Merry Christmas from Sammie Claus and Cash Kringle! (Our family's annual Christmas letter)

Hello, everyone. Since my mom hasn't updated her blog in several months, I decided to write and post our annual Christmas letter that I wrote this year. This version contains photos of our 2011. Hope you enjoy it! Merry Christmas!

Internationally-known feline writer Sammie "Claus"

Hello! It’s Sammie Ann Beutke DeVito, the friendly feline daughter of David and Allyson, writing again this year with our sixth annual holiday letter. I personally don’t think I have lots of exciting news to share about our lives (I think my feline brother Cash is on his 8^th one as much as he gets into trouble), but since so many of you think this letter is the greatest thing since the McRib sandwich at McDonald’s, I feel obligated to tell you about our 2011!

Cash gets into everything...literally. He is so curious and loves to help decorate for the holidays!

We’re still living in the Bluegrass region of Lexington, Kentucky. We figured out it’s called the Bluegrass because bluegrass is a type of grass that grows in many of the pastures in the commonwealth. Yes, that’s right… we don’t live in a state anymore. We live in a commonwealth. I wish someone would share some of this common wealth with us.

My dad finished teaching his chemistry classes at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) in May. A week later, he started a summer job at a company called Lexel (how original) in Lexington. He made radar tubes for military aircraft and realized why he is going to school to become a dentist.

Here is our dad on his first day of dental school. He purchased an actual fishing tackle box to put all of his dental instruments and supplies in for his classes. He added the UK stickers. :)

He started dental school at the University of Kentucky in late July and finished the fall semester on December 15. He is 1/8 of a dentist now, which means he is officially qualified to work on plastic teeth. His spring semester starts January 3 and goes until late June. He starts his second of four years in late July. He is the oldest, I mean wisest, person in his class, and some of his classmates were born in the 1990s, a few years before he graduated from high school.

We like to help Dad study, especially when the subject is dental anatomy. It's our favorite!

He took the equivalent of 28 credit hours, including biochemistry, dental anatomy, public health, and histology, which is not the history of teeth but the study of tissues, and not the Kleenex kind. He also had to learn more than 30 dental instruments, and some of them have strange names such as Dr. Felt’s #6, the amalgam hoe, and the football burnisher. You should ask for one of those the next time you visit the dentist.

Look at all the dental instruments my dad has to know how to use. Our favorite is the football burnisher!

He also learned that while all 32 adult teeth (fewer for some Kentucky residents) look similar, they are very different in terms of shape and size and each one has a name such as the right permanent mandibular second molar. (Imagine if you were a baby tooth and had to learn how to spell your long name!)

I helped Dad inspect his dental school supplies. Cash climbed into the boxes they came in and tried to eat the plastic wrap. Crazy Cash!

During the spring, he’ll take gross anatomy, where they will dissect a cadaver. Won’t that be fun! I don’t know why they need to examine an entire body when they should only care about the mouth.

Our dad had a special ceremony in August, and he received his official white coat with his name on it—it's a way to welcome first-year students into the profession. When he got home, he insisted on a photo with us. You can tell how thrilled we are!

During October, he traveled to the rural area of Ashland, Kentucky, near the West Virginia border, with some of his classmates. They cleaned kids’ teeth (or tooth for some of them. They really do love Mountain Dew up here, no joke!) and put sealants on them. They even made the front page of the one-page newspaper the next day. My dad also received an award from his classmates. During November, the men in his class participated in “No Shave November” to raise awareness of prostate cancer.

In addition to not shaving for a month, our dad also didn't get a haircut, so he was extra hairy!

They didn’t shave their facial hair for a month, and if you know my dad and his Viking ancestry, you know he came out of the womb with facial hair. He received the “Manliest Beard” award, and we have the certificate on our refrigerator. He still has a goatee, and plans to have a Magnum P.I./Tom Selleck-type mustache for Christmas. Oh happy happy, joy joy!

