Southern Indiana Living Magazine - November / December 2023

Local Artist: Impressionist Painter Kit Miracle 

Southern 

Indiana 

Nov / Dec 2023 

Living 

Merry & Bright Treats 

@ Jeffersonville’s Sweets by Morgan

Celebrate the moments 

that matter most. 

Having a serious illness isn’t a choice, how you decide to live your life is. At Hosparus Health, 

we’ve spent the past 45 years empowering patients and families to create more moments with 

the ones they love. Our expert team can provide the care and support you need to enhance 

your quality of life throughout your illness. To see how we can help you live life to the fullest, 

call 1-800-HOSPICE or visit HosparusHealth.org. 

2 • Nov/Dec 2023 • Southern Indiana Living

Southern Indiana Living • Nov/Dec 2023 • 3

101 E. Chestnut St. | Corydon, IN 

(812) 738-3853 | capitolinc18@gmail.com 

Without You, We Do Not Exist! 

Classic, Elegant Products | Independent, Quality Service 

Make a memorable Thanksgiving 

with family and friends. 

Start this holiday shopping season with us. 

Give the people on your list a 

dazzling New Year. 

We Hope Everyone Who Walks Through the Door Knows Our Appreciation! 

Black Friday is November 24th. 

Request a custom order consultation and research. 

Or, you can never go wrong with a gift card. 


Southern 

Indiana 

Living 

NOV / DEC 2023 

VOL. 16, ISSUE 6 

PUBLISHER | 

Karen Hanger 

karen@silivingmag.com 

LAYOUT & DESIGN | 

Christy Byerly 

christy@silivingmag.com 

COPY EDITOR | 

Jennifer Cash 

COPY EDITOR | 

Sara Combs 

ADVERTISING | 

Take advantage of prime 

advertising space. Call us at 

812-989-8871 or e-mail 

karen@silivingmag.com or 

jeremyflanigan@silivingmag.com 

SUBSCRIPTIONS | 

$25/year, Mail to: Southern 

Indiana Living, P.O. Box 145, 

Marengo, IN 47140 

Contact SIL 

P.O. Box 145 


812.989.8871 

karen@silivingmag.com 

ON THE COVER: 

Sweets by Morgan, Jeffersonville, 

IN // Photo by 

Michelle Hockman 

12 

27 

Featured Stories 

12 | MERRY & BRIGHT TREATS 

Jeffersonville’s Sweets by Morgan 

18 | A PAINTED WORLD 

Local Impressionist Kit Miracle 

22 | CHRISTMAS MEMORIES 

Looking back at Christmases long ago 

Southern Indiana Living 

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2023 

Check out more 

features and stories 

at www.silivingmag.com 

Southern Indiana Living is 

published bimonthly by SIL 

Publishing Co. LLC, P.O. Box 

145, Marengo, Ind. 47140. Any 

views expressed in any advertisement, 

signed letter, article, 

or photograph are those of 

the author and do not necessarily 

reflect the position of 

Southern Indiana Living or its 

parent company. Copyright © 

2018 SIL Publishing Co. LLC. 

No part of this publication 

may be reproduced in any 

form without written permission 

from SIL Publishing Co. 

LLC. 

14 

In Every Issue 

7 | FLASHBACK 

Christmas Shopping, Corydon, IN, 1907 

11 | A NOTE TO BABY BOOMERS 

Not Way Back Yet 

27 | REAL LIFE NUTRITION 

The Super Benefits of Soup 

28 | EVERYDAY ADVENTURES 

A Game of Truth & Grace 


Celebrate the Holidays in Crawford County: A Winter Wonderland 

As the air turns crisp and the leaves transform into 

a mesmerizing palette of gold and crimson, there’s no 

better time to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday 

life and immerse yourself in the serene beauty of 

Crawford County. Nestled in the heart of Indiana, this 

hidden gem offers a unique blend of natural wonders 

and cozy retreats, making it an ideal destination for 

spending Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

Scenic Winter Hikes 

One of the crown jewels of Crawford County is Hemlock 

Cliffs. This enchanting trail takes you through a 

dense forest of ancient hemlock trees, their branches 

dusted with snow, creating a magical winter wonderland. 

As you traverse the winding paths, you’ll be 

greeted by the soothing sounds of trickling streams 

and the crisp scent of pine, providing the perfect backdrop 

for contemplation and reflection. 

For those seeking even more adventure, Yellow Birch 

Ravine boasts a different kind of winter spectacle. This 

trail leads to spectacular frozen waterfalls, transforming 

the landscape into a scene straight out of a fairy 

tale. The frozen cascades create a surreal, ethereal 

atmosphere, and the icy formations add a touch of 

mystery and allure to this natural wonder. 

Cozy Cabin Retreats 

After a day of invigorating hikes, there’s nothing 

quite like returning to a warm, inviting cabin. Picture 

yourself snuggled up in front of a crackling fire, a mug 

of steaming hot cocoa in hand, while the snow gently 

falls outside. Crawford County is dotted with charming 

cabins that offer all the comforts of home, making 

it the perfect setting for creating cherished holiday 

memories. 

Thanksgiving in a Family-Friendly Cabin 

Gather your loved ones and host a Thanksgiving 

celebration in a family-friendly cabin in Crawford 

County. These cabins are thoughtfully designed to 

accommodate large gatherings, providing ample 

space for shared meals and quality time together. 

With fully equipped kitchens, you can prepare a traditional 

feast or opt for a catered experience, ensuring 

a stress-free holiday celebration. 

Christmas Gift Certificates for Cozy Cabin Stays 

Looking for the perfect gift this Christmas? Consider 

giving the gift of a cozy cabin stay in Crawford 

County. Whether for a romantic getaway or a family 

retreat, these cabins offer a unique and memorable 

experience. With a range of options to choose from, 

you can select the ideal cabin to suit the preferences 

and needs of your loved ones. 

Adventure Gift Certificates for the Whole Family 

For those who crave outdoor excitement, Crawford 

County has plenty to offer. Gift certificates for experiences 

like Cave Country Canoes and Marengo Cave 

provide opportunities for thrilling adventures amidst 

the region’s stunning natural beauty. From exploring 

underground wonders to paddling along tranquil 

rivers, these experiences promise lasting memories 

and a deep connection with the great outdoors. 

