Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten. Supporting youth 

programs and seniors’ meals. Investing in fiber internet backbone. COVID-19 relief. Providing grants and other 

resources for nonprofits. Funding mental health services and addiction treatment programs. 

Of course, plenty of opportunities and challenges remain. Together we can tackle the next 25 years and 

beyond. How will you embrace philanthropy - this season and next? In what season of life will you help 

someone — or perhaps need help yourself? 

Find out more by visiting hccfindiana.org or contacting us at 812-738-6668. 

25 YEARS 

PHILANTHROPY 

EXPERIENCE 

COMMUNITY 

L E G A C Y 


Near the entrance to Blue 

Heron Vineyards and Winery 

(see article, this issue), 

a sign points down a rugged, 

winding road toward “the Celtic 

Cross.” The winery visitor is welcome 

to drive or walk down to view this 

massive sculpture that evokes some 

of the mystery of medieval Ireland 

and Scotland. 

Carved within a 20’ x 22’ x 4’ 

sandstone boulder natural to the hillside, 

this artwork is believed to be 

the largest “in situ” (of its own stone) 

Celtic cross in the world. 

The cross was commissioned by 

Gary and Lynn Dauby, the winery’s 

owners, and carved by Cannelton 

sculptor Greg Harris, whose story is 

as intriguing as is the presence of this 

monolith in the hills of southern Indiana. 

Harris is completely self-taught. 

He began carving when he was 9 

or 10, making dogwood flowers on 

rocks using a screwdriver. 

“A screwdriver was the only tool 

I had, and I couldn’t afford more,” 

Harris explained. “I often threw 

the finished pieces in the creek bed, 

where locals found them and started 

collecting them, believing they were 

Native American artifacts.” 

Harris has no theory to explain 

his innate talent, but in doing genealogical 

research, he recently discovered 

that his great-grandfather had 

been a Scottish stonecutter. 

It took Harris 23 months to complete 

the Celtic cross – working alone, 

six days a week, through all types of 

weather. “Three tons of stone came 

out of that boulder,” Harris said. “I 

went through 70 power chisels.” 

Cannelton is known for its sandstone, 

but the boulder at the winery 

is quartz sandstone, which is especially 

hard, and can be polished like 

granite. “I had to set up my own tool 

sharpening station at the foot of the 

cross because I needed to sharpen 25 

to 30 chisels a day,” Harris said. 

Setting a chisel against a blank 

face of stone can be a daunting experience, 

which is why Harris believes 

that practice and preparation are essential. 

“I spent a lot of time making 

horse troughs. I always work from 

models or drawings, or sometimes 

both,” Harris said to describe his 

practice. He alsoread stacks of books 

on Celtic crosses from various disciplines. 

The design on one side of the 

cross, carefully researched, “is a Celtic 

symbol of the struggle of life,” Harris 

said. 

Artist Spotlight 

Made to Last 

Local artist carves largest in-situ Celtic cross in the world 

Celtic Cross at Blue Heron WInery 

Story by Judy Cato 

Photos by Lorraine Hughes 


When asked about his favorite project, Harris returns to the Celtic Cross as being 

the most decisive for his career, and as holding the most personal meaning. 

Sculptures by Harris can be 

found scattered across Indiana and 

beyond. His limestone bust of the late 

Edgar Whitcomb, a former Indiana 

governor, is located in the Statehouse 

Rotunda in Indianapolis. 

“Gov. Whitcomb was fascinated 

with the Celtic cross, enjoyed visiting 

the winery, and stopping by to 

watch the progress on the sculpture 

of him. He put the final touch on his 

own bust,” Harris said to indicate the 

friendship he had shared with the 

former governor. 

“Under the Buttonwood” is a 

Harris sculpture located in front of Indiana 

State University’s Federal Hall 

in downtown Terre Haute, the home 

of the University’s Scott College of 

Business. This limestone carving of 

a buttonwood leaf commemorates a 

1792 meeting beneath a buttonwood 

tree (morecommonly known as sycamore) 

on Wall Street in New York 

City where 24 stockbrokers signed an 

agreement establishing the New York 

Stock Exchange. 