My mom taught at EKU in the spring and again this fall. She taught two classes there—mass media and society and broadcast news writing and reporting.

EKU has a gorgeous new EKU Center for the Arts, and my mom and her students were able to watch a live news broadcast and performance on the opening night.

EKU’s mascot is a colonel like Colonel Sanders who started Kentucky Friend Chicken, but the mascot is an angrier version of him. Maybe the EKU colonel is upset that he doesn’t know KFC’s secret blend of 11 herbs and spices.

She also had the opportunity to teach two classes at the University of Kentucky this fall. It’s a new course that combines writing and public speaking. She already knew a lot of students do not write well, and she learned some of them cannot speak well either. She will teach three classes at EKU and two at UK during the spring, which keeps her busy.

This is a view of the University of Kentucky's campus from one of the top floors of the library.

My parents left us when they visited Florida for an oblication (the combination of a vacation and obligation) during June. My mom thought we needed a cat sitter, but I tried to convince her that we would be fine on our own. She said if we could learn to use the toilet and flush, we wouldn’t need a sitter. Cash couldn’t master that after many failed attempts, so this really nice lady named Miss Maria came over and made sure we had plenty of food and water and cleaned our litter box. She is a retired police detective. Cash wanted to borrow her handcuffs, but they were too big for his paws, so he used them as a stylish collar.

Sometimes Cash sits on the stairs and pretends to be in jail.

My parents said it was great seeing their Florida family and friends, but they definitely don’t miss simmering in the sizzling summer heat. 

Florida was hot and humid as usual, but the sunsets are breathtaking.

They spent several days hanging out with my human cousin, Judson, who is so cute and now 15 months old.

My mom and Grandma Sharon put one of my mom's dresses from when she was a little girl on Judson during their Florida visit. They got into trouble with Judson's dad, Uncle Jason, but they both said it was well worth it. At least he'd make a cute little girl too! My mom did the same thing with Uncle Jason when he was little. She also told him he was adopted like I tell Cash all the time.

My parents also gave Judson a little Wildcat towel that he uses at bath time.

Isn't our human cousin Judson just the cutest little wildcat!!!

They also got to meet some young cousins on my dad’s side of the family. If you ever want to visit us, just get on I-75 and head north. You’ll know you’re in Kentucky when you start to notice all the bad drivers from neighboring Ohio.

Speaking of Ohio and the crazy buckeye nuts that live there, I am happy Urban Meyer is headed back. He’s from Ohio and coached at Ohio State before, so once a nut, always a nut in my book. The Gator Nation is much better off without him around, but I’m not too sure about this Coach Muschamp either. Hopefully, they will have a better season next year. I have been watching the Denver Broncos play since my boy Tim Tebow is their quarterback. Cash has been working on his Tebowing pose, but it’s hard to do since he doesn’t have an elbow.

If we’ve learned one thing about living in Kentucky, it’s that basketball is the most important thing ever. People wait in long lines outside in the cold for days just to get on a list to get tickets to a practice game that starts at midnight. We also have the largest basketball arena in the U.S. At least the basketball team is doing well since the football team isn’t very good. Also, the stadium up here is so cute. It’s like a miniature version of a real stadium. I think it could fit inside the Swamp at UF.

We’ve only had two sets of visitors this year. Grandma Betty, Grandpa Jean-Paul, Aunt Allison, Uncle Matt and their canine son, Toby, visited us for New Year’s. We got Toby, a daschund, some small snow boots to wear, but he didn’t like them, and there wasn’t any snow, so it worked out well. We learned that Toby can run up the stairs in our house, but he can’t go down. Gravity plays a mean joke on him and he kind of tumbles down. It was fun to watch. He also went into the litter box and ate one of Cash’s turds. I guess he needed some protein.

Our canine cousin Toby made himself right at home and immediately started eating our food.

In October, Grandma Sharon and Grandpa Amos came for a visit. It was their first time in Lexington, and my parents drove them around and showed them all the sights.

