The Door Opens

I don't know what happened to my other blog. But a new home can mean a new blog, right? So why "My OLD Kentuck Home"? Because my husband's father's (and mother's) families are from this area...for generations. He was born here, and spent a good deal of 38 years trying to get home. Now we're here.

His "Mamaw" lives next door. His father is about 10 minutes away by foot, or 5 minutes by 4-wheeler or car. As is an uncle of his. The other uncle is 15 minutes away, through town to the north. In fact, I think we're related to about half the county through one parent or another.

We moved from Texas 2 months ago. We spent 8 years there. I'm sure more will come out on that later. Before that I lived in Utah for 27 years. That's where we met face to face for the first time. All these ideas are popping into my head, but as I titled this blog what I did, I thought a good base description of "our old Kentucky home" would be apropos.

"Papaw"'s family have been tobacco farmers for generations. I really couldn't tell you how long. But tobacco is no longer a government subsidized crop, nor is it "pc" anymore. And there are various health problems amongst the 3 brothers (age 50 or so and above - the oldest turned 65 a couple of weeks ago)...so this hasn't really been a working "farm" for a few years.

There is a good sized garden where we have been able to enjoy fresh tomatos, cantaloupe, watermelon, green onions, and cabbage since we got here. There is a peach tree in Mamaw's yard, as well as numerous wild berry bushes: blueberries, raspberries, black berries, and elderberries to name a few. Right by the house is a huge black walnut tree. All the walnut hulls (not sure about that term) are still green and closer to fall will turn black and fall off the tree. Then they will be ready to eat.

I got to sit with Mamaw a couple of weeks ago and crack walnuts while sitting on her carport. We upended a piece of log she has there, placed a walnut on the flat surface and whacked it with a hammer! And let me tell you, I now KNOW where the term "tough nut to crack" comes from. Those shells were H-A-R-D!

Suffice it to say that Kentucky is a lot greener than Texas was ... at least the part where we lived. There are more trees on the family land here than in our whole neighborhood in the city. We can let the kids play outside without being with them 100% of the time. We can leave things out in the yard and not have to worry (so much) about them disappearing overnight. The shopkeepers know us and our family and usually one of them will give our kids "a taste" of the newest icee flavor...and you wave at whoever passes you while on the road.

I am indeed "home".