Harris has also created several 

sculptures for the town of Cannelton. 

The “Welcome to Historic Cannelton” 

sign is his rendering of the Cannelton 

Cotton Mill, a National Historic 

Landmark. 

The cotton mill, completed in 


1851, was once the largest industrial 

building in the United States 

west of the Allegheny Mountains. It 

closed in 1954 and was restored as 

an apartment complex in 2003. The 

building’s most striking features are 

100-foot twin towers in Romanesque 

style, which are replicated on Harris’s 

sculpture. 

Like many of the structures in 

Cannelton’s historic district, the mill 

features locally quarried honey-colored 

sandstone, a distinctive signature 

of this river town and of Harris’s 

sculpture. 

Perry County’s Veteran’s Park, 

located beside the County Museum 

in downtown Cannelton, is the site 

of one of Harris’s more recent sculptures, 

“Together We Serve.” Made of 

powder-coated steel, Harris designed 

this work as a tribute that recognizes 

the sacrifices, not only of soldiers, 

but of their families. Viewed from 

the front, a soldier with a weapon 

is prominent. Created with a loosefitting 

uniform, the soldier’s gender 

is not recognizable. This soldier is 

flanked by a father and child, which 

can be seen when viewed from the 

side, and a mother and child on the 

other side. The sculpture serves to 

keep the struggles of the entire military 

family alive in our consciousness, 

reminding us that those who 

serve do not serve alone. 

The Daubys, owners of The Blue 

Heron winery who commissioned 

Harris to create the Celtic Cross, also 

commissioned several other sculptures 

by him. Harris created the large 

intarsia doors at the entrance to the 

winery. Made from catalpa, ash and 

sassafras woods, they portray the 

winery’s signature bird. 

Gary Dauby also pointed out an 

incredibly unique sculpture created 

by Harris: a small bronze replica of 

the Celtic Cross, which can be used 

by the blind to “see” the cross. “This 

cross is not cast bronze,” Gary Dauby 

said. “Harris carved it from bronze.” 

Dauby continued, “I have watched 

blind guests at the winery bend over 

this piece intently touching every 

nook and crevice.” 

When asked about his favorite 

project, Harris returns to the Celtic 

Cross as being the most decisive for 

his career, and as holding the most 

personal meaning. “A thousand or 

2,000 years from now, that cross will 

still be standing unless it is destroyed 

for some reason,” Harris said. That 

fact must give him an incredible feeling 

of accomplishment. • 

Top: (clockwise) Carved door at Blue Heron Winery; Carved 

welcome sign for Cannelton; Bronze replica of Celtic Cross.

Welcome Hannah Meador, PT, DPT, to the HCH Therapy Team! 

Iris Wiseman, PT, DPT (left) 

and Hannah Meador, PT, DPT 

The Harrison County Hospital Therapy 

Team welcomes Hannah Meador, PT, DPT. 

Hannah joins a diverse team of therapists 

who offer a variety of outpatient and 

inpatient rehabilitation services using a 

multidisciplinary approach. Our therapists 

are experienced in treating a variety of 

diagnoses to a wide range of patient 

populations using state of the art 

treatment modalities and evidence-based 

strategies. 

Learn more about Hannah and the 

Rehabilitation Services offered at 

Harrison County Hospital by visiting 

www.hchin.org/rehab or by calling 

812-738-7888. 

www.hchin.org 



Holidays In SoIN

Making Gingerbread Memories 

The holiday season is full of traditions, 

but few can rival the sweet memories made 

while baking together. Whether made from 

scratch, or using a store-bought kit, crafting 

a gingerbread house together will create lasting, 

life-long memories. Try these outsidethe-box 

ideas for your next family activity 

this holiday season! 

1. Make a Gingerbread Nativity 

Take a few minutes during the busy 

holiday season and remember the true 

meaning of Christmas. Use graham 

crackers and icing to put together a 

stable. Teddy bear shaped cookies, or 

prepackaged gingerbread men can be 

Mary and Joseph. Animal crackers make 

the perfect sheep and camels for your 

display. 

