by MarianBeaman | Jun 25, 2025 | blog, Cliff Beaman artist, Family / Nostalgia, Gratitude, Memory, Nostalgia, Paska, Travel, Ukraine, Uncategorized
Flowers, a bottle of wine, a box of candy, even a potted plant—these are the gifts guests often choose to present to a gracious host, responding to an invitation. My neighbor Mila offers both gifts when she comes to our house for lunch or supper. Mila...
by MarianBeaman | Jun 11, 2025 | blog, book review, Literature, Neighborhood / Environment, Nostalgia, Quotations, Reflection, Tips, Uncategorized
My home is open today. You are welcome to step inside. Come on in! After breakfast, I move to the blue velvet chair, the one I use for meditation, Bible reading and prayer with names of people I know and care about written on a prayer card. Sort...
by MarianBeaman | May 28, 2025 | blog, book review, Family / Nostalgia, Romance, Uncategorized
Once Upon a Time . . . . . . in a land far away lived a king and queen in a beautiful palace. They had everything in the whole world to make them happy, but the queen was sick and very sad. She sat in her chair by the window and thought, “Oh, I wish I...
by MarianBeaman | May 14, 2025 | Award, blog, book review, British History, Conflict, Memory, Quotations, Travel, Uncategorized
What if you lost your home? lost your livelihood? had a dire diagnosis? With triple trauma, Raynor Winn, armed with Paddy Dillon’s guidebook and husband Moth with a copy of Beowulf, embark on a 630-mile walk on the sea-swept South West Coast Path. From Somerset...
by MarianBeaman | Apr 30, 2025 | Family / Nostalgia, Gratitude, meditation, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Tips, Tree surgery, Uncategorized
The story of our sexy sago palm created a lot of buzz. This showy palm, a native of Japan, stretched forth its fruitful fronds for years on our patio. Then, it up and died. Well, almost! What happened: Late last year, I was hoping to report to you the second flowering...
by MarianBeaman | Apr 2, 2025 | blog, meditation, Quotations, Uncategorized
A Miracle! Time for me to refresh. . . see you soon!
by MarianBeaman | Mar 19, 2025 | blog, Coming of Age, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite Lore, Uncategorized
It’s sometimes easy to spot too much of a good thing! An Overeaters’ Tanka Fried chicken and pie Burger with bun, cookies too Huge slice choc’late cake Oh, you sure must wish to die Too much of a good thing—fie! ©MLB 2025 A Tanka is a...
by MarianBeaman | Mar 14, 2025 | blog, book review, Coming of Age, Education, Novel writing, Novel writing, Quotations
In Honor of Women’s History Month 2025 Belle da Costa Greene, courtesy of J. P. Morgan Exhibitions My Review In the lush world of literature and the arts, librarian Ms. Belle da Costa Greene rises along with the fortunes of New York financier and...
by MarianBeaman | Mar 5, 2025 | blog, book review, Coming of Age, Literature, Memory, Novel writing, Novel writing, Tips, Uncategorized
When I retired from college teaching, my colleagues gifted me with an illustrated Alice in Wonderland. Last week when I pulled this book from the shelf, I flipped through the illustrations, focusing on the characters, especially the March Hare. Why?...
by MarianBeaman | Feb 19, 2025 | blog, Lists, meditation, popular culture, Reflection, Uncategorized
In January 2025 I didn’t make New Year’s resolutions. At least not consciously. Last month I thought, “I’ll just do what I have been doing, but maybe try to do it better”—blogging, Pilates, making meals, keeping up with friends and gardening. This year (I’m thinking...
