A typical summer afternoon in the mountains of Kentucky.
I took the photo above...pictured is my brother in law's ATV in front of ours as we are going through the mountains and creek bottom on the ride home...The large bolders pictured are common along the mountain trails...as are the ancient caves of our ancestors...It's a beautiful ride...a beautiful experience!
Here in the mountains of Kentucky on Saturday nights our family has become accustomed to riding our ATV's through the mountains. It's great quality time, relaxing, and scenic as well. We went for a ride yesterday afternoon, the entire family! The mountains were beautiful, the ride that we enjoy the most is nearly five miles of winding, up hill, down hill, and through creeks and mountain trails. Alonng our journey we often are blessed to see deer, elk, turkeys, and an occasional small black bear. With our fixings for supper, water, coffee, and family packed and ready...away we went! One rino after the other each loaded with family, food, and joy. Along the way we stopped to take an occasional picture, examine unusual stones, take a water break, or just to rest for while in the cool of the mountain shade...it's natural for stories of the old days to spring up along this trail, as this same trail was a walking path that connected the homestead where my mom grew up to a homestead where my father in law grew up, as well as many other local families. The families often walked the trails and visited each other, you see...back then many of the families in the rural parts of southeastern Kentucky wasn't blessed with an automobile, and if they were...the gas wasn't plentiful and wasn't used for visiting...it was preserved for the occasional trips to town. When we finally reached our destination we setup camp and began preparing our supper which consisted of; fried chicken, fried potatoes, green beans, fresh corn, corn bread, corn bread salad, chicken livers, fried green tomatoes, cucumbers, vine ripe red tomatoes, pea salad, water melon, cantaloup, cheese cake and even fresh mountain brewed coffee. It's always amazing to me how much better food tastes when prepared outside. As we sat outside beneath the clear, starry sky enjoying the scenery, good food, and the company of family...I found myself quietly giving thanks to God for my heritage, the beautiful and bountinful land that He so graciously provides, and for my Kentucky mountain family....On the dark and cool ride back, I enjoyed the sounds of the crickets, the beautiful moon that hung clear in the sky, the comfort of my husband beside of me, my granddaughter sleeping peacefuly beneath a quilt in my lap. As the tail lights of the other ATV's glowed in the night ahead of us, my thoughts lingered on my family and the mountains...I silently smiled as I held my husband's hand and snuggled with my four year old granddaughter, enjoying the cool night air on my face...I can't think of another place on earth that I would rather live than the mountains of Kentucky!
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Reviewed by Joyce McDonald Hoskins
5/4/2009
Your stories are so wonderful, Joyce. It’s good to read about real people who are happy with a simple lifestyle and joys.
Another Joyce
A great outing with the family. Lots of foods too. I love chicken livers, some of my family cannot abide them. Each to their own tastes. Corn bread is fulfilling and good too but what is cornbread salad? The mountains sound like lots of fun and a quiet evening to sleep there and meditate.
This sounds like a wonderful outing! You have all the essentials; food, family, and beautiful surroundings. Love the imagery of your granddaughter in your lap. Thank you for sharing this day. I hope you have many more times just like this in 2008!
Sheila
How beautiful! (Are there any leftovers?) You are discribing such a wonderful, relaxing time that it just relaxes the reader as well and you awake a longing for such beautiful places as your home, the Kentucky Mountains.
R&B
Magnificently beautiful...illlustrious imagery, family and all...ahhh I just loved this.
The reading, reminicing there is nothing greater Joyce. I miss Ky. very much, going to the city...Galt House in the Big Lou...the Belvedere. Smile I want to ride on those big bikes for two I believe it is and take a carriage ride downtown near 4th.
Have a wonderful and blessed upcoming holiday and I enjoyed reading your blog too, Dearie.
Love and hugs to you~Enjoy!
~Gwendolyn
Hey Sis: (Smile)
An ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC STORY, I absolutely loved it!!! (Smile) My mother's family were from Kentucky (1868). Thanks so much!!! Everything sounded so great--thanks for allowing me to pull up a seat to enjoy, and I really miss fried chicken, camping out and all--but I still have been blessed with God's Awesomeness, here in the State of Washington, as well. Lots of Love, Sis "D" A (Fellow) Servant of the Most High God.
Reviewed by Georg Mateos
8/22/2007
I heard once of the blue grass of Kentucky, of ethereal beauties roaming among the forest trees and of the spirit of Chief Blachoof guiding his Sawnee braves on the moutains paths to confront foolish Chickasaw in search of a war name despite the wise words of the Cherokee not to try; they said that from time to time one hears thunder coming from the mountain sides as they battle.
Truth or...?
Thanks for a lovely evening tour.
Georg
Great story, Joyce. Sounds like a good time had by all!
Reviewed by d. k
8/19/2007
Joyce, since reading your book I have come to understand the Mountains of Kentucky and your way of living. I most certainly felt like I was sittin' by the campfire enjoyin' all them there Kentucky fixin's. I did have to turn me nose up to the chicken liver...sorry 'bout that. An excellent write my friend. Such a warm, family time together! Keep on going out for them rides and makin' long lastin' memories!!
Smiles,
Dorothy
Reviewed by Victor Buhagiar
8/19/2007
I'm jealous. No, not really, but I do wish I could follow that trail. Victor
A beautiful write. I live in Maryland. When I was a child my Dad would drive us into Virginia and simply enjoy cruising Skyline Drive in the autumn. You have remind me of that. When my kids were growing up my wife and I carried on the tridition. The mountains are never so beautiful as they are in September or October. Such brilliant colors. Enjoying these blessings with family is a wonderful memory which has spanned from my childhood to my parenthood.
God Bless,
Lew
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