A Visit Home

Thomas Wolfe’s  novel published in 1940 made famous the saying “You can’t go home again.”  Although his novel was aptly named based on the story it told, I believe you can indeed go home again, and I have done so many, many times over the past 25 years.  When my husband proposed to me nearly 24 years ago, there wasn’t a moment’s hesitation before I squealed an enthusiastic yes.  Although I was flying high with the excitement of being engaged, soon the reality of settling permanently in Los Angeles began to sink in.  At that time I had already been living in L.A. for a couple of years and homesickness was creeping further and more deeply into my bones by the day.  Marriage meant that L.A. would become my permanent residence – far from the Bluegrass state of Kentucky where I had lived all my life up until then.  I was young and in love, and both overshadowed any concept of what forever really meant.  Although I couldn’t imagine living so far from my family, fate had other plans.  So ensued  years of travel back and forth over the three thousand mile divide between my history, family and roots, and my life in California.  I have made more than a hundred trips back to KY over the past two and a half decades.  As often as I go, it is never often enough.  And after all these years, I still get homesick.

The hills of Kentucky have called me home once again and I am enjoying a visit with my Mom right now.  Winter has given up and Spring is making its way into the daily forecast.  Our town borders Cincinnati just minutes to the North, separated by the Ohio river.  Mom loves to take long rides to enjoy the beautiful scenery abundant in the area where I grew up.  So together with two of my sisters, we ventured out on a road trip to the small town of Milford, about a forty-five minute drive east on the Ohio side of the river.  Over the years, Old Town Milford has managed to hold fast to its small town charm.  Spanning a mere three blocks, the sidewalks are laden with benches, trees and wrought iron stoops.  I was in heaven with the offerings of its tiny Main Street.  Antiques, donuts, cupcakes, chocolates and more.  We strolled.  We ate!  We rummaged.  We ate some more!  Little did I know what a jewel we would discover right under the nose of my own hometown.

For your enjoyment.  Pictures from a day in Milford.  A special day of baking with Helen (Mom) coming in the next post.

Such fun shopping!

Sugar Bakery

Auel’s Chocolates were truly some of the best chocolates I have ever eaten!
And the retro goodies were fun too!!