Knoth’s Amazing Barbecue Followed Me Around the South
It was always there. On the 4th of July, Memorial Day, family reunions—even Thanksgiving and Christmas. We had other food on those occasions, but a genuine hickory-smoked shoulder from Knoth’s was the prized chunk of goodness on the table. The one that made us go “ah.”
Pork Barbecue Sandwich
We eagerly gathered around when it was brought in—still wrapped in the white butcher’s paper—hot from the pit. We stood smiling with buns open on our plates. It’s no exaggeration to say we salivated as the paper was unwrapped, finally revealing the crusty brown skin and that Heavenly aroma.
Some wanted a fatty part, some wanted crispy crust, and some only lean. I wanted some of it all. I would grab the tongs and tear off a tender piece of moist pink, then stick some crispy skin and hot fatty parts on top. Drench it all over with half mild sauce and half hot. Mmm, unbeatable.
The following was taken from a tape my father, Russell Kingston, made for me several years ago. He shares some of his experiences growing up, as well as his time as a prisoner of war in North Korea. I would like to point out a couple of things up front: One, these are not all of his P.O.W. stories. Some are just too disturbing to include here. There are times I wish I hadn’t heard them myself. Two, Dad jumps around a lot in his telling. I could tell when listening to the tapes that he became emotional and had to switch back to the farm years, or something else more comforting. The words are his, just as he spoke them, with no changes.
I’m happy to add that, as of this writing, Dad is very much alive and doing well. –Wade Kingston
Young Russell Kingston with catfish
This is Russell Kingston. I’m gonna tell a few things of my life history. I was born 12/21/31 to John and Gola McKinney Kingston. I have lived on a farm all of my life, my childhood, and when I became a teenager I decided I would go in the army, which I did. I joined the army May 11, 1950, went to Ft. Knox, taken seven or eight or ten weeks training and I was sent home for 18 days delay in route. I went to Chicago, transferred from that train to another and went to Seattle, Washington and stayed there for a day or a day and a half, caught a plane and went to Tokyo, Japan. I spent one afternoon, one night and part of one morning in Tokyo. Caught a train and went to Sasebo (Nagasaki), Japan. From Sasebo I caught a ship which they said was Japan’s second-best ship and when I woke up the next morning I was in Pusan, South Korea and when we got off the ship, they told us to take a look at our enemy, which there were prisoners lined up on the railroad as far as you could see—North Koreans, so they issued us more ammunition and told us to go to our outfits. I asked them where was I going and they said “You are going to the First Cavalry, Eight Regiment, K Company,” and I said, “Where is it?” and they said “Somewhere between here and the 38th Parallel.” I said, “How will I get there?” And this officer said, “Well, soldier you have two feet don’t you?” I said, “Yes, sir.” And he said, “Well, use them.” Continue reading “Russell Kingston–From Farm Boy To Prisoner of War”
Nothing looks better on a fence, or a pergola, than a full blossoming vine. In this case I’m speaking of perennial vines, not the annuals like morning glory or moon flowers. Here in west Kentucky I have used a number of vigorous perennial vines that grow quite profusely in our climate. I began with a freebie–the wild wisteria.
Wild wisteria in West Kentucky
Wisteria often gets a bad rap because it can be invasive. It’s true that one must keep wisteria “tamed” with pruning, otherwise it can get away from you. But the reward is a lovely cascade of pendulous violet blossoms each spring, which often arrive just as the butterflies and hummingbirds do. The sweet scent of wisteria is particularly delightful when planted overhead, say on a pergola or archway. I have also grown Japanese versions of wisteria in white as well as a deep purple.
Pendulous wisteria blossom
When a fuller effect is needed, say on a large pergola, a mix of wisteria and hummingbird vine (trumpet vine) work well together. Both can be found for free just about anywhere in the country, and the hummingbird vine begins to bloom right after the wisteria finishes up. Again, pruning will be needed, and be sure to keep plantings away from electrical wires and poles. Not only is a pleasing shape attained from pruning, but the wisteria will actually have more and fuller blossoms when branches are pruned back.
Wisteria hanging from my pergolaAnother vine that can be quite lovely, and which blooms throughout the summer, is the Japanese variety of red honeysuckle. Very much like the wild varieties, these vines grow thickly and blossom profusely. They grow in almost any soil, prefer sunshine, and are practically maintenance free. Just prune them back if you feel they are getting larger than you want. Hummingbirds love them.
Another favorite climbing vine is the “Montana Rubens” variety of clematis. It grows quite thickly and the tiny white blooms arrive by the thousands long after other clematis have stopped blooming. It hits its peak in August and September in our area. The flowers have a nice scent, but the plant does have a tendency to attract Japanese beetles.
Clematis Montana Rubens on my fence
And last, but certainly not least, is perhaps my favorite blooming vine—clematis. Perhaps it’s because they grow so well in our alkaline soil, but clematis in shades of purple through pure white adorn fences, posts, and mailboxes throughout our area. My own secret with clematis is to mix limestone gravel in with the soil they are planted in. They love it.