I watched "The Amazing Race" on TV with my grandparents, but the competition was too intense, and I couldn't take it, so I had to turn and face the back of the couch.

We fed them well, and they enjoyed their first Kentucky Hot Brown, an open-faced sandwich with turkey, ham and bacon, covered in a creamy Monray cheese sauce, topped with sliced tomato and broiled until the bread is crisp and the sauce begins to brown. Yummy!

Grandma Sharon and Grandpa Amos shared this Hot Brown at the legendary Ramsey's Diner in Lexington during their fall visit. They loved every bite of it!

We’d love for you to visit us! There are lots of exciting things to do. People love horses up here. I haven’t ridden one yet, but Cash and I might go to the Kentucky Derby in May. It’s actually in Louisville, not Lexington. Don’t you think I’d look so cute in one of those big hats the ladies wear at the Derby?

Our parents visited Churchill Downs in Louisville where the Kentucky Derby race is run each May. It was raining on the day they went in July, so they'll explore the track next time.

My mom is disappointed is hasn’t snowed yet this winter. We had a White Christmas last year, and it was so nice since she had been singing that was dreaming of one for weeks before Christmas.

We had a White Christmas last year, and it was so beautiful!

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Remember to have your pets spayed or neutered! (By the way, my parents were watching The Price is Right while I typed this, and they noticed the models are now allowed to talk and have their own microphones. Look how far women have come in the work place!)

Love,

Sammie Claus, Cash Kringle, David and Allyson DeVito

Even though we have our own cat bed, our favorite place to sleep is at the foot of our parent's bed while they are in it.

P.S. My parents got new smart phones (I wonder what a dumb phone is?) in February. Whoever had my mom’s number previously was a meth drug dealer in Hazard, Kentucky because strange sounding people would text and call at all times of the day and night asking for a delivery. As my dad says, these could be his future patients since their teeth (or tooth) will be rotten! Have a great 2012! ☺ Go Wildcats! Go Colonels! Go Gators!

Need help with chemistry? Check out chemistrydoctor.blogspot.com!

Chemistry—a subject many of us probably didn't like in school, but it's required. However, I'm sharing some good news that might help some of you who need help balancing equations and calculating reactions. My husband, David DeVito, has taught chemistry at the college level for several years now, and he has a new blog devoted to helping students with chemistry. He started it a few months ago when he finished teaching chemistry at Eastern Kentucky University as a way for his students to keep in contact and continue asking chemistry-related questions. Check it out at http://chemistrydoctor.blogspot.com.

David has a PhD in materials science and engineering from the University of Florida and this week, he started as a full-time dental student at the University of Kentucky. Like me, he loves teaching and interacting with students, so this blog is hopefully a way for him to continue this interaction and instruction.

In his second post, he links to this website about wisdom from a Chemistry Cat: http://www.uproxx.com/webculture/2011/07/meme-watch-chemistry-cats-word-is-his-bond/#page/1. 
Unfortunately, our cats, Sammie and Cash, don't share in their dad's love and knowledge of chemistry. :)

Living it up in Louisville

Kentucky is the smallest state we've lived in, but we still haven't explored much beyond Lexington, so we recently traveled to Louisville. The drive was only an hour from our house to the hotel in downtown Louisville.

We arrived in time for lunch and walked to an area called 4th Street Live, where there are many restaurants, clubs and shops. Part of the street is blocked off to vehicle traffic, so it's easy to walk around.

Our view at lunch of the 4th Street Live area.

We ate at the Red Star Tavern for lunch, and it was very good. We were among the only two or three groups of people dining, but they told us it gets very crowded at night. We returned to the area that night but soon realized the place turns into a very loud, crowded and smoky area for adults over 21. Ten years ago that might have been fun but probably not. :)

The world's largest bat outside the entrance to the Louisville Slugger Museum.