This holiday season, consider escaping to Crawford 

County for a magical blend of scenic beauty, outdoor 

adventures, and cozy cabin retreats. 

Crawford County Recreation & Tourism 

5935 S State Road 66, English, IN 47118, 812-739-2246, info@crawfordcountyindiana.com 

Plan your next adventure: COMETOCRAWFORD.COM 


Flashback Photo 

Christmas Shopping 

Corydon, Indiana 

1907 

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

Christmas shopping might have looked a little bit different in 1907. This image, taken in the millinery department at Griffin’s 

Dry Goods Store in Corydon, gives us a glimpse of a local store over a century ago. Library records reveal the history behind 

store and it’s owners: 

“Olive Griffin had studied the millinery trade as a young woman and designed and sold hats at her family’s store for over sixty 

years. Seen in the photo, left to right, are Charlotte (“Lottie”) Rupp, Olive Griffin, Margaret Griffin, and reflected in the mirror, 

Mary Jane Griffin. The little girl in front is Sarah Katherine O’Connor, daughter of Ed and Melissa Wright O’Connor. 

Charlotte Rupp came to Corydon in 1906 to work in Griffin’s millinery department. Eventually, a courtship developed between 

her and Maurice Griffin, Helen and Patrick’s eldest son. Charlotte and Maurice were married in July 1909. Griffin’s store 

continued to operate on the square in Corydon until 1983.” 


Take Time 

for Yourself 

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Many women put off having a screening mammogram because they feel 

they don’t have the time. A 3D mammogram only takes about 

30 minutes at our Jeffersonville or Sellersburg locations. 

Take time and schedule today. 

(812) 283-2405 

To learn more, visit NortonClarkHospital.com. 


Discover What Makes 

Washington County a 

Great 

Destination! 

• November 25: 

Small Business Saturday with a Cookie 

Walk and pictures with Santa sponsored 

by Washington County Chamber. Visit 

their website for more information. 

• December 2: 

Carriage Rides, 3:00-7:00 pm 

Sponsored by the City of Salem. 


Polar Express movie at The Depot. Visit 

their website for more information. 


Christmas Parade at 6:00 pm. 

City of Salem. Visit their website for 

more information. 

Contact us at: www.washingtoncountytourism.com or call 812-883-4303 

New Seasons 

Bring 

New Opportunities. 

C O N T A C T U S T O L E A R N M O R E . 

(812) 365-2900 

4030 E Goodman Rdg Rd, Box D 


charbeson@cf-cc.org 


WE BUY 

AND SELL 

TREASURES! 

101 N. Mulberry St. • Corydon, IN • 812-736-3040 


Not Way Back Yet 

A Note to Baby Boomers 

A 

local public pool needs 

replacing. The thing was 

built way back in 1967. 

Way back. 

That’s how the parks guy put 

it. 

He and I are way off about 

way back. Way back means Magellan 

and Columbus, or at least Lewis 

and Clark. No way can way back be 

remembered as vividly as I remember 

1967. 

Way back is Washington and 

Lincoln; not me and perhaps you. 

Way back is for history books not 

for school yearbooks. Way back is 

when our grandparents’ grandparents 

lived. Way back is before 

any TV, any car with seat belts, any 

Hamburger Helper. 

Way back is before Ban-Lon 

clothes. What was my dad thinking? 

No one living lived way back, 

right? Or is it my wishful thinking 

that needs tuning? If 1967 truly is 

way back, then I must be beyond 

way back. Could invalid be around 

the corner? 

I may not be much, but I am 

not finished. 

I do not feel 14, of course, my 

age in 1967. I usually feel more 14, 

though, than I feel 114. Like that 

swimming pool, I have seen better 

days. Yet I still see good days, plenty 

of reasons to look ahead. 

1967 was a good year. Maybe 

2024 will be better. For my grandkids’ 

grandkids, 2024 might prove 

their way back. The challenge for 

me — like for you, I figure — is to 

define old our way. 

The 1960s were my time to figure 

out high school and girls and 

driving. I marched in the school 

band, a skill that led to nothing. I 

wrote love letters — best in town, 

I claim — a skill that led to a career 

with words but to nowhere near 

enough second dates. 

A nerd who knows his way 

around drippy adjectives is still a 

nerd, after all. 

The 1960s were America’s time 

to figure out civil rights and Vietnam 

and the Beatles. Leaders were 

assassinated. An astronaut walked 

on the moon. Older-than-me young 

people had the time of their lives at 

Woodstock. 

No decade compares, at least 

no decade not way back. 

Way back, I mean really, really 

way back, people killed each other 

for no good reason. Opponents preferred 

being enemies. Those who 

survived all that hatred often died 

from one plague or another. Thank 

goodness history does not repeat 

itself. 

Or does it? 

So, I give up figuring the 

quantity of my life. I focus on quality, 

on having a good reason to get 

up tomorrow and a still-better one 

the day after tomorrow. I eat lunch 

with friends. I read, both to learn 

and to laugh. I exercise. I can enjoy 

a really deep breath as much as a 

really cold beer. I scratch our dog’s 

ears. I’d scratch my wife’s, as well, 

but she’s even busier. 

I stopped trying way back to 

keep up with her. 

People seem hypnotized by 

their cellphones. I am thankful not 

to be one of those people. I borrow 

the term fake fun as a good way to 

describe this bad fixation. 

Real fun rules unless the bungee 

cord snaps. Real fun is walking 

around the block, watching a 

granddaughter’s volleyball game, 

planning the next vacation. Real 

fun is getting to know a new neighbor 

or an old one. Real fun is shopping 

at mom-and-pop stores and 

volunteering at a soup kitchen or a 

school. Say hi to more people today 

than you did yesterday. The foundation 

of real fun is making relationships 

and improving them. 

Real fun entails keeping our 

phones in a pocket or a purse for 

about 10 times longer than we well 

want. The latest Costco ad will just 

have to wait. 