Need a manger for baby Jesus? Build 

one with candy canes or use a mini 

candy bar. Baby Jesus can be made with 

a round candy wrapped with fruit strips. 

Don’t forget the shepherds and wisemen! 

2. Make a Gingerbread Barn 

Use a gingerbread kit, or graham 

crackers to create a barn. Red and white 

icing is perfect for the holiday theme. 

Add some animal crackers animals, or 

use cookie cutters to make your own 

barn animals. Pretzel sticks make the 

perfect fence. 

Top off your creation with evergreen 

trees made from upside down ice cream 

cones covered with green icing. Don’t 

forget the snow! White icing or coconut 

shavings surrounding your barn will set 

the perfect scene. 

3. Host a Gingerbread House Contest 

Challenge your family and friends to 

a gingerbread house decorating contest! 

Purchase a kit with mini gingerbread 

houses, or prebake some gingerbread 

house pieces for walls and roofs. 

Ask friends and family on social media 

to vote for the best creation, or pick 

an impartial family member or neighbor 

to be the judge. The winner can pick the 

family christmas movie at the end of the 

night. 

4. Design Santa’s House 

Are your young children anxiously 

awaiting Santa? Create Santa with his 

sleigh and reindeer out of Gingerbread. 

Licorice rope is perfect for the reins harnassing 

the reindeer to the sleigh. and 

individual candies can stand in for the 

presents. 

Not ready to stop there? Include 

Santa’s house and a candy cane to complete 

your North Pole. 

5. Recreate Your Own House 

Try your hand as a gingerbread architect! 

Older children and teens will enjoy 

the challenge of recreating your home 

out on gingerbread. 

Pay attention to details. Do you have 

siding or brick? Is there a fireplace or 

front porch? Are there any significant 

trees or bushes? What color is your front 

door? Don’t forget a gingerbread family 

to match your own family! 

6. Create a Gingerbread Fairy House 

Are your little ones a fan of fairies? 

Create a tiny home for their fairy figures 

out of gingerbread. Be creative! You can 

include a pond to ice skate on, and small 

fairy sized bench for sitting, and a sled 

for winter fun! 

If your little ones aren’t a fan of fairies, 

dig around the toy box to find their 

favorite miniature figures, and theme 

your gingerbread house around those. 

Photo credit: FusionStudio / shutterstock.com 

Celebrate the holidays with “Holiday Road”, 

a Christmas devotional by columnist Jason Byerly 

Available 

in paperback and e-book 

at Amazon! 

Holiday Road 

A Christmas Devotional 

Want more? Check out “Tales from the Leaf Pile”, 

also available now at Amazon. 

www.jasonbyerly.com 

JASON BYERLY 

** Excerpt for preview only ** 

i 


Throughout the past several 

years, we as a country and 

people, both nationally and 

worldwide, met with some of 

our most trying times in recent memory, 

and the arduous steps to return 

to a sense of normalcy continues to 

this day. Tragically, businesses many 

locals regarded as staples of their 

communities saw closures; events, 

some recognized as longstanding traditions, 

canceled or indefinitely suspended. 

And of course, our personal 

lives forever changed. Yet, in the wake 

of these trials and tribulations, hope 

continues, and in the eyes of many 

it thrives. And nowhere in Southern 

Indiana is this continual push for renewal 

and progress better seen than 

in Crawford County through tourism, 

hospitality and expansion. 

“In terms of the tourism and 

hospitality outreach, I think we have 

come a long way,” said Michael Thissen, 

executive director of the Crawford 

County Economic Development 

Corporation. With the initial impact 

of COVID-19, Thissen recalled research 

conducted on all 3,200 counties 

in the U.S. on COVID-19’s effect 

on the tourism industry. “The 

only one in our region that was even 

worse was Orange County because 

of the resort,” said Thissen. “Early 

on, we thought that the tourism and 

hospitality industry, which is one of 

the top industries in Crawford and 

the region, was going to take a major 

hit.” Yet, despite this fear coming true 

for some areas in the region, Crawford 

County took a surprising turn. 