Of course we went on one of the hottest and most humid days of the summer, but we found refuge in the Louisville Slugger Museum. I am not a baseball fan, so I didn't know a lot of the players whose statues and photos are there, but it was interesting to see how they make baseball bats all the way from a tree to the finished bat. Admission is only $10 for adults, $5 for children and free for kids 5 and under. At the end of the 30-minute tour, everyone receives a small Louisville Slugger bat.

I don't think Cash will break any batting averages any time soon. He tried to bite the souvenir bat and then went back to sleep.

On Sunday, we drove over one of the bridges that crosses the Ohio River, and on the other side is Indiana.

On the Kentucky side, there is a riverfront park with 7 miles of walking trails, and several playgrounds. There is an amphitheater and an area where vendors can set up booths for events and festivals.

Our hotel room at the SpringHill Suites in downtown was very nice. We noticed our room had the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon.

We paid less than $100 for our room, but on the back of the door, the hotel lists the maximum amount it can charge for a room. Any guesses? Remember, Louisville is home to the annual Kentucky Derby that brings in thousands of rich visitors the first weekend in May.

Speaking of the derby, we drove by Churchill Downs but decided to wait until our next trip to do the outside walking tour because it was too hot.

We have a rule while traveling that we will only eat at local restaurants and no chains, but we broke that rule to eat at Macaroni Grill on the way home since we don't have one in Lexington, and it's one of our favorite places. It was delicious.

Also on the way home, we stopped halfway in Frankfort, Lexington's capitol. We've never lived this close (30 miles) to the capitol in any state. We drove around the capitol building and Governor Steve Beshear's mansion.

A clock made out of flowers is across the street from the capitol building.

Here is a scenic view of the capitol we drove by in Frankfort.

We had a great trip, and it was nice to get away for a short excursion since David starts dental school today. I'm sure we'll make more visits to Louisville during our fours years here, and we also want to travel to other parts of the state and visit Cincinnati.

What can you make with two pounds of okra? Gumbo time!

My parents in Florida have a wonderful garden, and I miss the numerous fresh vegetables during the summer—tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, potatoes, squash and okra. During our recent trip, my dad gave us a lot of okra. Okra is a unique vegetable, and most people eat it stewed with tomatoes or fried. It has a slimy texture when sliced, and I actually had trouble giving it away since many people don't like it or don't know how to cook with it.

I found several recipes online for gumbo with okra, so we made a pot on a Sunday afternoon and had plenty of leftovers throughout the week. I sauteed the okra in olive oil first for about 30 minutes to remove most of the slimy texture. Then, I added tomatoes, onions, garlic, celery and red and green peppers and let the mixture saute for a while longer. Next, we added chicken broth and water and brought it to a boil.

We decided to add sausage and shrimp.

I seasoned the shrimp with salt, pepper and some Old Bay Seasoning.

We added the meat last and then let the gumbo simmer for several hours on low heat. It smelled great, and we ate it over rice. With the leftovers, I made some orzo and served it over that. I also ate it over a package of instant cheese grits. It was a great dish with lots of fresh vegetables, and okra was the not-so-slimy star.

Summertime sunsets, storms and sunflowers

Our recent trip to Florida was full of heat and humidity as we had expected, but we also saw some gorgeous sunsets. I took photos of the sun setting on a lake in Winter Haven on a muggy Saturday evening.

I wasn't the only creature close to the water that evening. A small alligator waded near the shore...a site we don't see in Kentucky. 

I also wasn't the only one taking photos of the beautiful sunset.

It rained during our trip, and I shot this video outside my parent's house one evening. I love the dark purple color of the clouds.

Back in Kentucky, it also rained. One evening, it poured for more than an hour, and our gauge outside showed three inches of rain. You can see how quickly the water filled up the area behind the back of our house.

Below is a similar view that I took last fall when we moved into the house.

We put up two bird feeders full of bird seed that hang on the back deck, and now there are sunflowers growing there, my favorite flower!

