Blogging Around the States

This week we are visiting Lisa in South Dakota.   Lisa has a book blog, Books Lists Life, and a blog that features her home sewing items, made by lisah.   Her interests include reading, books, quilting, sewing, crochet, parenting and coffee.  (I like how she's listed both reading and books.  It made me smile, because they really can be two separate interests.)  A few of Lisa's favorite books are Gods in Alabama, Gone with the Wind, The Time Traveler's Wife, Speak and The Book Thief.


Have fun reading Lisa's answers to my questions about her and about her state.

ME:  Start by telling us a little bit about yourself.
LISA:  I am the mom of two little boys, The Pirate (4.5) and The Bug (1.5). My husband and I have been married for 5 years (on October 2nd) and have known each other for 10. In 2002 I moved from Alabama to South Dakota so that we could be together. At heart, I am a Southern girl. In addition to being a wife and mother, I work full time as a loan officer and I have a small side business where I sew little gifts- you can see those at http://madebylisah.etsy.com. I've been a reader my entire life, so it's hard to split my time between the two hobbies. I started my blog, Books. Lists. Life. on October 6, 2006- almost 3 years ago.  (ME:   I think this Crayon Roll is super cute.  Her boys are even cuter still - you get to see pictures of them on her blog)

ME:  What do you love about your state?
LISA:  As I said, I live in South Dakota. South Dakota kinda has a split personality- there's the mountains in the west, where I live, and the plains in the east. It really is two different climates and to some extent, cultures. Here in the Black Hills we have moutains and hiking, camping, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, the Badlands and tons of outdoor activities. It's very small town living, but I love it.

ME:  Is there anything you don't like about where you live?
LISA:  Really the only thing I dislike is how slow Spring is to arrive. My family back in Alabama have flowers in full bloom while we still have winter. Still, it's not as bad as I expected it to be and contrary to what you think there isn't snow year round.

ME:  If job, money, family did not enter the equation, would you prefer to live in another state? Which one? And why?
LISA:  This is such a hard question! We talk a lot about how nice it would be to live in Tennessee, because we both find it to be really pretty. I loved my one and only trip to Vermont, which was in October, so it was stunning there. And I'd love love LOVE to live on the beach somewhere.

ME:  If I visited your state what cities, sights, and/or activities would you recommend I check out, see and/or do?
LISA:  I think I might have already answered this one! My favorite attraction is the Badlands, but you wouldn't go wrong spending a few days in Custer State Park either. If you were in the mood to lose your money, you could visit Deadwood. If you visited THIS weekend, you could go to the South Dakota Festival of Books.

ME:  Who are some authors that currently live in your state?
LISA:  Sadly, I don't know of any living ones! Laura Ingalls Wilder lived here, and many of her Little House books are about South Dakota. Frank Baum lived in South Dakota for a while.

ME:  Do you have a favorite book set in your state?
LISA:  I don't. I haven't read the Little House books since moving here, and the few SD books I've read have all been non-fiction. I'm open to suggestions though!

Thank-you, Lisa, for joining me for this interview.  Our enjoyed learning about you and your state.  Happy Anniversary a day late - wishing you years and years of happiness.