Oh, and try to go a whole week 

without taking a photo of yourself. 

I predict you will survive. 

I both rely on new and resist it. 

My car is better; so are the TV and 

the mattress. Few clothes need ironing; 

lunch heats up in a veritable 

snap in the air fryer. 

Then again, my insurance 

agent is now in Evansville, not in a 

nearby pew at church. My cable bill 

is higher than my parents’ house 

payment was. 

Alexa expects me to pay extra 

if I hope to listen to John Mellencamp 

until next Tuesday. 

I live in the house in which I 

grew up. That alone defines me as 

more obsolete than any swimming 

pool. Alongside the home is a mulberry 

tree that’s been there still longer. 

During one of last summer’s 

The 1960s were my time to figure out high 

school and girls and driving. I marched in 

the school band, a skill that led to nothing. I 

wrote love letters — best in town, I claim — a 

skill that led to a career with words but to 

nowhere near enough second dates. 

storms, a bigger-than-big chunk of 

the tree fell. 

To part with the rest would be 

like parting with a member of the 

family. Wounded, looking weird 

and worn, it remains alongside a 

bedraggled cedar perhaps also on 

its second century. 

In 1967, the TV repairman 

became a family friend. The bank 

president knew us well, like the 

man who pumped ethyl gasoline 

into our Chevy and the owner of 

the supermarket did. Errand time 

was catching-up time. Nobody acted 

too busy to care. 

Why did life like that prove as 

replaceable as a pool? I recall 1967 

as a mostly happy time without 

Facebook or DoorDash or Carvana. 

1967 has been quite a while 

ago, I concede. But only someday 

will it be way back..• 

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 


Cover Story 

Morgan Coomer was born 

with the restaurant business 

in her blood. Her 

grandparents owned 

Ann’s by the River in Jeffersonville 

and her great-grandma was always 

involving her in some sort of cooking 

project. 

“My dad would let me go to 

the grocery and pick out any ingredients 

I wanted and then make the 

recipe,” she said. 

Morgan said she credits these 

early experiences for her creativity. 

“I just had to clean up the 

mess,” she said, laughing. 

Before pursuing her own 

dreams in the baking business, 

Morgan said she was unsure what 

she wanted to do. 

“I wanted to do something 

creative and do something I enjoy 

every single day,” she said. 

She started working out of her 

grandparents’ restaurant and making 

desserts. One customer was so 

in love with her chocolate cake, he 

not only suggested her opening a 

bakery, but he helped to make it 

happen. 

“He’s kind of like an angel 

investor,” she said. “He still gets 

chocolate cake.” 

Morgan found the space and 

opened in the arts and culture district 

of downtown Jeff in October 

2014. With a little over 500 square 

feet, they pack a ton of sweet into 

the space. 

“We do cupcakes, custom 

cakes, we’re known for our cinnamon 

rolls,” she said. “We do cookies, 

caramel apples and all kinds of 

sweet treats.” 

The shop has a display case in 

the store that always has cupcakes, 

cake pops, cookies and cinnamon 

rolls for sale every day, but Morgan 

said the flavors of those items are 

ever changing. 

“The day to day is what I love. 

I could go in there and make anything 

I want,” she said. “So, it’s really 

fun just being able to create.” 

Sweets by Morgan also does 

custom orders — anything from 

corporate events to birthday parties. 

Their orders usually run a 

week or two out from event date, 

but Morgan said it never hurts to 

ask to see if they can fit something 

in. 

All of the orders are done online 

at sweetsbymorgan.com. 

“After Covid, we switched 

12 • Nov/Dec 2023 • Southern Indiana Living 

Merry & Bright Holiday Treats 

Local holiday treats from Sweets by Morgan in Jeffersonville 

Story by Darian Decker 

Photos by Michelle Hockman Photography

“The day to day is what I love. I could go in there and make 

anything I want. So, it’s really fun just being able to create.” 

- Morgan Coomer 

Owner of Sweets with Morgan 


This is 

beauty 

OBANON STATE PARK 

INDIANA CAVERNS 

ZIMMERMAN ART GLASS 

Whether it’s strolling down the sidewalks 

of a uniquely Indiana town or planning an 

indoor adventure, there’s no better place 

to enjoy the magic of the seasons than 

Corydon and Harrison County, Indiana. 

LIGHT UP CORYDON 

To learn more, visit ThisIsIndiana.org 


Some of their most popular seasonal items include pumpkin rolls, pies and 

cinnamon rolls. Many of the pies are Morgan’s great-grandmother’s recipes 

and the cinnamon rolls can either be made fresh or take and bake. 

that process, and it’s made it a 

lot easier for us for it to be digital 

now,” she said. 

They also have cookie decorating 

kits that can be purchased or 

customized, such as holiday, superheroes 

or other themes. 

For Morgan, her favorite thing 

if she had to pick something to eat 

would be their key lime pie. 

“Ours is so good,” she said. 

“As far as being able to make up 

crazy flavors, the cupcakes are a lot 

of fun, because there are unlimited 

options of flavors to choose from.” 

The holidays are a fun time of 

year for Morgan and the shop as 

they are able to be even more creative 

with flavors and busy with 

holiday orders. 

Some of their most popular 

seasonal items include pumpkin 

rolls, pies and cinnamon rolls. 

Many of the pies are Morgan’s 

great-grandmother’s recipes and 

the cinnamon rolls can either be 

made fresh or take and bake. 

As far as the biggest challenge 

Morgan has faced in running a successful 

business, she said she does 

wish she had taken a couple of 

business classes when starting out. 

“Getting up and going was 

the hardest thing, and it was just a 

blank space, so we literally had an 

empty room we had to make a commercial 

kitchen,” she said. “It was 

definitely a struggle the first couple 

of years. There’s so much that goes 

on behind the scenes that you just 

don’t think of.” 

Morgan said the shop benefits 

from the local creativity and a great 

group of local businesses. 

“My grandparents’ restaurant 

was down there, so I’ve been in the 

area for almost 30 years now,” she 

said. “To see it from what it was 

where no one was down there on 

the weekends to now — there’s so 

much more hustle and bustle.” 

