BLUEGRASS FAVORITES (a guest post)

Thursday, October 11, 2012 by Nicole | 6 Comments

Nicole and I go waaay back. We grew up in the same sleepy town and graduated together in 2002. Then, we both moved away (I went to Florida for a couple of years) and eventually settled in Texas. In fact, we’re both married to Texans! We’re cool like that.

I am proud to say that Nicole and I were raised in Webster County, a very beautiful, and very rural, county in western Kentucky. While Kentucky is famous for its basketball, bourbon and horse racing, I believe it’s much more. It’s a place where Sunday fried chicken is sacred and March Madness is undeniably a month-long holiday. It’s a place where “aunts” and “uncles” aren’t necessarily biological but, rather, people who watch over you and love you (love you, Aunt Becky!!!). It’s also a place where your friend’s mother becomes your “second mama” (love you, Ms. Nancy!!!!!). Everybody knows everybody—-a double-edged sword when you’re young and a blessing in adulthood.

Ten years ago, I moved out of my hometown ten years ago and, for goodness sakes, my name still comes up on the birthday list in the church newsletter! True story. You gotta love that!

As much as I miss Kentucky, I miss Kentuckians the most. Sadly, I haven’t visited in years. That’s all about to change, though, as I’ve planned a family trip at the end of the month. I invited Nicole along for the ride but she had to decline since she would be in Haiti … dang her hide! The drive will certainly be a challenge. We live in South Texas and will be traveling 17+ hours with a three-year-old and a one-year-old. Heaven help us! It will, undoubtedly, be an amazing experience for the boys though. There are so many things I want to share with them.

Here’s my top five:

1. Friends and family. Some, I am ashamed to say, I haven’t seen in years.

2. Horses! We will be horseback-riding and making s’mores at my Uncle Ken and Aunt Lisa’s farm. If you have little boys of your own, you know that this will be an epic event.

3. My favorite hometown destination: Bell’s Drug Store. It’s THE place to grab an orangeade and chit-chat. Yes, Nicole, I’ll have an orangeade for you!!!

4. “real” Fall weather. Crisp air and falling leaves! Kentucky is beautiful in October.

5. The food! South Texas has a lot of good food but meringue pie, biscuits & gravy and BBQ mutton seem to be a foreign language. Some things are just better on the *other* side of the Mississippi River. Bring on the burgoo and fried apple pies, ‘cuz this Mama is wearing her elastic britches!!!!!!

Thanks for reading my guest post, I’m so honored Nicole would ask me to share a few of my favorite things from our favorite state. Even though we’re both a day’s drive (or more) from Kentucky, it’s nice to have a piece of “home” right here in Texas. We have to stick together, Lord knows this state more WILDCAT BLUE in it. =)

I’d love for you to visit my blog, The Greens Go ‘Round, and say hello. I’m new to the blogging world and still trying to navigate WordPress, but I’m getting there.