Georgia On My Mind!

Are you really proud of your state?!

I know, I am too and my friend, Beckie at Infarrantly Creative decided that we should do a blog hop about our states and share with all of you, so I’m joining up this week with 29 other bloggers who are also celebrating their state pride.  They will be sharing anything from state crafts, to recipes, projects and more.

Please click over and visit Beckie first to see some of the fabulous state projects that have been shared so far!

As a very proud Georgia resident and Southern girl, I have lived in this great state since I was 6 years old, so I definitely consider myself a native. Georgia is home and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, except maybe after retirement.  The traffic around here would be about the only reason I would ever move.  But, Georgia has some great things going for it.  I remember taking Georgia history in grade school, but I’m afraid I didn’t retain a lot of it.

From coastal Georgia, with moss dripping from the trees, to the mountains of N. Georgia, we have some beautiful cities and countryside in our great state.  Savannah is one of the best known cities in Georgia and I love visiting there, with its history filled elegant homes and regal squares that make up that quaint city.   Stone Mountain, our own hunk of granite mountain, just east of downtown Atlanta is a sight to behold.

Ray Charles singing, Georgia on My Mind  always makes me proud.  There’s something really special about that song.

I’d love to share a few special things about my home state.  Here are a few facts I found online, some interesting and some quite humorous. You can see the entire 50 facts at the link, but I picked my faves to share here:

1. Historic Saint Marys Georgia is the second oldest city in the nation.
2. On January 19, 1861, Georgia joined the Confederacy.
3. Georgia was named for King George II of England.
4. In Gainesville, the Chicken Capital of the World it is illegal to eat chicken with a fork. (who knew??)
5. Stone Mountain near Atlanta is one of the largest single masses of exposed granite in the world.
6. Georgia is the nations number one producer of the three Ps–peanuts, pecans, and peaches.
7. Known as the sweetest onion in the world, the Vidalia onion can only be grown in the fields around Vidalia and Glennville.
8. Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River.
9. Georgia’s population in 1776 was around 40,000.  (uhhh, we’ve grown just a bit in over 200 years)
10. The annual Masters Golf Tournament is played at the Augusta National in Augusta every first week of April.
11. Georgia is often called the Empire State of the South and is also known as the Peach State and Cracker State.
12. Coca-Cola was invented in May 1886 by Dr. John S. Pemberton in Atlanta, Georgia. The name “Coca-Cola” was suggested by Dr. Pemberton’s bookkeeper, Frank Robinson. He penned the name Coca-Cola in the flowing script that is famous today. Coca-Cola was first sold at a soda fountain in Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta by Willis Venable.

In my own hometown of Marietta, we are known for one thing that comes to the forefront for most of us who grew up here.  Mention Marietta and most people will bring up the Big Chicken.  Yep, we have a giant red chicken with moveable beak at one of the major intersections in Marietta.  Our own icon of Southern memorabilia.  Needing extensive repairs a few years ago, there were talks of tearing down our Big Chicken, but we natives rallied and saved her from the wrecking ball.  Yep, that was one proud day.  She still stands in all her glory right where she needs to be and is home to a KFC restaurant.

via Sussman Imaging

May she shine forever, beak moving proudly!

Peaches, Pecans, and Peanuts:  The 3 P’s from Georgia!

As noted above in fun facts, Georgia is well known for 3 crops grown in our fine state:  Peaches, pecans and peanuts.  By the way, most Southerners I know say pe-caahns, not pee-cans.   That’s just a little side note. You’re welcome!    All 3 of these are Southern foods and loved by all who grew up here.  I know my family has certainly eaten our weight in all three of these flavorful foods.  I’ve shared some peach recipes with you all over the years and here are 2 of my faves:  Peach Cobbler and Peach Bowl Pizza, recipes that my mother has made.  We love them both!

I shared Tricia Yearwood’s Crockpot Chocolate Candy recipe a couple of years ago, which starts with peanuts and ends with chocolate and it’s a big hit as well.  One more Southern specialty, pecans are a staple in so many Southern foods and these Pecan Pie Mini-Muffins will get your mouth watering with how delectable they are.  I love these for special occasions.

If you missed these recipes the first time around, please click over to the links above and save the recipes to try yourself.  These are Southern goodies made with the 3 P’s known to Georgia and you can’t go wrong with peaches, peanuts, or pecans. 

I’m proud of my state, aren’t you?  A fun way to share your state pride is with a map.  Aren’t these state maps from Map My State so cute?  This is a fun way to give a gift to someone who is proud of their state.

There are also mugs available, so you can choose any state and get yours personalized for anyone. This company is offering my readers 20% off with the coupon code:  southernhospitality

I think this is a great way to celebrating the uniqueness that is your state, so let’s hear it for state pride!

I know each of our beautiful states across our country are known for some fun facts.

If you’re coming over from Cindy in Kansas at Skip to My Lou, welcome!  We are all posting about our states today and I’d love for you to hop over next to my friend, Kelly at Eclectically Vintage, where she is sharing about her state of New Jersey.

Also, before you go, Beckie will be sharing a “Show Your State Pride” Link party on Monday, the 23rd, so if any of you bloggers would like to share your state next week, please don’t miss the link party!

What about YOUR state are you proud of the most?