“When you talk to some of the 

tourism sites in Crawford, and by extension 

some of the other businesses, 

they’ve been breaking records — attendance 

records and everything,” 

Thissen said. He attributes this in 

large part to the focus on outdoor recreation 

for many of Crawford County’s 

tourism locations. “We took a hit 

in the March and April timeframe, 

but by summer people were dying to 

get out, and what better way than to 

spend time in the open air?” Openair 

recreation is the steadfast theme of 

many of Crawford County’s exciting 

and gorgeous outdoor tourist opportunities. 

Boasting a plethora of fantastic 

options for the outdoors (several 

covered in past issues of SIL), primary 

spots of attraction in Crawford 

County include Patoka Lake, Cave 

Country Canoes, Marengo Cave and 

O’Bannon Woods. At Patoka Lake, 


Around SoIN 

Shown above, left to right: Kaylee Gildersleeve, Crawford County Tourism Office Manager; Michael Thissen, Executive Director, 

Crawford County Economic Development Corporation/President, Crawford County Chamber of Commerce; Mandi 

Elliott, Marketing Coordinator, Crawford County Economic Development Partnership. 

Crawford County: Hope Through Tourism and Hospitality 

Story by Jon Watkins 

Photos by Jerrah Photography 

visitors can encounter numerous activities 

across the “8,800-acre water 

playground” (a majority of which are 

outdoors), such as archery, biking, 

boating, camping, disc golf, hiking, 

fishing, water and winter sports, and 

special events are listed on the Patoka 

Lake website (sometimes multiple 

events transpiring on a single day). 

In another area of Crawford County, 

O’Bannon Woods State Park, “Indiana’s 

newest 3,000-acre state park,” 

offers horse trails, blacksmithing 

demonstrations, fishing, explorations 

into a historic three-story fully-restored 

working hay press, and beautiful 

picnic areas capable of making 

Yogi Bear’s jaw drop. 

However, if you’re more inclined 

to the spelunking side of 

natural wonders, Marengo Cave offers 

some of the most wondrous and 

cavernous (pun intended) cave tours 

available anywhere in the Ohio Valley 

region. Giving tours since 1883, 

the two primary tours (Crystal Palace 

and Dripstone) offer enthralling 

and eye-widening insight into the 

underground beauty beneath our 

very feet in Southern Indiana. Located 

five miles from Marengo Cave is 

Cave County Canoes, residing on the 

sparkling Blue River. Offering trips 

ranging from their Half Day (a twoto-four-hour 

trip) to their Full Day 

(five-to-seven-hour) trips (and even 

a Two-Day trip, which combines both 

the Half Day and Full Day trips), all 

levels of expertise and visitors are 

welcome — including pets! 

These vast arrays of outdoor options 

will enamor any nature enthusiast, 

but Thissen notes that such interests 

appeal to not only tourists but 

also a younger generation. “Young 

professionals who want a weekend 

out — what do they want? Well, maybe 

half the day they want to go canoeing 

and then they want to sip a beer 

and watch the creek go by. Maybe 

they want to go to the Overlook for 

lunch and then go on a hike. We have

Boasting a plethora of 

fantastic options for the 

outdoors, primary spots 

of attraction in Crawford 

County include Patoka 

Lake, Cave Country 

Canoes, Marengo Cave 

and O’Bannon Woods. 

At Patoka Lake, visitors 

can encounter numerous 

activities across the 

“8,800-acre water 

playground” , such as 

archery, biking, boating, 

camping, disc golf, 

hiking, fishing, water and 

winter sports. 

that,” he said. Not wanting to limit 

the county’s focus to only one target 

demographic, Thissen plans to keep 

bringing in a continual expansion of 

the best any region can offer. One of 

the major projects involving this is the 

expansion of the Patoka Lake Winery. 

Offering aged libations to suit 

nearly any palate, Patoka Lake Winery’s 

catalog includes dry, semi-dry, 

semi-sweet, reds, whites and fruit 

wines. These wines are not only 

beautifully stored, but they’re heavily 

decorated in awards, having won silver 

and gold medals in competitions 

such as the Indy International Wine 

Competition, Newburgh Jazz & Wine 

Festival and the Indiana Wine Fair. 

