Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Wednesday Hodgepodge

From this Side of the Pond
 
1. What's surprised you most about your life or life in general?

I wouldn't necessarily say I've been surprised by life. Change comes gradually, even big changes are mostly premeditated. Sure there are unexpected happenings along the way, but that's life. Not exactly surprising.

But, if my teenaged self could have looked twenty some odd years into the future and seen the life I'm living now, that would have been surprising. Not being an Amish farmers wife like I was sure I would be and instead being decidedly not Amish, a homeschooling Mom, author of a book series, wife of a man who rebuilds semi trucks, and everything else our non Amish life involves I would have been stunned speechless.

2.  Sweet potato fries, sweet potato casserole, a baked sweet potato, a bowl of butternut squash soup, a caramel apple or a slice of pumpkin pie...you have to order one thing on this list right now. Which one do you go for?

I'd go for a slice of pumpkin pie, not the normal heavy orange stuff though, but a slice made with my Mom's recipe. A light, creamy, completely delicious treat of a pumpkin pie.

3. What's a famous book set in your home state? Have you read it? On a scale of 1-5 (5 is fantastic) how many stars does it rate?

Well ... Beverly Lewis, Suzanne Woods Fisher, and a lot of other Amish fiction authors have their books set in our home state. I have read all but the latest of Suzanne Woods Fisher's books. She is a very talented writer and when reviewing her books I would always rate them a five out of five.

4. There are 60 days until Christmas...have you started your shopping? How do you stay organized for the holidays?

I have started Christmas preparations, and already have a few gifts tucked away waiting to be wrapped. I keep my idea books/planners nearby. I love planning and organizing life in general and holidays even more so.

5. October 26th is National Tennessee Day. Have you ever lived or spent any time in Tennessee? Is this a state you'd like to visit one day? The top rated tourist attractions in Tennessee are-

The Great Smoky Mountain National Park (Gatlinburg area), Elvis's Graceland (Memphis), Birth of the Music Biz (Memphis and Nashville), Dollywood (Pigeon Forge), Tennessee's Military Heritage (many battlefields), The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson's home), The Parthenon (Nashville), Oak Ridge American Museum of Science and Energy, Chattagnooa and the Tennessee Valley Railroad, Downtown Knoxville, Lookout Mountain, The Titanic Museum (Pigeon Forge), The Museum of Appalachia (Clinton), and The Lost Sea Adventure (Sweetwater)

How many on this list have you seen? Which one on the list would you most like to see?

The only thing I've really done in Tennessee is drive through it, but I would love to visit the Great Smoky Mountain National Park someday.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

There's something about sunrises ... I love how no two mornings are the same. I also love how those few minutes our family will watch them in silent wonder, just soaking in the beauty.


 His mercies are new every morning.

36 comments:

  1. The Squire's family lives in the Tennessee-North Carolina border area, and we've seen a lot of the things on the list. Never been to Memphis or Graceland, but Pigeon Forge, the Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg are all places we've visited. I was in a boarding school when Elvis was in his heyday and although I'd heard of him, I'd never heard any of his songs until just recently. Boy, did I live a sheltered life!

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  2. Beautiful sunrise! I will have to look up Suzanne Woods Fisher books. Enjoy your week.

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  3. Lily,

    It's nice meeting you through the "Hodgepodge". How interesting that you grew up in an Amish environment but now do not live as one. Talk about cultural shock! Was it a difficult adjustment? We were south of Knoxville, somewhere between here and Sweetwater, I can't remember where exactly but we saw a two women riding a buggy. Would this been two Amish women? Anyhow, I'm a veteran homeschool mom, so we share that much in common. The sunrise picture is beautiful and no two are the same. I love east Tennessee sunrises! Have a blessed day!

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    1. It could very easily have been some Amish women.

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  4. I love those things you mentioned in your random. I will check out Suzanne Woods Fisher. I haven't really been a fan of books about the Amish, but am interested in that lifestyle. That sounds contradictory, but the few books I've read seem predictable. From what I have read though, you're right about it being a culture shock for you.

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    1. I'm not the biggest fan of Amish fiction, actually quite the opposite, but I have enjoyed Suzanne Woods Fisher's books which says a lot. :)

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  5. That sunrise is absolutely glorious and your comments concerning sunrises inspiring. His mercies are indeed new every morning!

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  6. Beautiful sunrise photo. Thank you for sharing with us again today. What does your mom do different with her pumpkin pie to make it so much better than the traditional pies? Have a lovely day.
    Blessings, Betsy

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    1. My Mom's pumpkin pie recipe can be found here: https://ajoyfulchaos.blogspot.com/2011/11/pumpkin-pie.html

      I prefer it above other pumpkin pies, but that's what I grew up eating, though LV also prefers it even though his mother never made it like this.

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  7. My sister and her family live in Tennessee, so I have been to Gatlinburg and the Great Smokey Mountain National Park many times. I'm a former truck driver, but now I'm an Army wife/homeschooling mom. I would love to hear the story of how your husband went from being Amish to rebuilding semis:-) Maybe you will share that with us someday? Thank you for all the effort you put into your blog.

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    1. Yes, the journey from growing up Amish to our present day life will be shared right here on my blog.

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  8. Your photo is beautiful! Sunrises marking the start of a new day are so special.

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  9. I'll have to look into books by Ms. Fisher--I'm ready to read something new!

    Your sunrise photo is lovely!

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    1. I hope you'll really enjoy her books! I especially loved her Stoney Ridge Series.

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    1. It lasted for only a minute but it was so pretty!

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  11. Sitting here in Tennessee listening to the breeze as these beautiful fall colors dance all around. Happy to have grown up in the East Tennessee hills!! A wonderful place full of so much history right at our back door. Maybe one day you'll visit the Smokies. We are in the Etowah - Hiwassee River area. The movie Wild River was filmed here many years ago. You'll have to look it up. Love reading all your post and Susan Woods Fisher is a favorite of mine. I just started her book A Lancaster County Christmas, and I'm loving it so far. Blessings to you!! Julie

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  12. This was delightful. Thank you for sharing more about your life and family. I'm sure somewhere here in your blog you must have shared how you decided to leave the Amish life...can you give me a link to it if it exists? I'd like to know what caused you to make that life-changing decision. I am enjoying your stories...

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    1. I had shared why we left the Amish, but it is among the posts that disappeared from my blog. I'm in the process of rewriting all those posts, so it will be shared again.

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  13. I'm enjoying getting to know you through your delightful blog. I admire your positive attitude.

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  14. I like a nice sunrise as well. Should make a point of getting up to see them more often.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. I love my daily dose of sunrise. Where we live now we don't get to see sunsets, and I miss them!

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  15. The sunrise photo is beautiful and your hodgepodge answers to the questions very interesting. Thank you for sharing. I'm looking forward to hearing more about your life past and present. Every blessing.

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    1. Glad you enjoyed your visit to my little corner of the internet.

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  16. That sunrise is so special, thank you for sharing it here.

    All the best Jan

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    1. You're welcome! I love how no two sunrises are ever the same. Each one being uniquely special.

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  17. That is a beautiful sunrise photo.

    I hope that you will get to visit the Great Smoky Mountains some day. They are a beautiful example of Heavenly Father's artwork. :)

    Have a blessed week!

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    1. I hope so too. I love being able to see the many beautiful places God created!

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  18. There is always something special about a sunrise. Have a blessed week.

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    1. There really is something special about sunrises!

      I enjoy visiting your blog every Wednesday, sorry I'm never able to leave a comment. The comment form always shows my profile as blank and I can't figure out why, and it refuses to post my comment without it.

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment. I love hearing your thoughts.