11 Reasons We Are Thankful For Living In Kentucky
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Jenn Shockley
Author
Kentucky is such a beautiful place to call home. Every article I publish with scenic views of our gorgeous state always get the sweetest comments. Most people are proud to live in a place so rich with wild life, forests and water ways, and often refer to the Bluegrass State as God’s special place. When you look around at Mother Nature’s bountiful blessings, it is really hard to argue that point. The land isn’t the only thing that makes living here special though.
Everyone has reasons they are thankful for living in Kentucky, and here are 11 of ours:
Not the bourbon, the bird. We do not have to buy our turkey at the local Kroger, Meijer, or whatever grocery you frequent…These Toms are all across Kentucky in different areas, and they tend to travel in packs. In Adair County we’d see groups of 10+ turkeys, just strolling down the country roads, or eating in the woods. We’d honk and they’d pretty much ignore us, till we stopped and got out. However, about 2 weeks before Thanksgiving, they all go into hiding. We never found their spot.
Some of my readers have stated during their travels, they came upon places that did not know of sweet tea. They’d hand them a glass of unsweet tea and some sugar packets, which we ALL know is just not the same. Thus, I am most grateful for Kentucky’s familiarity with real sweet tea.
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Having more than four decades of Kentucky memories can seriously help increase gratitude for this state. There have been both wonderful and disturbing events along life’s journey, and they either became a beautiful memory or a stepping stone towards increased wisdom. I cannot imagine growing up anywhere else, though in the winter I do ponder visiting the deeper south.
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Another blessing over the years has been a close proximity to, or visiting some of Kentucky’s beautiful lakes and rivers. We frequented Rough River, Nolin and Lake Barkley in my youth, along with multitudes of rivers. Water is one of the most relaxing elements and Kentucky is blessed to have more waterways than any other state.
Growing up and continuing to live in the same state means we get to maintain relationships with our dearest friends who do the same. Kentucky’s motto is "United we stand", and real friends and families are truly united.
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We have some of the sweetest, most considerate people in the world all grouped together. Of course, no one is perfect, and there is always a bad egg somewhere, but overall, Kentucky is full of goodhearted individuals.
Growing up we lived near one of the national forests, so I was blessed with spending a lot of free time in and around the woodlands. There is serenity in the woods that one just cannot get anywhere else. The time spent within the trees and plants created some sweet memories.
It doesn’t matter if you prefer the Pecan chocolate original version, or the Thoroughbred with Walnuts and bourbon, both of these are mouthwatering desserts. Neither of these wouldn’t exist without the Bluegrass State.
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Growing up on and around farms provided a well of interesting experiences, from fresh fruits and vegetables to milk and butter from our own cows. Once you have the real thing, the watered down versions sold in stores just don’t taste right.
Thanksgiving in the south is different. For starters, we have cornbread dressing and as many desserts as main courses. Mind you, southern cooking is great all year round from biscuits and gravy to various pots of burgoo. Southern cooks tend to put love in every dish, and my Mom made sure we were blessed with love at every meal.
Family is important, at least to us. Most of our immediate families are in Kentucky, though scattered across different areas. Some people have to leave the state just to visit parents and siblings. The fact most of ours are near is a true blessing. Plus, my wonderful husband and in laws are all Kentuckians.
Each one of these things touches home for me, and I am eternally grateful for the experiences, good and bad. Everyone has something that they can be thankful for in Kentucky. What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving season?
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