With a tasting room open daily to 

the public, the winery features wines 

and wine slushies (and select meats, 

cheeses or chocolates) that visitors 

can enjoy at their leisure. Current 

flavors of wine slushies on tap during 

October include Pumpkin Spice 

Latte, Frozen Hot Chocolate, Salted 

Caramel and Apple Cider. While sipping 

on delectable drinks, note that 

the winery ships products to over 30 

states, so if you find something you 

enjoy, feel free to inquire about enjoying 

the product even after your visit 

through shipping or purchase at the 

gift shop. 

And if you’re enjoying your visit 

to the winery immensely (which you 

surely will), they have several options 

available for overnight stays. One of 

the options resides within one of the 

two large silo structures on the premises. 

These structures house unique 

suites offering Jacuzzi tubs, fully 

furnished kitchens and dining areas. 

There are also winery suites available 

above the Tasting Room, and nearby 

on the Patoka Lake Marina floating 

cabins are also available as options 

for rental. Regardless of your desired 

approach to relaxation, the winery 

(along with a cascade of outdoor locations) 

is certain to be able to meet 

your needs. 

There is no doubt that together 

we can overcome the events of the 

recent past, and Crawford County 

stands as a testament to the power 

the strength of community and adaption 

bring in combination to weather 

the storm of change. Their hospitality 

and tourism industry not only brings 

stunning sights, but they bring something 

we need more than ever: hope.• 

Let us HeLp protect Your dreAms. 

Brandon Stevens, Sales Specialist 

- All Lines 

Mark R Stevens Agency LLC 

2066 Old Highway 135 Nw 


Bus: (812) 734-0612 

Mark Stevens, Agent 

Mark R Stevens Agency LLC 

Bus: (812) 283-8600 

2940 Holmans Ln Ste C 

Jeffersonville, IN 47130 

mstevens@amfam.com 

Home | Auto | Life | Business | fArm & rAncH 

24-Hour cLAims reporting & customer service 1-800-mYAmfAm (692-6326) 

AmfAm.com 

American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. and Its Operating Companies, American Family Insurance Company, American Family Life Insurance Company, 6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783 

010996 – Rev. 7/17 ©2015 – 12075955 


TIRES 

WHEELS 

BRAKES 

SHOCKS, ALIGNMENTS 

812-347-3134 

1529 Hwy. 64 NW 

Ramsey, IN 47166 

1-800-847-0770 

Fax: 812-347-2166 

www.vanwinkleservice.com 

Theresa J Lamb Ins Agency Inc 

Theresa Lamb, Agent 

1523 State Street 

New Albany, IN 47150 

Bus: 812-945-8088 

1001174.1 

Talk to your 

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State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company 

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Enjoy the holidays ...in historic Washington County 

Cookie Walk around the Courthouse Square 

December 4th • 1:00PM-4:00PM 

Courthouse Square, Salem 

Purchase a bag for $5 then stroll the shops on the 

Square and get your bag filled with delicious cookies, 

and get some Christmas shopping done too! 

Stick around for the annual Christmas Parade around 

the Square that evening and visit with Santa to tell 

him all your Christmas wishes! 

Contact us at: 

www.washingtoncountytourism.com 

or call 812-883-4303 to plan your trip! 


Ihaven’t always been a dietitian, but 

as long as I can remember I’ve been 

a lover of food. This love most certainly 

all started with one of the greatest 

cooks of all time, Juanita Watson, my 

grandmother, who we lovingly knew 

as Neno. Sometimes if I close my eyes, I 

can still feel the carpet beneath my feet 

at her old house in Frankfort, Kentucky. 

Next to the kitchen would have been the 

most beautifully set dining table finished 

with a white tablecloth, embroidered napkins, 

festive decorations and candles my 

brother was begging to light. Among the 

most alluring memories were the smells 

wafting out of the kitchen. If you peeked 

inside, you would have found a petite 

gray-haired lady whipping up the most 

delicious Sunday “feast” — what I called 

it as a child. 

