The Old Order Amish attend church services every other week in Lancaster County. On alternate Sundays, the Amish often gather informally in various homes for social interaction and treats. Doesn’t that sound fun? I’d love to be included!
At the other end of the spectrum, folks in Seattle rarely pop in on each other without a certified invitation. Have you heard the term “Seattle Freeze”? I hadn’t until recently, but had discussed the predisposition with my husband and friends for many years. By in large, people in Seattle seem very friendly … on the outside. They might even think they are because they wave as they drive by.
I visited a man with some small chicken coops.
I googled the term Seattle Freeze http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Freeze and found this on Wikipedia. On Urban Dictionary, I read this quote: “Every. Single. One. of the people I know who re-located here from another state will tell you it’s hard to make friends here. They may not know the term “Seattle Freeze” but they well know the phenomenon. The only people who will deny it grew up here, and even many of them acknowledge it.”
I chuckled, but it’s sadly true.
This weekend, I tried an experiment at our beach cabin. I strolled to three neighbors’ homes, knocked on the door, and paid friends a short visit. I knew ahead of time I wouldn’t care if the person’s kitchen was immaculately clean or if their living room had been fluffed. In the last case, I was most handsomely rewarded. Not that anything is sweeter then friendship, unless it’s Amish friendship-bread.
And was rewarded with fresh eggs!
Had you heard of the term Seattle Freeze? Do you wish you had Amish neighbors who might stop by for a visit? Do you even know your neighbors? Do you have friends who offer to bring in your mail when you’re away or has an Arctic chill enshrouded your town too? Would you dare drop in on a neighbor, or do you enjoy unexpected guests? Maybe you already get too many?
Please leave a comment and enter to win a signed copy of either Leaving Lancaster or Pennsylvania Patchwork. USA and Canada. Winner has one week to respond.
Congratulations to Kathy F., winner of the darling Amish-made Potholder from Lancaster County! Thank you to everyone who entered!
Â
Â
To be Released June 1, 2014
Â
I live on a rural dead end road and I only have 2 neighbors.They are the best neighbors that I have ever had.If you need help doing anything they are there for you.I think it would be nice to have a Amish neighbor because you could learn a lot about a more simple living.
Living on a rural dead-end road without traffic but with supportive and friendly neighbors sounds like a little slice of heaven, Kathy! Thanks for writing and and during the contest!
I live in a rural area and have fantastic neighbors. They bring us pie,eggs, and even share their garden space with us.
I’m jealous, Danielle! It sounds like you have the best neighbors in the world. My hunch is you are good neighbors too. Thanks for entering the book giveaway and good luck!
I’d love to have Amish neighbors. They would me a lot quieter than the ones we have now. I love visiting with our Amish friends on their visiting Sundays. So nice to sit on their porch and enjoy the chatter.
Visiting Amish friends on their non-preaching Sundays sounds wonderful, Cindy! I can imagine your sitting on their porch and relaxing. Fun! Thanks for entering the book giveaway and good luck!
Would love it! Such simpler way of life. We could learn so much from them. Godly living
I agree, Rita, we could learn a lot from them. Thanks for writing!
I would welcome them arms open wide! My house is always less than tidy…but I have found that people are more important than stuff. Friends or people stopping by is always a treat. Yes, know my neighbors…but most work & are busy with their families so rarely stop by to the next door ones, but many just a few miles out get a stop by from I and the little peeps occasionally & love it!
I just got Leaving Landcaster in the mail! Hippity Hoppity! Daughter beat me to opening it! Would love either one for our Church Library though. 🙂
Yay, glad you got your copy of Leaving Lancaster, and I’m entering you in this contest too! You are so right when you say people are more important than stuff! I often joke that there’s no point in straightening the house too much before visitors come since they’re just going to mess it up anyway. Thanks for leaving your upbeat comment!
Having Amish neighbors would be a blessing in making our everyday life style’s so peaceful. Being able to enjoy and learn so many things that would make life so nice & simple.
I’d love it to, Bobbe! I agree with you completely. Thanks for entering the book giveaway and good luck!
It is a strange thing to think about. Here in the south, we’re famous for hospitality but the world around us has changed so much that, even that can not make neighbors friendly.
Would that qualify as a “Southern Freeze”?
I was thinking about Southern hospitality when I wrote this and wondered if it still existed as it did before. My walking partner is from the South and is a most hospitable woman with impeccable manners. I’m so lucky to have her. Thanks for entering the book giveaway and good luck!
We recently moved to a new home and neighbors. We have been welcomed with cookies and a few visits. But, yes I would love to have drop in visits and welcome them!! We live on a what I call a “horseshoe” street, and we have a neighbor who does a monthly news letter :-). Been to Seattle for a Navy reunion and our host did comment on that “Seattle freeze”. I do believe the Amish really go out of their way by extending a cup of tea/coffee and a scrumptious treat to any who stop in and visit, even unexpected guests. Such a wonderful feeling…to make a person feel special!
