I decided I should take part in Kelly’s Korner Friday blog hop, but with my own spin. I have lots of towns I have called home so I will highlight each one. Should be fun.
I was born and raised in the Fort. If you paid any attention in history class you know my hometown is known for the hanging gallows at Judge Parker’s Courthouse. Lots of fun on the lawn in the above picture. So weird to call hanging out at a gallow fun, huh?
The Fort has the peanut factory and houses the Mr. Peanut sign. Cute, isn’t it?
And if you know anything about the Fort you know this place. Ah, makes my mouth water. Is it weird that looking at this image makes me feel warm and comfy? I guess it makes me feel like “home”. I like that feeling. 
Next is the dorm where I lived while at OBU in Shawnee (to some of you this will be “the OTHER OBU“). I did not prefer being an Oklahoman, so my tenure there did not last too long. It was very windy and not as southern as what I like. It kept me honest though.
My next stop was UCA. I was back in God’s Country. I liked the comfort of this place. My closest friends, a short drive to all my family and an even shorter drive to Target in NLR (back in the dark ages before Conway had good stores). Bliss. I got “edumicated” and left out for the big city.
The mighty Mississip, Bluff City, Memfricia, Home of the Blues. This is where I met my hubs, had my first “real” job and learned life as a grown up. What precious memories from childhood ( my Daddy’s “people” live/lived here also) and until now. I know some people say bad things about it (I do) but it is a “home” for me and that bridge makes me feel comfortable just like the gallow, the peanut and the drive-in.
We decided to purchase/build our first home in this little Podunk town called Byhalia ( Are you singing the tire store jingle in your head, all your Memphis, north Mississip natives? Of course you are!) Trying to find an image for it was hard because the web is still a bit foreign to the folks there. This barber shop always cracked us up. I do believe it was the closest thing to Floyd’s you will find outside of Mayberry. You have to appreciate a bit of timelessness. This place was not really ever “home” to us, but it served its purpose. We lived on the outskirts and worked in Memphis…we just drove through on most days. Never had a haircut by Floyd, but we did buy tires at the tire store (are you still singing the jingle?).
(Yes, I marked out my info for safety sake)
God moved and we moved…yay…Back to God’s Country.
We like J’town and how good it has been to us. We have gotten the jobs we longed for and the baby we prayed for. SCORE! It is still becoming “home” and I think it will be with time. We love being close to Memphis and going there to eat, shop and see family & friends there. We also love being in the same state as the rest of our sweet folks and the towns I love so much. There is something about being in Arkansas that makes life a lot happier for us, even though it is not “home” all the way yet. So, that is my tour of homes.
Abby
Life With My Sister 
Abby, great post about Arkansas! I agree there is something special about our state. I also like how you mentioned better shopping in Conway. Years ago we would go to LR to shop but now I get excited about stopping in Conway to shop at TJM, Target, etc.!! Wish it had been there years ago!!
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Love it! I can related to a whole lot of this. Thanks for adding in a little spin to the home tour.
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You made great points about all of your stops. You are \”At Home\” in Arkansas and I love that state as much as you, having spent more than 30 years of my life there.I have often said that I could not have found a better place for you and Julie to be reared than \”The Fort\”. By far the best place I've ever lived. But, like you and Randall, I am back in my home state and I love my Mississippi.Its ironic how Mississippians tell \”Arkansas\” jokes and Arkansans tell \”Mississippi\” jokes.Both states are great places to live and raise a family.Y.D.
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