Now that Morgan is nine years 

in, she hopes people continue having 

positive experiences at the shop. 

“I feel like we have a great 

team and great customers so being 

able to just build an environment — 

it’s a really good space,” she said. 

“We try to treat everybody like 

they’re our friend.” 

Most recently, Sweets by Morgan 

won first place in Taste of Jeff. 

The shop also won in 2018, 2019 

and 2022. It was also recognized as 

the best dessert in Clark County, Indiana, 

in 2021 and 2022 and the best 

specialty cake in 2022. 

Don’t pass up this local gem. 

Stop by the shop Tuesday to Friday 

from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. or Saturday 

from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. • 

For more information or to place an order, 

visit their website at sweetsbymorgan.com. 


Building a Path to 

Wellness 

Personal Counseling Services (PCS) honored four outstanding winners this year and 

nominees at the 15th Annual Norman Melhiser Samaritan Awards Gala. The Awards 

Gala was hosted at Huber’s Winery Plantation Hall on Thursday, August 17, 2023, 

with Emcee, Dawne Gee, and entertainment provided by Jamey Aebersold Jazz. 

Our award winners and nominees all strive to make our communities healthier and a 

better place to live. Much like them, PCS strives to provide quality client-centered 

mental health and addiction services that are accessible and affordable regardless 

of the individual’s ability to pay. With your support, last year PCS served nearly 

15,000 individuals. 

Thank you to our Sponsors! 

Les & Virginia Albro’s Family 

Drue & Ron Thompson 

First Harrison Bank 

Jamey Aebersold 

PC Home Center 

Aebersold Florist 

Southern Indiana Living Magazine 

Underproduction Multimedia 

Chris & Charity Drake, Photographers 

Todd Coleman, Auctioneer & Classic Furniture Owner 

Budget Printing Center 

Gala Team 


CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 

AWARD WINNERS! 

Les & Virginia Albro 

For-Profit Business Award 

Arnold Painting 

John & Nancy Keck 

Non-Profit Award 

Savannah Smiles 

Foundation 

Alice & Richard Schleicher 

Individual Award 

Doug Bentfield 

Diana Fischer 

First Responder/Healthcare Award 

Brandon Skaggs 


Artist Spotlight 

The 90-acre farm of contemporary 

Impressionist painter, 

Kit Miracle, and her husband 

is set amidst a tapestry 

of pasture, wooded hills, cropland, 

tree-lined lanes and rolling farmsteads 

in western Crawford County. 

The area abounds in vintage 

country scenes that Miracle has often 

painted: bales of hay in an open 

field, men cutting firewood beside 

an old red farm truck, a boy looking 

for frogs in a pond – all part of the 

artist’s daily surroundings. 

“I have been driving, biking, 

and walking across this neighborhood 

for 35 years,” Miracle said. 

“These familiar scenes exert their 

power, calling me to capture some 

impression, some moment that reveals 

a bigger story, or some deep 

truth about living in the country.” 

Miracle and her husband live 

in a 130-year-old farmhouse. Her 

studio was once the summer kitchen, 

a separate outbuilding used by 

families to cook during the warmer 

months – a way to survive the heat 

before the advent of air conditioning. 

The couple are retired and 

don’t actually farm – except for 

growing extensive gardens – but 

they do rent their fields to neighboring 

farmers. 

Miracle’s painting, Night 

Reaper, depicts one of these renters 

harvesting corn at night, and 

captures one of those moments that 

conveys a bigger story. 

“I took the reference photos 

for this painting sneaking around at 

1:00 in the morning,” Miracle said. 

“The farmers will work all night if 

they need to get the corn in before 

it rains.” 

In the painting, the fiery white 

lights of the combine transform the 

corn stalks into flames, while the 

corn dust – stirred up by the eerie 

machine – becomes a dreamy blue 

cloud of smoke. Like paintings 

of the French Impressionists, this 

painting celebrates the ability of 

light to alter our perception of color 

and shape. 

Another feature of Miracle’s 

Impressionist style is her use of visible 

brushstrokes that look like paint 

swirls or blobs when examined up 

close. This loose brushwork gives 

the effect of spontaneity and effortlessness 

that masks a carefully 

constructed composition entailing 

several preliminary color sketches 

done before the artist even touches 


her canvas. 

Color is one of Miracle’s 

strong points. Her painting, Pumpkin 

Head – made from photographs 

on her property – depicts 

a sun-drenched autumn scene full 

of energy. The colors convey the 

harvest and abundance. The light 

blue clothing of the young man and 

child in the foreground creates a 

soft counterpoise to the thin strip 

of brilliant blue sky. The burnt red 

farm truck in the background is allied 

with the pumpkins’ orange 

and various browns to express autumn’s 

magic. 

This painting also depicts 

one of those moments that hint at 

a larger story. The sharp knife, just 

right of center in the foreground, 

could, in a different setting, signify 

danger, but here it is held carefully 

and used as a creative tool to further 

a tender, playful relationship 

between a little girl (there is a pink 

ribbon in her hair) and a young 

man. 

A Painted World 

Behind the scenes with Crawford County artist Kit Miracle 

Story by Judy Cato 

Photos by Lorraine Hughtes 

Miracle’s own childhood in 

Richmond, Indiana is at the root of 

some of the feelings she puts into 

these country scenes. 

“My paternal grandparents 

and great grandparents had adjoining 

small farms in Richmond where 

I was showered with attention and 

given the freedom to roam, play in 

the hayloft, climb trees,” Miracle 

said. “They instilled in me a love of 

small things: a bucket of tomatoes, 

sunrise over the hills, good storytelling 

and country living.” 

Miracle was actually born in 

England where her mother had 

grown up. “Because we had relativesliving 

in Europe, we saved up 

to visit them, giving me the opportunity 

to travel and visit several 

museums overseas,” Miracle said. 

“I was also fortunate to attend a 

school system that emphasized the 

arts. My high school was attached 

to the Richmond Art Museum. I 

walked past famous paintings by 

William Merrit Chase and other In-

diana painters on my way to class. 

