I haven’t written much about our move down South yet, but friends, I am loving it!
It’s been many, many years since I have lived in the South, but I finally feel like I am home again. I sincerely don’t know how you can have such an emotional tie to a place when you have been gone for so many years that you barely even remember it, but I have always felt a “connection” to the South somehow. I dreamed of the day I might be able to come back, but honestly never thought it would happen. God has blessed us though, and here we are!
While I am not in my birth state of Alabama, I am close enough that I can visit with my family there, as well as family that we have in Missouri, Georgia, and Florida. We haven’t had the chance yet to do that, but we have had the privilege of having my brother and his wife come up to see us twice so far. It’s definitely our turn next, and we are very much looking forward to getting out and exploring the states around us.
There are so many things about living in Tennessee that make me happy. The weather is gorgeous, the environment is stunning (so green and lush everywhere you look!), and the people we have met so far have been nothing but kind. Shoot, our new next door neighbor offered us free and open use of his utility trailer from the day we moved in. “If you need it, just hook up and take it. I already let my wife know, so it’s yours to use.” Wow! lol
The topic for today though is all about the food. Ha!
Since we have been here, we’ve had the opportunity to find some great little restaurants to eat at, and each time we go, I find myself ordering something I haven’t had for years. A couple of days ago, it was a side of fried okra at the Bel Air Grill. So good! I can’t honestly even remember the last time I ate it, but the minute I bit into the first piece, it was like a “food memory” came rushing back.
Other bits of deliciousness have been things like buttermilk fried chicken (Aubrey’s has the best!), down-home BBQ that is melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and I could honestly make a whole meal out of the fried green tomatoes from Calhoun’s. Oh. My. YUM!!!
Now, those shrimp and grits you see in that photo on the left? That is my favorite meal to order when we go to The Front Porch, and I snapped that pic the first time we were there. We discovered The Front Porch when we first flew down to Tennessee last year to see if this was where we wanted to move or not. Such a cute little place where yes, you can actually eat your meal sitting out on the front porch. I ordered the grilled shrimp & jalapeño cheese grits with sweet tea, and it was dee-vine!
Anyway… We enjoyed our meal on the porch, amidst the warm spring breezes and the sounds of the birds mingling with the soft southern drawls of the folks around us. Needless to say, I knew this is where I wanted to be and I haven’t looked back since. ♥
Y’all, there is just so much to love here, and I will never be able to put it all into one post. I’ll have to save some of my other favorite things for another day. For now, I just want you to know that if you ever come down to visit, we will have a wonderful time and enjoy some great food, too!
Until next time,
P.S. So far, The Front Porch also has the best sweet tea that I have had in a restaurant yet. Tastes just like I make it at home!
(Photo by: Tori Close)
