Lucille Carloftis Day

February 14, 2014

How fortunate we are to have had Jon’s mother, Lucille Carloftis, with us at Botherum to celebrate both her birthday and Valentine’s Day. Lexington Mayor Jim Gray declared this special day, Lucille Carloftis Day. Family and friends came on this chilly day to wish her a happy birthday, and toast to her continued good health.

And despite snowy weather at Botherum, the show did go on, starting with the play, “The World of Carl Sandburg” in our drawing room. A special Jon Carloftis Fine Gardens THANK YOU to a good friend and talented thespian, Roger Fristoe, for entertaining the troops with his one-man play, with special support from his partner Mike McKinney. The great American poet / historian / biographer Carl Sandburg (1878-1967) was born in Galesburg, IL., and became the most-known and best-loved American literary figure of his time.

Ann Evans, Executive Director of the Kentucky Governor’s Mansion, outdid herself once again with the making of the giant caramel birthday cake. A thin caramel sugar sheet was broken into pieces to decorate the top of this very large cake for 80+ people. There was no evidence of its existence the morning after. No surprise.

Floral decorations were simple and easy. Herbs from our personal living gardens were used to decorate both food and drink. Jon helped prepare the first craft bourbon cocktail affectionately renamed the “I Love Lucille” cocktail, starting with a sprig of mint from our personal living garden in the “Bourbon Closet”.

Using our favorite fruit bowl, and a half dozen white small bowls, we created a spring-inspired centerpiece from miniature yellow tulips, maidenhair ferns, daisies, lilies, and astros, on a bed of sheet moss. Loved the iris and limes combo. Shelving with family photos and crystal were livened up with small bundles of hyacinth.

And to great friends Justin & Libby Sautter, and Zeff and Dotty Maloney, THANK YOU for helping us finish the Botherum speakeasy in a grand way. Everyone loved the 1897 snooker table (12’ in length) found in Zeff’s collection of fantastic finds and now a Botherum mainstay. The Botherum Speakeasy is now well identified with a painted sign delivered by the Sautters. Like every speakeasy, you will have to know the meaning of the password initials (WTFDYHTFTGADAH) to get in. Good luck!

Lucille looks forward to seeing everyone this spring at the Rockcastle River Trading Co. Opening day is Saturday, April 5, 2014.