The works of John Elwood Bundy, a 

famous Impressionist painter who 

had lived and taught in Richmond, 

could be seen all over town. I also 

sold my first painting as a highschool 

student.” 

Travelling and visiting museums 

early in life gave Miracle 

new lenses to view the world. As 

an adult, she developed a passion 

for both. When she travels today, 

she also carries her art supplies to 

paint on site. 

A recent painting done at 

South Padre Island in Texas entitled 

Exodus depicts a family leaving the 

beach, tired, after a long day. Their 

child, apparently not ready to leave, 

looks back wistfully at the ocean. 

The yellow and black striped bumble 

bee umbrella, with its perky antennae 

made to delight energetic 

kids, tells the story of what the day 

has been, and explains the exhausted 

expression on the mother’s face. 

The former director of the 

multidisciplinary arts center in Jasper, 

Miracle has enjoyed a rich and 

diverse career that has brought national 

recognition for her paintings, 

but she is far from becoming complacent 

about past achievements. If 

anything, she is now painting with 

more vigor, experimenting more, 

investigating new colors, composition, 

and perspective. Her very recent 

“Dreamland Series,” she said 

“came to me in a dream with very 

bright colors, semi-abstract forms, 

nothing like my usual subject matter 

or palette.” She doesn’t know 

where this is going to lead but, 

for now, she said, “these paintings 

make me very happy.”• 

Pictured: (left hand page) Miracle’s painting, The 

Huntress II (oil on canvas 20 x 20); (this page, top) 

Miracle’s painting, Pumpkin Head (oil on linen, 

29.25 x 36); (this page, middle) Kit Miracle standing 

in front of her studio, the former summer 

kitchen of her 130 year old farmhouse. 

For more information on Kit Miracle 

and her art, go to kgmiracle.com 

LLC 

Tina Lee, Owner 

812-620-0754 

56 Public Square, Salem IN Tues-Sat: 10AM-5PM 


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Visit ASCCare.com for more information about locations, services and career opportunities. 

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712 W. 2nd St. 

SALEM 

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900 Anson St. 

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Lake Pointe Village 

545 W. Moonglo Rd. 


HARRISON COUNTY HOSPITAL 

YourHealthLink 

Connecting YOU To 

Your Personal Health Record. 

What is YourHealthLink? 

YourHealthLink gives Harrison County Hospital 

patients convenient online access to portions of 

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Looking Back 

“When I think of Christmas, 

my first thought is of excited 

kids lined up along the 

wrought iron fence in front of 

Dr. Novy Gobbel’s English office,” 

Bob “Strawberry” Roberts said. 

“Kids came from everywhere — 

the town, the country, the county to 

see Santa. I was 6 years old when I 

joined the joyful line in 1933. 

“Roy Cummins, a local man, 

was Santa. He was a skinny little 

guy — unlike the traditional 

chubby Santa — and he arrived in 

a horse-drawn buggy instead of a 

sleigh and reindeer. None of that 

mattered. All were delighted when 

he distributed sacks of candy, oranges 

and other goodies provided 

by the town’s Hartford Club,” Roberts 

said. 

Christmas holds many happy 

memories for Roberts, a 96-year-old 

lifelong English resident. 

As a youngster, Roberts knew 

Christmas was coming when his 

mother set up the extra long table 

she used to accommodate her annual 

candy making. “Mom and her 

four sisters sent off for recipes, then 

got together to make many varieties 

of fudge and most any kind of 

candy you can think of,” he said. 

“Chocolates were Mom’s specialty. 

My sister, Maxine Kaiser, still 

makes these every Christmas and 

sends me a box.” 

It was sometime in the middle 

1930s that Roberts decided he 

needed to be awake when the jolly 

old elf made his late-night visit. 

“I really wanted to see Santa,” 

said Roberts, who was about 

5 or 6 years old. “I planned to sit 

up as long as it took. Of course, it 

didn’t pan out. I fell asleep. 

“But it turned out OK. I was 

up early the next morning to celebrate. 

I am not sure what I got that 

year, but Mom and Dad always saw 

that each of us had a special gift,” he 

said. “My sisters usually got dolls 

and there were sleds or wagons for 

the boys. We always had a big tree. 

However, there were no wrapped 

gifts under it ahead of time. We had 

to wait for Santa to bring them on 

Christmas morning.” 

And there was the unforgettable 

year of the boxing gloves. 

“My older brother, Clyde, 

was into boxing and I wanted to 

be like him,” said Roberts. “I asked 

for boxing gloves.” He received 

two pairs. “Our boxing matches 

Memories of Christmas Past 

lasted until somebody got a bloody 

nose or hurt some other way. I was 

smaller than my opponents, so I always 

got the worst of it. 

“We were a musical family, so 

performing for church programs 

was part of our Christmas. Mom 

played the piano and guitar. Clyde 

played the piano and accordion. 

The other boys played a variety 

of instruments. My sister Eleanor 

played the accordion and organ 

and Maxine played bells. I didn’t 

play an instrument, so I sang,” Roberts 

said. “By the time I was 6 years 

old, I knew a lot of songs by heart.” 

His ability to memorize assured 

him of many parts in holiday 

programs and plays through 

the years, he said. Roberts proved 

that talent when as a fourth grader 

Story by Sara Combs 

Photos submitted by Bob Roberts 

he recited the Gettysburg Address 

after his dad offered him 50 cents 

to do so. “The deal was I had to do 

it perfectly, every word, and I did,” 

he said. 

“Seems it always snowed for 

Christmas back when I was growing 

up. There was a good supply of 

boys in our neighborhood, and we 

all got together during our week 

off from school and had snowball 

fights and sleigh rides. If everybody 

didn’t have a sled, we took turns or 

stacked up.” 

Food was included in the family’s 

holiday celebrations. 

“We were a big, blended family. 

Dad had five boys and Mom had 

one son when they married and 

there were three of us. Mom baked 

and cooked all the time and Christ- 


mas dinner was no exception,” 

he said. “We had hogs we butchered, 

so we had sausage, shoulder, 

smoked ham and tenderloin. We 

rendered lard and had cracklings 

for cornbread and plenty of vegetables 

and fresh milk.” 

