by MarianBeaman | Jul 22, 2020 | blog, Education, Family / Nostalgia, Gratitude, Memory, Quotations, Reflection, Uncategorized
It’s not me . . . at least not yet (Gotcha going there, didn’t I!) Not long ago, Peggy Wheatcroft turned 80, and she did something amazing to mark the milestone. Rather than receive presents, she gave one, a gigantic one! Her gift(s) became a birthday...
by MarianBeaman | Jul 15, 2020 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Gratitude, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, neighborhood, Quotations, Tips
“The ground is terrible here. You can’t grow anything decent in this dirt!” Years ago, that was my dad’s pronouncement when he assessed the state of affairs in my sister Janice’s garden close to our house in Florida. True, in a land where juicy oranges, plump...
by MarianBeaman | Jun 17, 2020 | blog, chalk drawing, Cliff Beaman artist, Education, Kiev Ukraine, Neighborhood / Environment, popular culture, Travel, Ukraine
Toilet paper and lecturer’s chalk, these were two essential items, which preceded our arrival in Kiev, Ukraine, nine years ago in April 2011. Dozens of toilet paper rolls cushioned the fragile sticks of chalk, needed for the nineteen art & music performances...
by MarianBeaman | Jun 10, 2020 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Nostalgia, popular culture, Southern lady friends, Uncategorized
I like to play games! Check all that apply: ___ Board games ___Solitaire ___Sudoku ___Crossword puzzles ___Other (__________________) I hate playing games! Check all that apply: ___Games are pointless, a waste of time. ___I never win. ___I’d rather talk to...
by MarianBeaman | Jun 3, 2020 | blog, book review, Family / Nostalgia, Literature, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Uncategorized
Do You Remember the Bobbsey Twins Books? Recently I read Jennifer Weiner’s novel, Mrs. Everything, which alluded to iconic books and products of the 1950s, like the Bobbsey Twins, Almay soap, Prell shampoo and Ship ‘n Shore blouses. Overall, her book is not a...
by MarianBeaman | May 27, 2020 | blog, Cliff Beaman artist, Coming of Age, Family / Nostalgia, meditation, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Quotations, Uncategorized
What happens after a festive book launch and a fruitful book tour? Mennonite Daughter is still peddling. The Story of a Plain Girl is still logging “book-mobile” miles. But now she has a book trailer! A book trailer helps build hype for your book. It interjects...
by MarianBeaman | May 20, 2020 | blog, Cliff Beaman artist, Family / Nostalgia, meditation, Memory, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Uncategorized
I chose B-E-A-U-T-Y as my focus word for 2020. Even if dozens of leviathans had dropped from the sky from Mars, never would I have imagined the impact world events would have on our collective experience in the first 5 months of this year. Wow, oh, wow! Below, you can...
by MarianBeaman | May 13, 2020 | blog, Conflict, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Tips, Uncategorized
With strands of black and gray hair combed obediently over the curve of his head, my pastor saw the world and his place in it clearly through wire-rimmed glasses, a fixture on his nose. Even now, I cannot imagine he took many sideways...
by MarianBeaman | May 6, 2020 | blog, Cliff Beaman artist, meditation, Recipes
Avocado Toast is yummy! Have you tried it? Great for mid-morning snack, 4 o’clock tea, or simple supper Assemble your ingredients: 2 small or l large avocado; seasonings, salt and red pepper flakes; tomato slices (optional). Avocado, nature’s...
by MarianBeaman | Apr 29, 2020 | blog, Cliff Beaman artist, Conflict, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite Lore, Quotations, Reflection, Romance, Uncategorized
We should have been in church We would have been in church this Sunday Except for the Corona Virus Sunday morning started off well but seemed rather strange since usually we would be in church where Marian taught her two-year olds in Sunday School. But...