It sounds as if you moved into the right neighborhood, Linda, a special woman herself! How interesting that your host mentioned the Seattle freeze, a term I hadn’t heard before a few weeks ago, but certainly had felt. The state of Washington needs a few Amish settlements and more welcome mats! Thanks for writing and entering the giveaway!
Yes, of course I would drop everything, invite them in and we would have a nice long visit.
I figured you would, Juanita! You’re such a sweetheart. Thanks for writing!
I would love to have Amish neighbors to stop by and visit …what fun we would have on my porch…
I love having visitors!!!!!!
I’d love to be sitting on that porch with you and your Amish neighbors, Virginia! Sounds like so much fun. Thanks for commenting and entering the giveaway. Good luck!
I love in a friendly neighborhood and we drop in on each other from time to time. We visit a lot more in warmer weather out in our yards, on walks, etc. Would love to have Amish neighbors. My friend Rosie does and the Amish mother babysits for her kids. She even dressed Rosie’s kids in Amish clothing once and asked her “can you pick yours out”. I would love to win a copy of Pennsylvania Patchwork. Thank you for another wonderful giveaway.
Warmer weather does make visiting with neighbors easier, Mary. Since I walk often, I stop and talk to people and introduce myself. Still, some of them freeze me out at the oddest places. Unless I’m invisible. Your friend Rosie and her children have an extraordinary opportunity! Thanks for entering the contest and good luck!
no amish close by ,,would love some
Thanks for your comment, Mary, and good luck in the contest!
I love drop-in visits. I have some neighbors who do that and I don’t mind at all. My house is lived in, not a show case. They not only bring in the mail when we are gone they take care of our dog. There are no Amish nearby, but we still have great neighbors.
It sounds as though you have marvelous neighbors and are a wonderful neighbor yourself, Phyllis! Thanks for entering the giveaway and good luck!
I would love to have an Amish neighbor, but alas I don’t :-(….
I don’t either, Marlene, and my chance of getting some are slim to none. But we do have some good neighbors, for which I’m thankful. Thanks for leaving your comment and entering the giveaway!
I have never heard of “Seattle Freeze” , but I do wish I had Amish neighbors. I live in a state where we have several Amish communities and I used to visit them years ago. My hubby and I just moved and we are strangers in a strange town. I’d love to know my neighbors, but that’s not likely to happen, sadly. Since we are new here, we don’t have any friends who offer to take care of our mail when we are out of town, and thankfully no, we aren’t enshrouded by an Arctic chill, this week anyway. I miss the old days for sure! I certainly would love to have Amish neighbors stop by unannounced. I’d love to sit and crochet with them and trade recipes.
I imagine there are others who would love to sit and crochet with you and exchange recipes, if they could meet you, Candee. I’m going to pray for you, if you don’t mind, that neighbors and new friends come into your life. Thanks for writing and entering the contest! Good luck to you in every way..
Can’t wait for your NEW book!
Thanks, Susan! And thank you for visiting my blog!
I love having neighbors but some are friendlier than others!
Well, Angie, that certainly is the truth. Some of the less friendly neighbors can make life interesting, to put it kindly. Thanks for entering the giveaway and good luck!
I’m from Minnesota where there’s a thing called “Minnesota Nice.” I saw an example of that three times in the last few weeks. In each circumstance, a driver was stuck in some ice or wintry slush and couldn’t get out of the intersection. In both cases, someone jumped out of their car and helped push the other car. In two of the cases, we attempted to stop by were already outpaced by someone else! I truly felt proud to be a Minnesotan…hey, there must be some kind of binding tie between us since we suffer through interminable winters together!
I have never heard of Minnesota Nice, Lisa, but would love to have some sent in our direction. Thanks for sharing that uplifting tidbit and thank you for entering the contest! Good Luck!
I can’t wait to read your new book.Thank you for the book and the beautiful pot holder.I would love to have amish neighbors.I would be thrilled.Thanks again!
Thanks, Jackie, and you’re welcome! It’s always a pleasure to hear from you!
I live in Ky and when I was growing up neighbors always just stopped by for a visit. Now life is so busy that neighbors don’t even get to visit. I don’t mind if a neighbor or friend stops by unannounced as long as they don’t mind some clutter and dust in my house. I’d love to have Amish neighbors.
It does seem as though people are more busy than they used to be, Sharma. Plus, they have their iPhones to entertain them. And I gain a great deal of satisfaction from my Facebook friends. But I would love to hang out with an Amish family. Fortunately, I have a few Amish friends who can use a telephone. I call them every now and then to chat, but it’s not as good as a face-to-face. Thanks for writing!