Good food continued into his 

adult holidays. 

Roberts’ late wife, Lois, was a 

bountiful cook and began preparing 

weeks ahead for the annual Christmas 

dinner the couple hosted. “I 

am not sure what all Lois cooked. 

She had a vast collection of cookbooks 

and there are still 100 spices 

in the cabinet,” he said. “I think she 

used most of them. Many Christmases 

were spent in our basement 

recreation room with many people 

and much to eat. We enjoyed a lot 

of family and friends and had a lot 

of fun.” 

For the past 15 years or so, 

Roberts has celebrated Christmas at 

the home of his daughter Judy King 

and her family. “Judy has a granddaughter 

who likes to bake carrying 

on the family baking tradition,” 

he said. 

It may have been nine decades 

ago that Roberts joined the line of 

lively, happy youngsters waiting 

along that wrought iron fence for 

Santa and his bags of treats, but 

when he thinks “Christmas,” his 

thoughts immediately go to that 

time and place. • 

“Roy Cummins, a local man, was Santa. He was a 

skinny little guy – unlike the traditional chubby Santa 

and he arrived in a horse-drawn buggy instead of 

a sleigh and reindeer. None of that mattered. All 

were delighted when he distributed sacks of candy, 

oranges and other goodies.” 

- Bob “Strawberry” Roberts 

Roberts is a Navy veteran and a retired 

mail carrier. He is an active member of 

the Crawford County Historical Society, 

the Masonic Lodge and the English 

Volunteer Fire Department. He serves 

on the Crawford County Alcoholic 

Beverage Commission, belongs to the 

local VFW and is an avid golfer, playing 

twice a week, weather permitting. 

Pictured: (left hand page) Richard Meriwether, Bob Roberts, Randy Meriwether, and Regena Meriwether. (this page, top) Bob celebrating his 96th birthday; 

(this page, bottom, clockwise) Roberts in uniform; Bob (age 4) and Gerald Smith on November 8, 1931; Bob and his family. 


F 

amily, education, generosity, 

and community are just a few 

of the things Julie Moorman, 

President & CEO of the 

Harrison County Community 

Foundation (HCCF), is most passionate 

about. In her role with the Foundation, 

she is a passionate advocate of 

philanthropy, which translates fittingly 

from the original Greek as “a lover of 

people.” Of course, philanthropy has 

evolved to mean so much more in our 

modern context, but Moorman has 

certainly lived a life that embodies this 

term, even before she joined HCCF’s 

team in 2019. 

Moorman's personal story is one 

of resilience and determination. She 

was born Julie Wohlfarth in Dayton, 

Ohio, in the late 1960s, and grew up in 

a big family of six kids in a singleparent 

household. Her family struggled 

to make ends meet, and as a young girl, 

Julie had to use the money she earned 

from babysitting to help pay for 

groceries. Despite these challenges, 

Julie's family remained close-knit, and 

this taught her the importance of 

family, which is now one of her core 

values. 


Giving Back and Making a Difference 

Moorman celebrates college graduation with her 

grandparents 

Every day, Julie gets an 

opportunity to be a part of and 

influence programs that strengthen and 

instill the importance of family. The 

Foundation's grant funding and 

programs are making a significant 

difference in assisting families in 

Harrison County. It is the county 

sponsor for Dolly Parton's Imagination 

Library, which provides free books to 

kids living in Harrison County from 

birth to their fifth birthday, 

encouraging children, with their 

parents and siblings, to take part in a 

special time of regular reading 

together. The Foundation also supports 

Photo by More Than Enough Photography 

families through the Jump Start 

Preschool program, which subsidizes 

high-quality preschool for children 

whose families meet income and 

residency eligibility requirements. Over 

the years, HCCF funding has also 

supported the development of 

gathering places for families 

throughout the county, including 

parks, playgrounds, community 

centers, trails, and the Fairgrounds, just 

to name a few. 

In addition to family, education 

has always been of high value for Julie 

and her family. After high school, she 

attended Heidelberg University, where 

she majored in Public Relations and 

Business Administration. In college, 

Julie served as a Resident Assistant, 

helping other college students get the 

support and encouragement they 

needed to be successful. She found her 

niche and went on to pursue a Master's 

degree in Higher Education from 

Southern Illinois University at 

Carbondale. Her career in higher 

education led her to positions at 

Northern Illinois University and 

Western Kentucky University.

Posing as a young professional in higher 

education during a busy workday 

Julie brings a commitment to 

education to her role at HCCF, which is 

known for its scholarship 

opportunities. Since 1998, the 

Foundation has provided funds each 

spring to each of the high schools for 

non-renewable scholarships. In 2023, 

the Foundation has provided nearly 

$650,000 in scholarships to 95 

graduating seniors throughout 

Harrison County. It also has adult 

scholarship opportunities for adults 

going back to school. HCCF currently 

has over 100 endowed scholarship 

funds established by residents of the 

community as well as local colleges, 

universities, for-profit and non-profit 

organizations interested in providing 

educational assistance to the youth. 

Additionally, HCCF provides free 

dictionaries to all 3rd graders in 

Harrison County elementary schools 

and dual credit support that allows 

high school students to get a leg up on 

earning undergraduate credit before 

they even enter college. 

After thirteen years of living and 

working on college campuses, Julie 

decided it was time for something new, 

outside higher education. Ever since 

she was a young girl, she experienced 

firsthand the importance of giving back 

as a volunteer. 

Susan, her mom, 

volunteered at 

church as a Girl 

Scout, Cub Scout 

leader, and coach. 

Even when Susan 

became a single 

mom with six 

kids, working 

First grade school photo 

as a Brownie Girl Scout 

nights as a nurse 

full-time, she still 

found time to 

volunteer. Julie ultimately decided to 

job search and moved to Crandall, 

Indiana, in May of 1999 to live with her 

sister, who had just moved here. She 

found an amazing job working for the 

Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana, where she 

could be part of instilling a spirit of 

giving in thousands of girls as a proud 

third-generation Girl Scout. 