Neno not only cooked for three children 

of her own, but in her heyday ran a 

mom-and-pop restaurant called Capital 

View in Frankfort. Some of my favorite 

dishes of hers, though not complex, were 

homemade pimento cheese, vegetable 

soup, tomato ketchup relish and scrambled 

eggs. Twenty-nine years with Neno 

was not quite long enough, but during 

this time I learned lessons about both food 

and life. 

One Sunday morning, my local 

priest was giving a sermon and stated, 

“Goodness takes time.” My grandmother’s 

patience still resonates with me to 

this day. When she made scrambled eggs, 

she would turn the burner on the lowest 

possible setting, stirring the eggs for what 

seemed like 45 minutes. Each bite of egg 

made you want to close your eyes, take 

a deep breath and just enjoy the morning. 

And the tomato ketchup relish? That 

was a 12-14-hour affair in the garage involving 

a burner, a giant pot and a large 

wooden spoon that Neno stirred with all 

day long. The result was a magic sauce 

that was good on nearly any savory dish! 

In today’s hustle and bustle, we forget 

how meaningful making a meal can be. 

The simple ceremony of cutting up ingredients, 

adding spices and a little bit of heat 

is therapeutic and meditative. The mindfulness 

of planning and preparing a meal 

benefits the mind, body and soul. 

Neno was notorious for never sitting 

down during a meal. She was always 

up making sure rolls were hot out of the 

oven, refilling water glasses, or getting 

someone second portions of their favorite 

dish. My aunt, her daughter and a retired 

registered dietitian, recounted how much 

my grandmother found joy in nourishing 

others. “It gave her physical strength,” 

my aunt said. Her home cooking was 

how she expressed her love to those dearest 

to her. Cooking a meal for loved ones 

Real Life Nutrition 

It’s Called Comfort Food for a Reason 

Next to the kitchen would have been the most 

beautifully set dining table finished with a white 

tablecloth, embroidered napkins, festive decorations 

and candles my brother was up the most delicious 

Sunday “feast” — what I called it as a child. 

can not only physically sustain them but 

create long lasting memories that comfort 

you for a lifetime. For my aunt, there was 

nothing better than a fresh cup of boiled 

custard. One sip and she’s instantly back 

home. “It’s called comfort food for a reason,” 

she said. 

I must admit, my table has never 

quite looked as inviting as Neno’s with 

a 2-year-old and a 9-year-old of my own. 

Even with all the griping from the prenager 

and crying from the toddler that 

follows, my husband and I encourage 

the family to eat together most evenings. 

Meals are time to genuinely connect, 

build relationships and strengthen bonds. 

Our family meals are far from perfect, but 

eventually this consistent practice produces 

positive outcomes. Some studies 

suggest that eating together as a family 

teaches kids better eating habits, increases 

self-esteem and improves communication. 

The kitchen table may be the most 

important piece of furniture in your home. 

Though we painfully lost my grandmother 

the day before Thanksgiving in 

2017, her love continues to shine brightly. 

This holiday season, whether you are enjoying 

your own family traditions or perhaps 

starting your own, my advice is to 

enjoy the day. Relish the process of making 

the fancy dish and soak in the smiles 

on the faces of those you feed it to. Know 

that you’re not only filling a hungry belly, 

but maybe a hungry soul. Sit at your table, 

break bread and find a little Neno in you.• 

In loving memory of Juanita Watson, 1919-2017. 

Caitlin Tennyson, RD, CD, is the Lead Clinical 

Dietitian at Baptist Health Floyd in New 

Albany. She graduated from Western Kentucky 

University and completed her internship in 

Sarasota, Florida. Although she has practiced 

in a variety of settings in the past 10 years, she 

finds the most joy in clinical nutrition applying 

evidence-based practices to improve patient 

care. In her spare time, she loves being creative 

in the kitchen and trying new foods at local 

restaurants 


Pick up your copy every week in over 50 

businesses in Harrison & Floyd counties! 

passing down family 

passions and traditions 

is important... 

www.LaffWorx.com 

It takes more than a yard 

sign to bring buyers and 

sellers together. 

Let me be your 

Real Estate Agent. 

