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Mother’s Sky View: The Beautiful City

by MarianBeaman | Jul 27, 2016 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, meditation, Memory, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Quotations, Uncategorized

This week two years ago Mother was snatched from our world just five days after her 96th birthday. Late on a Monday evening, July 28, 2014, she was transported into a new and better land. Mother lived on a dairy farm in the Manheim – Lititz area of Pennsylvania. When...
Louisa Adams’ Moving Adventure

Louisa Adams’ Moving Adventure

by MarianBeaman | Jul 20, 2016 | blog, book review, Education, Literature, Uncategorized

Remember the Beverly Hillbillies? The Clampetts strike oil in the Ozarks and move to Beverly Hills in a rags-to-riches sitcom of the 1960s.   Of an entirely different era and social class, diarist Louisa Catherine Adams, wife of the 6th American President, John...
His Turn: An Artist Discards, Donates and Discovers

His Turn: An Artist Discards, Donates and Discovers

by MarianBeaman | Jul 6, 2016 | blog, Cliff Beaman artist, Literature, meditation, Tips, Uncategorized

His Turn: An Artist Discards, Donates, and Discovers Truth be told, my husband Cliff would rather not move. Despite the fact it’s getting harder for him to mow our enormous lawn in one fell swoop or scoop up oak leaves by the millions, he would rather stay put. He’s...
A Glorious Fourth, 1909 Style and a Memoir Tip

A Glorious Fourth, 1909 Style and a Memoir Tip

by MarianBeaman | Jun 29, 2016 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Mennonite History, Nostalgia, Tips, Uncategorized

Would you pass up an invitation to a lawn soirée on a holiday weekend? This week more than 100 years ago my grandma, Miss Fanny Martin, then a single woman, received a penny postcard invitation to such a gathering on July 3, 1909.   Mary Elizabeth Kob writes in...
A Rollicking Review: Marie Kondo’s Tidy Book and a Messy View

A Rollicking Review: Marie Kondo’s Tidy Book and a Messy View

by MarianBeaman | Jun 15, 2016 | blog, book review, Education, Family / Nostalgia, meditation, Nostalgia, Quotations, Uncategorized

In last week’s post Paring Down and Tidying Up, I referred to Marie Kondo’s New York Times best-selling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying up. Her book has sold over 5 million copies and is being translated into 40 languages.  I promised you a review...

Paring Down, Tidying Up – Some Tips

by MarianBeaman | Jun 8, 2016 | blog, Cliff Beaman artist, Conflict, Family / Nostalgia, Literature, Memory, Mennonite History, Nostalgia, Reflection, Uncategorized

“Listen to this” I said to Cliff as I began reading the page on sorting papers: “Rule of Thumb – Discard Everything. ” As I continued reading the chapter on sorting papers in Marie Kondo’s New York Times best seller, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, I saw my...

Secrets of My Blue Madras Dress

by MarianBeaman | Jun 1, 2016 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, meditation, popular culture, Uncategorized

Did you wear a madras dress? Did it bleed? Popular in the USA in the 1960s this cool summer fabric originated in Madras, India. Loosely woven cotton threads created a plaid patchwork of soft fabric that didn’t cling to the body during sweltering summer days. Some...

Mouse Moves House and So Do We

by MarianBeaman | May 25, 2016 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, meditation, Memory, Nostalgia, Quotations, Tree surgery, Uncategorized

We are planning to move. It’s not a long-distance move to another country or across our own land. Not even to another state. And we are not retiring to Florida. Why, we’re already there. And we’re not moving to another city. Our re-location involves a move just 9...

Moments of Extreme Emotion: Where’s My Spyglass?

by MarianBeaman | May 18, 2016 | Cliff Beaman artist, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Nostalgia, popular culture, Uncategorized

The photo of a pair of transitions eye glasses attached to a scarlet lanyard is still posted on my Facebook page dated April 14, 2016. “Hubby makes a lanyard for my glasses today. He is not being kind. He just doesn’t want to look for my glasses anymore! . . . well,...

Help! Vintage Photo Needs Caption, II

by MarianBeaman | May 11, 2016 | Family / Nostalgia, Literature, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Quotations, Uncategorized

Every week, The New Yorker magazine features a Cartoon Caption Contest, inviting readers to submit a caption for consideration. After three finalists are chosen, readers vote for the winning caption. You can view my first attempt at a similiar contest here on this...
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