Giving is at the center of what 

Julie leads at the Foundation. On the 

development side of HCCF, there are 

endowment funds that provide a longterm 

and growing source of financial 

support for an organization or a cause. 

Many local nonprofits have agency 

funds that help their organizations 

provide for the important work they do 

in Harrison County. Other 

endowments are scholarship funds 

discussed earlier in this article. Many 

families have created endowments 

upon the loss of a loved one, as a 

treasured way to remember their 

beloved family member and to share a 

legacy for generations to come. 

Overall, the Foundation has over 300 

endowments focused on providing 

support for the future, thanks to the 

generous giving of local individuals, 

families, and businesses. 

The Mooorman family pictured a few years after 

moving to Crandall 

During her time at the Girl 

Scouts, she married Jim, moved to 

Louisville, and they had two kids: Matt, 

who is now a college sophomore, and 

Vicki, a high school senior at North 

Harrison. After working for the Girl 

Scouts, she received the opportunity to 

be the CEO of Communities in Schools 

of Clark County, which is a nonprofit 

that provides before-school and afterschool 

care for elementary-aged kids at 

school sites. In 2014, her family moved 

A family photo captured on a recent vacation 

exploring the Pacific Northwest 

from Louisville back to Crandall to be 

closer to family, with her mom a mile 

away and three sisters close by. 

Moorman has loved being 

involved in and a part of the 

community she lives in. One of her 

favorite things is to cheer on her kids in 

all their endeavors, whether it is their 

involvement in local scouting, sports, 

theatre, or clubs. She is the mom who 

will volunteer to be a coach and get to 

know all the other parents as she cheers 

on all the kids on the team. Moorman 

loves that Harrison County has such 

great schools and nonprofits which 

serve the community. It was for all 

these reasons and more that she threw 

her name into the hopper when HCCF 

was doing a national search process for 

their new President & CEO. She was 

blessed to have been selected for that 

role in May of 2019 to serve the 

community in which she is proud to 

live, work, and raise a family. 

Moorman's passion for family, 

education, generosity, and community 

is evident in her personal and 

professional life. Her love of people is 

infectious, and her leadership is 

making a significant impact through 

HCCF. The Foundation's dedication to 

these areas is a testament to its 

commitment to making Harrison 

County a better place for all its 

residents. 

A photo of Moorman with the staff team she leads 

at HCCF during the holidays 


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The Super 

Benefits of Soup 

Soup season is my favorite season, 

and I am so glad that it is finally 

here. Soups are warming, a high 

source of fluids, rich in flavor, 

filling and can be a great way to add 

vegetables, specifically high-fiber vegetables, 

into your diet. Additionally, soup 

recipes can be flexible, allowing you to 

make ingredient substitutions based 

on your preferences, budget or what 

you already have in your home. As the 

prime season for locally grown fresh 

fruits and vegetables comes to a close, 

you should be thinking about ways to 

continue incorporating high-fiber and 

nutrient-dense foods into your diet. 

What is fiber? Dietary fiber, unlike 

fats, carbohydrates and protein, is 

largely indigestible, moving through 

the gastrointestinal tract without being 

absorbed. There are two types of dietary 

fiber: soluble fiber and insoluble 

fiber. Soluble fiber includes oats, nuts 

and seeds, beans, cruciferous vegetables 

and some fruits. Insoluble fiber includes 

whole wheat products like brown rice, 

some vegetables, and fruits with edible 

skin or seeds. As a general rule, 

the more refined a food, the less fiber 

it has. A medium-sized apple contains 

roughly 4 grams of fiber; half a cup of 

applesauce contains roughly 1.5 grams 

of fiber; and half a cup of apple juice 

contains 0.25 grams of fiber. 

Why is fiber so important? A highfiber 

diet normalizes bowel movements, 

lowers cholesterol levels, helps control 

blood sugar levels, keeps you feeling 

Ingredients 

fuller for longer and is associated with 

a lower risk of several chronic diseases. 

Women should aim to eat about 25 

grams of fiber daily and men should 

aim to eat about 38 grams of fiber daily. 

When increasing fiber in your diet, do it 

gradually and drink an ample amount 

of fluids. Adding too much fiber into 

your diet too quickly can increase gas, 

bloating and cramping. 

Adding fibrous vegetables and 

grains into a high-fluid content soup 

would be a great way to increase fiber 

and fluids in a more tolerable way. Try 

out this recipe from Gimme Some Oven 

this soup season. Enjoy! • 

Real Life Nutrition 

Soups are warming, a high source of fluids, 

rich in flavor, filling and can be a great way 

to add vegetables, specifically high-fiber 

vegetables, into your diet. 

Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup 

Instructions 

Recipe provided by author and based on the 

Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup at Gimme 

Some Oven (www.gimmesomeoven.com/ 

cozy-autumn-wild-rice-soup/#tasty-recipes-60115). 

Photo credit: Julie208/shutterstock.com 

About the Author 

Bailey Lankster, MS, 

RD, LD is a Clinical Dietitian 

at Baptist Health 

Floyd. 

6 cups stock (vegetable or chicken) 

1 cup uncooked wild rice 

8 ounces baby bell mushrooms, sliced 

4 cloves garlic, minced 

2 medium carrot, diced 

2 ribs celery, diced 

1 large (about 1 pound) sweet potato, peeled and diced 

1 small white onion, peeled and diced 

1 bay leaf 

1½ tablespoon Old Bay seasoning 

1 (14-ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk 

2 large handfuls (or more) of kale, roughly chopped with 

thick stems removed 

Salt and pepper to taste 

Heat 1 tablespoon of butter or olive oil in a large stockpot 

over medium-high heat, add onion and sauté for 5 

minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent. 

Stir in the garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 

minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant. Add 

in the stock, wild rice, mushrooms, carrots, celery, 

sweet potato, bay leaf and Old Bay seasoning. Stir to 

combine. Continue cooking until the soup reaches a 

simmer. Then reduce heat to medium-low, cover and 

simmer for 30-40 minutes until the rice is tender. Stir 

occasionally. Add the coconut milk and the kale. Stir 

gently until combined. Taste and then season with salt 

and pepper. 