Hello Kate. I love to have company. Even if I’m wishing my house was straightened up, they are always welcome. I don’t have visiting neighbors. None but a couple speak English. Makes it hard to visit. The last one to move in came across the yard to meet me after I waved at her, and later brought some fruit to me, but we couldn’t talk to each other. Wish we could be. And, yes I have a few friends where I make sueprize visits when I happen to be out and near them. I don’t think they mind. I believe they are just happy to have a visit. Excitedly waiting for your next book. Have the other two.
Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
Hi, Maxie! Good for you for making surprise visits and for being the first person to wave hello to a new neighbor. Sorry you have that language barrier. That would be tough! it’s always a delight to hear from you. Thanks for writing!
I have a really nice neighbor lady on one side of me and it makes all the difference when you need someone to get your newspaper or your mail. Also, she is just a really good friend too. You could knock on her door or call her and she would help you anytime.
Also, as a side note, I am definitely going to NEED your new book the minute it comes out in June. 🙂
Your neighbor sounds like a gem, Karen! It all goes to show how much difference one person can make. I wish we all had a neighbor like her right next door! Thanks for your encouraging words about Forever Amish. I’m getting excited about my new book too!
In a couple weeks I am going to visit family in Pennsylvania and we are going to go to Lancaster! I visited when I was little, and now I can’t wait to take my kids to see it. I love everything about it; the landscape, the values, and the people..from what I’ve heard. I never got to meet any in person, only through books like yours..so thank you for inviting us into that world, and letting us get to know the people and how they live.
Thank you for writing, Donna! I’m excited for you, for your upcoming trip and the possibilities that await your family. And thanks for reading my books! I did a great deal of research, but no doubt got some things wrong. Over the years I’ve become friends with some Amish who have helped me. In fact, before I handed in my Leaving Lancaster manuscript I asked an Amish couple and a Mennonite woman who managed a bookstore to read it to make sure I had my facts straight and was not misrepresenting the Amish. I got thumbs up in both cases. A tip while in Amish country, leave your camera out of sight. In the stores where I take photos, I know the owners and they have given me permission.
Our neighbors are friendly but don’t visit back and forth. I would love to win one of your books.
Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment, Colleen! You are entered in the book giveaway. Good luck!
Yes I do want Amish as my neighbors. My doors are always open for visitors. God bless you.
Thanks for writing, Ida! How wonderful that your doors are always open to visitors. Women like you are far and few between!
I have never heard of the term “Seattle Freeze,” but I would love having Amish neighbors! We have lived in our home for 40 years,, during which time I have had some really great neighbors. We would visit house to house, have coffee and help each other in different ways, but sadly most of those people have moved, and it is not the same. However a lovely family recently moved into our neighborhood, and they also attend my church. She is German, but also speaks English. We had their family for dinner & they invited us over for German food. It feels so nice to have real neighbors again! I just made a Anne a quilt to welcome Baby #5 due anytime, and guess who will be keeping the other 4 children? My husband and I! We raised 4 of our own, but its been a long time:) I would love any of your books Kate!
Thanks so much for writing, Linda! I can relate to losing your favorite neighbors, and then finding new ones. You sound like a marvelous neighbor yourself or the new couple would never entrust their beloved children to you. Good luck in the book giveaway!
I live north of Seattle on an Whidbey Island in Puget Sound, so have heard that Seattle is hard for newcomers to break in. It’s a little different on the “Island,” because it’s made up of small communities. We live in one of them and are able to walk to church, the post office, the library, the dentist, the old-fashioned movie (one film at a time), and a grocery store. We enjoy the small town feel and speaking to anybody we meet on the street.
Oh, your life sounds wonderful, Ann! And I love to walk. Thanks for sharing a glimpse of your island paradise. Good luck in the book giveaway!
Thank you for your great books
Thanks for stopping by my blog, Betty! Good luck in the contest!
I love how the Amish have church every other Sunday and the one Sunday they get to visit other families and have lunch together! I visited an Amish community and the guy told me that they were going to visit other families in the area and I thought “How nice! Of course we have church every Sunday and just the thought of having every other Sunday off and visiting families, friends, etc. would be so nice” Our neighbors live close by and I know half of them but the other half are ok, they will talk to you if you make conversation but other than that, it’s only “Good morning” or “Good afternoon” but at least we say that to each other and they are always in our prayers! It would be great to have families visit more often!
Thanks for your lovely letter, Brenda! After church service, many of us meet for a social time upstairs, including coffee and yummy food. In a large church, it can be difficult to meet people, as it is in a big community. If we were Amish we’d all know each other … But for the Pacific Northwest we’re in good shape! Good luck in the book giveaway.