A LivingSocial meal deal at Hall's on the River

I use coupons on a regular basis, but I'm definitely not into extreme couponing, a practice some people use that you might have seen on some recent television shows. I don't spend hours clipping and cutting coupons, but I do like a good deal, so I've started visiting LivingSocial.com and Groupon.com—online sites to find deals in your area. There is a daily deal for many cities around the country, and businesses such as restaurants, salons, car washes, and even dentists are using the site to offer a percentage (usually 50 percent or more) off of their products and services. For example, you spend $10 on the deal and receive a $20 coupon.

These sites are easy ways to find possible deals in your area and try new places. You can sign up to receive a daily email that lists the deal for specific cities. I receive notices about deals in Lexington, Knoxville, Louisville, Cincinnati, and Gainesville. While I've only purchased deals for Lexington and Knoxville, I want to know about the deals in other cities in case I want to take advantage of them and possibly share or buy them for family and friends. I also think they would be great if you're planning a trip to a specific city.

So far, I've purchased deals from several restaurants, including some we haven't tried before, a magazine subscription to The Bourbon Review, and deals to purchase University of Kentucky merchandise at Fan Outfitters. (Since David will be a dental student here for four years, we can't exactly wear orange and blue all the time contrary to what some of our family and friends might think!) The deals have expiration dates, but the ones I've seen are for at least four or five months up to a year after the purchase date. Other rules include using the entire coupon in one visit and not receiving any money back if you don't spend as much as the coupon is worth, but most of the time, those rules shouldn't be a problem.

I actually purchased a few deals for restaurants when we lived in Knoxville. Lexington wasn't a city on LivingSocial last year this time, but the sites add cities on a regular basis, and Lexington was picked up a few months ago. Our latest LivingSocial deal was to Hall's on the River in Winchester, Kentucky. I paid $15 and received a $30 coupon to spend on food and drinks. 

The restaurant is about 25 minutes from our house, and we can take several scenic routes through rolling hills and horse farms to get there. The food is a combination of seafood, steaks and southern speciality dishes, such as Kentucky's famous hot brown and lamb fries (lamb testicles). Two appetizers that we've seen on many menus in Kentucky are beer cheese dip and fried banana peppers. I'm still getting used to the beer cheese dip as a cold dip since I've had beer cheese at other restaurants, and it's served warm. There is a long history of beer cheese in Kentucky, and there is even a beer cheese festival each year in Winchester.

We ordered the beer cheese dip as an appetizer, and it is very good. In addition to the beer and cheese, there are other spices in it such as garlic and probably cayenne since there is a kick to it. It is served with crackers, carrots and celery.

I reviewed the menu online before we went, but there are some dishes on the menu at the restaurant that aren't listed online, including the one I ordered. For our entrees, I ordered the stuffed sole with crab meat, and my sides were a tossed salad and beer cheese grits. Some of the salad dressings are homemade, including ranch and blue cheese. I tried the blue cheese first, but it had too much mayo and very little blue cheese, so I asked for ranch, and it was much better. The fish and grits were very good.

David ordered another house speciality, the fried catfish, and he also got the tangy slaw and smashed potatoes. I am not a fan of cole slaw, but the tangy slaw was excellent, some of the best I've ever had. Our server said it is vinegar-based and based on a German recipe. His catfish and potatoes were also good. Each entree was $15 or more, and while the two sides were good portions, the actual amount of fish we each received wasn't overly generous.

The service was excellent, and we let our server know it was our first visit, and he was very helpful in explaining their popular dishes and making suggestions. There is a large outdoor eating area with covered tables, and even though it's the middle of July, we could have dined outside comfortably on this Saturday afternoon because of low humidity.

I noticed some photos when we walked in that were taken last year when the restaurant flooded. Read this online story at http://www.lex18.com/news/halls-on-the-river-re-opens-after-flood/ to see photos and video of how fast water can rise on the Kentucky River.

We enjoyed dining at Hall's on the River, and it's a place we might not have tried without the LivingSocial deal, so it was a win, win, win!