Suzie David 

812-961-8646 

sdavidc21@gmail.com 

Suzie.David@century21.com 

September 27, 2021 

10years 

Serving Crawford and 

Surrounding Counties 

Century 21 Champion 

2072 Old Hwy 135NW 


812-738-8211 Office • 812-738-2207 Fax 

and so is passing on the value of 

GIVING BACK. 

Your family’s traditions and passions are 

unique. They shape who you are, what you 

find important and they are what makes 

your family special. 

The Community Foundation of Southern 

Indiana partners with individuals and 

families who want to pass on their passions 

and values so that future generations of family 

members learn the importance of giving back 

and helping their community. Your individual 

or family fund can support your favorite cause, 

nonprofit, church or alma mater - whatever is 

most important to you. If you want to learn 

how to involve your family in giving back while 

supporting your favorite causes, call us. We’d 

be honored to serve as your charitable partner 

and steward. 

SCHOLARSHIPS, DONOR ADVISED FUNDS, 

FAMILY FUNDS, GIFTS FROM WILLS & ESTATES 

(812) 948-4662 www.cfsouthernindiana.com 


With every 20 oz drink purchase 

in December, we will donate 

10% to the Salvation Army 

Angel Tree program. 

KentJava Bar 

110 E. Chestnut St., Corydon, IN 

812-736-0032 

KentJavabar.square.site 

Open Mon–Thu: 7a - 6p • Fri: 7a–8p 

Sat: 8a–8p • Sun: 8a–4p 

Holiday hours: 

Thanksgiving Day–Closed 

Christmas Eve 7a to 4p 

Christmas Day & New Years Day–Closed 

New Years Eve–Regular Hours 

We are THANKFUL! 

During this season of harvest and special gatherings, 

let us all remember to be thankful. 

If you have been blessed and want to give back, 

contact us. We would be honored to assist 

you with your charitable goals. 

Agricultural Products 

Anonymous Giving 

Cash, Check, Charge, Online 

Estate Planning 

IRA / Retirement Fund Distributions 

Real Estate 

Securities/Stock 

4030 E Goodman Ridge Rd, Box D, Marengo, IN 47140 | (812) 365-2900 | www.cf-cc.org 


2022 

www.selectcrawfordcounty.com 


Check Us Out For All Your 

Holiday Needs. 

We Carry a Wide Selection of Furniture, 

Housewares, Toys, Clothing and MORE! 

www.tkwholesalecorydon.com 

We buy it by the truckload 

and pass the savings on to you. 

Check out our Facebook page at TK Wholesale 

or Instagram at tkwholesalein 

It’s Time! 

Senior Care 

Reimagined 

With COVID-19 VACCINATION rates increasing 

and local county rates of infection decreasing, 

it’s time to consider our safe, person-centered, 

wellness-based Senior Care for your loved one. 

CLARKSVILLE 

Clark Rehabilitation & 

Skilled Nursing Center 

517 N. Little League Blvd. 

Riverview Village 

586 Eastern Blvd. 

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203 Sparks Ave. 

LEAVENWORTH 

Todd-Dickey 

Nursing & 

Rehabilitation 

712 W. 2nd St. 

AREA LOCATIONS: 

SALEM 

Meadow View Health 

& Rehabilitation 

900 Anson St. 

Salem Crossing 

200 Connie Ave. 

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Lake Pointe Village 

545 W. Moonglo Rd. 

VEVAY 

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& Rehabilitation 

1023 W. Main St. 

Care Coordination Center 

888-996-8272 

ASCCare.com 


Everyday Adventures 

DIY Nativity 

Our church’s Children’s Ministry 

needed a manger for baby Jesus 

for an upcoming Bible story. 

Unfortunately, we didn’t have 

much money to spend on it. We looked 

online, hoping we could find a deal, but 

mangers are pricey these days, so I volunteered 

to throw one together. My version 

might not be awesome, but at least it 

would be free. 

I’d never built a manger before, but 

I figured how hard could it be? It’s basically 

a wooden box with legs. Easy peasy, 

I’d never built a manger 

before, but I figured 

how hard could it be? 

It’s basically a wooden 

box with legs. Easy 

peasy, right? I had 

a pile of scrap wood 

sitting behind my shed 

and a nail gun in my 

garage. Give me an 

hour and I’d knock this 

thing out. 

around the cord had been gouged, exposing 

bare wire. That’s generally not good, 

but this was a rush job so I slapped some 

electrical tape on it and pressed on. 

