home is wherever i'm with you

home |hōm| noun

1 the place where one lives permanently, esp. as a member of a family or household

2 a place where something flourishes, is most typically found, or from which it originates

For a large part of this past semester, I thought that my first 2-3 weeks of summer would be spent in Johannesburg, South Africa. Towards the end of the semester, I found out that trip must take place in January instead. Big deal? Not at all. I'm super spontaneous. I can handle changes of plans. But I found myself becoming increasingly nervous about the trip's change of date. Instead of going to Africa, I would be going directly home for the summer. And home, for the first time in 13 years, would no longer be Jackson, Mississippi.

Home now is Wilmore, Kentucky - a small, quaint town 20 minutes outside of Lexington. Think Mayberry. I lived here for 5 years of my childhood, and after 3 weeks of being here I can truly say it is good to be back. Kentucky is beautiful; I forgot what it was like to be surrounded by so many horses, everywhere you look. Pictures of what is now the view out my backyard will come soon, but, for now, here's a small update on two of my most recent adventures.

This is one of the buildings at Shaker Town, or, more officially, the Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill - a historically preserved Shaker community. Complete with an inn, an amazing restaurant, a craft store, a living history museum, and gorgeous farmland, this truly is a unique place thatyou should check out if you're ever close enough to do so. Lucky for me, it's only 20 minutes from my house! Mom and I stopped by the other day and walked around the historic buildings, just because we could.

[Location of the restaurant. I really like old brick buildings.]

One of my best summer adventures so far took place this weekend. Saturday night was Lexington's annual Swingin' on Main event - they shut down part of the city, have a live band, and everyone swing dances all night. Amazing.

[Friends practicing some swing moves.]

[Lexington city lights + a whole lot of people getting their dance on.]

[Dancing the night away.]

If the night wasn't good enough already, we topped it off with a trip to a friend's house and ice cream with more toppings than you've ever seen in your life. Oh yes. Life is beautiful.

Jackson is still home to me, just as New Jersey is and Oxford is. But I can honestly say, it is good to be in Kentucky. It is good to be home.