Last night I tossed and turned, unable to switch off my brain. Am I excited about Forever Amish’s up-coming release June 5th? Absolutely! And I have several blog posts I need to write. I tried to switch off my thinker, but my mind continued to churn with ideas. I was so determined to sleep I refused to write them down.
Lancaster County, PA
I’ve often wondered how I’d do living on an Amish farm. Would I finally catch up on my sleep? Are farming communities quieter and more peaceful than the city? Yes, and no. The rooster would show me no sympathy and a farming household would be in full swing. Cows need milking! Maybe my husband and I should move to a sweet cabin beside a rippling brook, near a cornfield and protected by a stand of trees. Although robins begin their vigorous chirping mighty early. As do crows.
The city is noisier in general, particularly today with a house down the street being leveled; a cute little place that wasn’t apparently to the new owners’ liking. I remind myself: Seattle can’t compete with NYC, where blaring horns are a continuous irritant. Still, some mornings I hear jets rumbling overhead starting pre-dawn. A pilot friend confirmed that the Sea-Tac Airport’s control tower uses our neighborhood as a visual on final descent. The first city bus rolls past our house at 6:20 and trucks in need of new shock absorbers rattle by on their way to construction jobs. And we have a new basketball court across the street …
Do you think I have an unrealistic view of country life? Twice as a younger woman I lived with my grandmother in rural Connecticut in Litchfield County, just down the road from Lyme. That’s a photo of her house. After her death, unfortunately her barn burned down. (no livestock) I love the area in spite of the poison ivy, snapping turtles and extreme weather. But with Lyme disease the fastest growing bacterial disease in North America I wonder if visiting my cousin in CT is a good idea anymore. Such a pity, but the truth is Lyme disease is present in almost every state. Even New York City. Please take this warning seriously if you see a tick or start experiencing random symptoms that only a Lyme-literate specialist will recognize. Many people suffer for years before being diagnosed. The testing is unreliable; doctors often misdiagnose and under-treat them.
But back to my question: Do you think I have an unrealistic view of a peaceful, pastoral life? Is it more serene and all round superior? Better air quality, unless you suffer from allergies, which I don’t. Would I miss the luxuries the city offers? Should I buy earplugs and learn to live with the city’s racket? How do you cope?
Leave a comment to enter to win this Amish-made tea towel from Lancaster County, PA. One week to enter and US and Canada only please.
Congratulations to last week’s winner, Candace B. of the Amish-made potholder! Thanks to all who left comments!
To be Released June 5, 2014
Oh my goodness you are not wrong, i grew up in the country where you could go barefoot and lay in the grass and watch the sky forever, go fishing or listen to the sounds of which there are plenty just not the sirens, honking, worse smells than cow manure, i wish i could go back every day
I love your description, Carol. It takes me back to my childhood, staring up at the sky, lying on a cushion of grass. My parents had a cabin on a creek in the woods and I fished often. Thanks for rekindling my memories! Good luck in the contest.
Having lived in or around the city for years, I forget the peaceful country. Even the “noise” there has a peace about it! I wonder when I visit or ride in the country if I would rather be there all the time and I have decided that I’d rather be near my family in the city. One thing I would love to have is true dark at night so I could really see the sky.
I know what you mean, Martha. The sky is never truly dark in the city. I adore actually seeing the Milky Way and photographing the moon. Thanks for writing and entering the contest! Good luck!
i would love to live in the country. i don’t like the city.
Thanks for writing, Pat! Sounds like you’re done with city living. Hope you get your wish in some fashion. Good luck in the giveaway!
I don’t think you are wrong either! My mom lives in the country and I always enjoy the peace and quiet when I stay with her for a few days. I live about a mile from the airport so we are constantly being bombarded with airplanes taking off and landing besides all the noise from traffic, sirens and the like. Give me the country anytime!
I forgot about the sirens, Kathi. But someday we may need an aid car or fire engine, so it’s nice to have the station close by. We also have noisy water aircraft taking off and landing on the lake. Your mom’s house is sounding awfully good! Thanks for writing!
For me, I love the country! My family in Indiana lives in the country, and it’s so quiet and peaceful! I like the hustle & bustle of the city, but it’s nice to slow down for a while. I escape the city here in a couple if ways: Seeing my parents over in the suburbs, going to parks here in the city and near my boyfriend in Ballard, or using my White Noise Generator at night helps to lull me to sleep despite all the sirens. God bless you Kate, and thanks for your giveaway!
Glad to hear you have a few ways to escape the city’s hustle and bustle when you want too, Mallory. I use a white noise machine too and it does seem to help with the basketball court. Yet those jets … I can hear one rumbling over right now. Good luck in the contest!
I dont live in country but pretty darn close.Love listening to birds and watchn them and we have feeders out fir them.Woukd love the towel i love all things amish and try abd read all amish books
Sounds like you have the best of both worlds, Lynn! I love birds too. Good luck in the contest!
I love being in the country don’t miss the city at all. And no you are not wrong. I love your books I have Leaving Lancaster but not the others yet. And I think this towel is so pretty. Thanks for the chance to win it
Thanks for entering the contest, Patti. How wonderful you love living in the country and don’t miss the city. Hard to beat that! I hope you get a chance to read my books. Good luck in the contest!
I love your pictures. I live where it used to be very rural, now not so much. We had acres and acres of fields across the street, empty for 20 years, then suddenly full of homes. I loved the quiet, but I now have some pretty nice neighbors! Would love to have that peace again, though, as well!
Thanks for writing, Sonja! That must have been quite a shock when the homes were built. I like many of my neighbors too … maybe half as many? Good luck in the contest!
The towel is so beautiful
I pray that I win and ur books look so interesting hope I am blessed to win one
Thank You
Betty
Thanks for writing and entering the contest, Betty! Good luck!
You probably would love living the country . We lived on a farm when I was young . I missed it when we moved to town but loved living closer to friends & neighbors . You could move some place just outside of a city and have a bit of both . I loved both . Loved my grandma’s home in the country , no power & an out house . The home wasn’t fancy but it was Grandma’s home & that made it special .
Fun to hear you had a special grandma too, Mary. I was also very close to mine, but she did have electricity except when it went out. How wonderful that you grew up on a farm. Thanks for writing and entering the contest! Good luck!
Love the Country… Having Amish Neighbors is the best Part of it.. The Childrens Laughter,Yodeling and Sunday Singing truly amazing…
Oh, that sounds fun, Joy! I’d love to hear the Sunday Singings and yodeling! Thanks for entering the contest. Good luck!
I love going to the country, but i’m a city gal lol
Good to know where you belong, Kathy! Thanks for entering the giveaway. Good luck!
I live in a small town that is actually getting to be to big for me.No our town hasn’t grown,but I just long for a more quieter and peaceful life of the country.My uncle passed away last week and after his funeral I went to his old home.I could live there with no problem.It was so peaceful,and I understand now why he loved it there.I can imagine sitting on the front porch for hours just listening to the sounds of nature.I cope here in my little town making my home look as much country as I can.Thanks for sharing your post.
I would just love a wide front porch and hours of listening to nature, Jackie. Sounds divine. Sorry to hear of your loss. Thanks for writing and entering the contest!
we grew up in the country for the most part, my dad did have suberbian dreams when I was on 10th grade. I will take country and farmlife anyday over the city of town. I loved going to my grandparents to stay on the farm. We camped there every summer for 3 months near the river and we always had our family reunions there.
Linda
Sounds wonderful and unique, Linda! Camping near a river for three months every summer and family reunions there too. How many people can say that? Thanks for entering the contest and sharing your delightful childhood. Good Luck!