Everyday Adventures 

My family has a serious board 

game addiction. We used 

to have a game shelf. Then 

we needed a bin. Now our 

garage looks like a toy store. 

It all started several years ago 

when we thought it would be fun to 

wrap up several games as family presents 

and spend the rest of Christmas 

break learning to play all of the new 

games together. It didn’t take long for 

this to become an annual tradition and 

then an obsession. 

My wife and I both love board 

games, so we use our kids as an excuse 

to buy new ones every year. However, 

there are two big problems with this. 

First, we always buy more games than 

we plan to, which means Christmas 

morning starts a mad dash to play them 

all before our girls go back to school. 

Some years we cut it close. 

Second, my wife and I have drastically 

different approaches to board 

games. One of us meticulously studies 

the rules for hours to ensure that we 

play correctly, and the other basically 

just makes it up as he goes along. I’ll 

give you one guess which one I am. 

OK, here’s the thing. If game rules 

take up more real estate than a half sheet 

of paper, I’m just going to start playing. 

If I wanted to read a book, I’d go to the 

library. When I’m playing a game, I 

want to start rolling dice and drawing 

cards. 

That’s why my wife’s greatest fear 

is when my 14-year-old and I start playing 

one of our new games without her. 

By the time she gets to the table, we’ve 

made up a whole set of house rules that 

we think are way more fun than the boring 

ones in the instruction book. 

To my wife, it’s utter chaos. To 

us, we’re just being creative. What do 

those game designers know anyway? 

It’s not like Moses handed them the instructions 

on a tablet of stone. They just 

made it all up, so why can’t we do the 

same? 

Somewhere, my wife is cringing 

as she reads those words. However, our 

board game differences don’t end there. 

We also come from two sides of the 

fence when it comes to enforcing game 

rules with children. 

I grew up in a family who would 

let kids roll again if they got a bad dice 

roll and gave them new Trivial Pursuit 

questions if the first ones were too 

hard. My wife grew up in a family who 

played to win. Who cares if you are a 

4-year-old? You landed on Boardwalk 

with a hotel? You’re going bankrupt! 

You might say when it comes to 


A Game of Truth and Grace 

If game rules take up more real estate than 

a half sheet of paper, I’m just going to start 

playing. If I wanted to read a book, I’d go to 

the library. When I’m playing a game, I want 

to start rolling dice and drawing cards. 

games, my wife lands on the side of 

truth, while I land on the side of grace. 

Sometimes that makes for some contentious 

gameplay, but after almost three 

decades of marriage, what we’re discovering 

is that the best approach to 

games and life is when grace and truth 

work together. 

That’s what happened on the 

very first Christmas. Grace and truth 

changed the game. 

The Son of God, fully divine, became 

a human, and played by the rules. 

The Bible says He was just like us, “fully 

human in every way” (Hebrews 2:17 

NIV). He knew what it was like to be 

tired and tempted. He knew what it was 

like to be rejected and misunderstood. 

He experienced firsthand how hard life 

can be. 

Even though Jesus had the full resources 

of heaven available if He chose 

them, He never did. Jesus never cheated 

at being human, never called down 

angels to take out His enemies, never 

ordered up holy takeout when He was 

hungry, never took a shortcut when He 

was tempted. 

In fact, not only did Jesus play by 

the rules, but He also won the game. 

He weathered the heat of being human, 

and somehow always did what was 

right, even to the point of death. 

And that’s where grace became a 

game changer. Jesus didn’t take a victory 

lap after He died and rose again. 

He gave His victory away to people like 

you and me. People who struggle every 

day to navigate all of the games of life. 

People who’ve been bankrupted after 

landing on one too many Boardwalk 

hotels. People whose battleships have 

been sunk, sometimes by our own mistakes. 

Here’s the good news of Christmas. 

When we were stuck back at the 

start space of life, Jesus made a way for 

us to come home. The first became last 

so the last could become first. One silent 

night in the little town of Bethlehem, 

the game changed forever because God 

loved us so much.• 

Photo credit: Vladimir_Kazachkov / shutterstock. 

com. (Opposite, bow graphic) Schab / 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.

images in the red area. If 

Celebrate the holidays with a trio of gifts 

by SIL Columnist Jason Byerly 

Paperback Book 

Cover Template - Left to Right 

7.5" x 9.25" Book 

(190.50mm x 234.95mm) 

15.342" x 9.500" Overall Dimensions 

(389.67mm x 241.30mm) 

0.092" Spine Width 

(2.32mm) 

Premium Color 

39 Pages 

White Paper 

WHERE’S GOD? 

A Psalm 139 Story 

Is God really with us everywhere we go? How about up on a mountain? 

Or deep under the sea? What about the far side of the moon? 

Join Jake, a little guy with big questions and an even bigger 

imagination, as he explores the universe looking for God. 

Barcode 

Location & Size 

2.000" x 1.200" 

(50.80mm x 30.48mm) 

Spine Width 0.092" (2.32 mm) 

Front Cover 

7.5" x 9.25" 

(190.50mm x 234.95mm) 

Based on Psalm 139, this picture book from Southern Indiana Living 

Magazine columnist Jason Byerly will remind kids and adults that God 

made them, loves them and will be with them everywhere they go. 

Available now in paperback and hardback on Amazon 

Holiday Road 

A Christmas Devotional 

Celebrate the season with “Holiday Road”, 

a Christmas devotional by columnist Jason Byerly 

Holiday Road 

A Christmas Devotional 

Also Available: 

Tales 

FROM THE 

Leaf Pile 

A Holiday Road Devotional 

JASON BYERLY 

** Excerpt for preview only ** 

i 

Th e H o lid a y Ro a d Series is a va ila b le in p a p erb a ck o r eBo o k o n Am a zo n . 




Taking care of 

your family isn’t 

always easy. 

We make sure 

getting care is. 

BAPTIST HEALTH URGENT & VIRTUAL CARE IS HERE FOR YOU when you need care 

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Southern Indiana Living Magazine - November / December 2023

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