Then I realized my miter saw was off 

square. That meant that all the angles I 

had cut for the legs and end pieces were 

wonky. Instead of everything fitting together 

nice and pretty, I had to finagle it to 

make it look even halfway decent. 

After that, things went from bad to 

worse. I was planning on using my nail 

gun to put most of it together, but needed 

how hard I tried I just couldn’t keep the 

nails out of the manger. 

And that’s when it hit me. That’s 

what Bethlehem was all about. The manger 

and the nails go hand in hand. 

No matter how sweet and pretty we 

try to make the Christmas story, it’s just 

not. The manger wasn’t built for a baby. It 

was built for livestock. It wasn’t a setting 

for a Christmas pageant. It was the set up 

for the cross. 

I realized my manger was just about 

right. Jesus didn’t come into a perfect 

right? I had a pile of scrap wood sitting 

behind my shed and a nail gun in my garage. 

Give me an hour and I’d knock this 

thing out. 

Unfortunately I didn’t have an 

hour. My family was off for the week for 

fall break, and we’d been running every 

second. We threw a birthday party, ran 

to the pumpkin patch, took the kids ice 

skating and hosted a sleep-over, and for 

some reason my wife didn’t want me to 

be running the table saw in the backyard 

while my daughter and her friends were 

playing badminton and making s’mores. 

Go figure. 

I finally managed to grab some time 

one afternoon in between all of our staycation 

activities. Because I was in a hurry, 

I just Googled “manger blueprints” and 

grabbed the first thing that came up. It 

looked simple enough. 

Of course, once I actually started 

building it, that’s when everything went 

wrong. First up was my miter saw. When 

I went to plug it in, I saw the insulation 


to attach a couple of pieces with screws because 

the nails wouldn’t be long enough. 

That wasn’t a problem for the screws. 

They were way too long and popped out 

the other side. Not cool. 

I was running out of time, and this 

project was going downhill fast. I was 

starting to feel the pressure now. I mean 

this was the manger we were talking 

about here. This was the crib for the King 

of Kings, the Savior of the world, God in 

the flesh. I was hoping it wouldn’t look 

like total junk. 

Worst of all, the boards were narrow 

so I had a terrible time nailing them 

together. I didn’t have clamps or anyone 

to help me so I was trying to line up the 

wood and use the nail gun at the same 

time. The result? Several of the nails shot 

through the side of the boards and stuck 

out inside the manger. Not exactly what 

you want in a baby crib. 

At this point I was really frustrated. 

I took it apart, pulled the nails out with 

pliers and started again, but no matter 

world to congratulate us on a job well 

done. He came into our mess, into our 

mistakes, into our pile of junk, to offer us 

grace and show us the way home. 

So this Christmas, if you have things 

in your life that feel more like a DIY fail 

than a picture-perfect success, remember 

that Jesus is right at home in the middle of 

your mess. In fact, it’s where He does His 

best work. • 

Photo credit: Gino Santa Maria / shutterstock.com 

Jason Byerly is a writer, pastor, husband and 

dad who loves the quirky surprises God sends 

his way every day. You can read more from 

Jason in his books Tales from the Leaf Pile and 

Holiday Road. You can catch up with Jason on 

his blog at www.jasonbyerly.com.


Put smoking behind him. 

May be at risk for lung cancer. 

REGULAR EXERCISE, PROPER DIET AND QUITTING SMOKING ARE EXCELLENT WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR 

HEALTH AND REDUCE YOUR RISK FOR CANCER. But one of the healthiest things you can do is know your risk. 

At Baptist Health Floyd, we offer online assessments that can give you a quick snapshot of your risk level, along with 

recommendations for prevention tips, screenings and follow-up appointments if needed. It’s how we provide worldclass 

care, even before you need it. Take an online assessment today at BaptistHealth.com/CancerRisk. 

Corbin | Floyd | Hardin | La Grange | Lexington | Louisville | Madisonville | Paducah | Richmond 

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