Amy M. Schaefer
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From the Front Porch

I am an "accidental blogger". When I launched my writing career in March of 2014, one of the things that I decided to include was my journaling, which I have always found to be a comforting and therapeutic endeavor.  It was a big risk to open myself up in such a public forum, but it has taught me that, for the most part, we share far more experiences than we think. It's comforting to know I'm not alone!  (*the "Button Text" is the link to my first novel)
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Last Camping Trip for 2015--Autumn Perfection

10/19/2015

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Campsite in McDowell, County 17 October 2015
PictureChili Cook-Off 17 October 2015 at Mountain Stream RV Park
I sat at a picnic table across from my husband in the crisp October evening, while we listened to the rules of our first ever Chili Cook-Off! We were surrounded by people we didn't know, but you certainly wouldn't have guessed that due to the warm, friendly nature of the conversation. There were no strangers at these tables, merely friends who were meeting one another for the first time. My husband, who to my knowledge has never eaten chili in his life said, "I'm going to try some of them. Show me what you'd think I would like?" I could not contain my smile, as the steam of a new path we're taking really got going. The path we've agreed to embark on together involves doing things we've never done, traveling to places we've always wanted to go and discovering ones we didn't even know we wanted to visit until we got there. This is one of the reasons we purchased our camper over the summer, so that we would have a mobile hotel room to wherever we decided to let the wind take us. On this beautiful little mountain, at the third ever RV Park where we were camping, both of us spoke in quiet tones to each other about the deep and loving sense of community shared here. People made us feel welcome. We talked about our dogs, laughed at the playful challenge for the winner of the cook-off, and prayed for an eight-year-old none of us knew who was lost on the mountain.









One thing both of us have really loved about our RVing experience is the opportunity to meet and visit with people from all over. I am delighted to discover this underlying current of camaraderie that seems to be absent in suburban America. Honestly, I thought it was mostly lost forever. Turns out it's just gone on the road to "everywhere"! Who knew?! Our last trip for the season to McDowell County, North Carolina was just "right"! We chose that destination because the fall colours are still in wild array, and if you haven't seen the North Carolina mountains in full fall glory, you truly must! We certainly enjoyed Mother Nature's enchanting autumn beauty, but even more fantastic was the warm welcome we received from Ron and Becky Johnston, the owners of Mountain Stream RV Park and the great group of campers whom we had the good fortune of meeting. Dinner Saturday night was delicious. The chili perfectly hit the spot and helped beat back the cold of the night to come, while my husband's homemade brownies added the "frosting" to our experience!

If you're ever in the neighborhood, consider stopping in at the Mountain Stream. They're not kidding with their claim of being, "The prettiest little park this side of Heaven"! You can find them at www.mountainstreamrvpark.com.



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    About The Author

    I grew up in rural North Carolina. When I was only nineteen, I moved away and became a military wife. My only aspiration at that tender time in my life was to create an adult life that "fixed" all of the "injustices" of my childhood. Secretly, however, I wanted to reach for the sky! I wanted to be a writer and find ways to "save the world" (my mother used to say, "You have Save the World Syndrome".). Mostly, I wanted to matter.

    Since then, I have learned to reach well beyond what I ever dared to think was possible. I've learned not to allow fear to stop me from whatever future I want to create!

    What keeps me grounded? My Tribe! What provides the wind beneath my wings? A well of reserves filled with unstoppable passion!

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  • Amy M. Schaefer, Writer
  • Blog: From the Front Porch
  • Novels
  • Short Stories
    • Children's Books
  • About the Author
  • Contact
  • Photo & Art Gallery