by MarianBeaman | Apr 1, 2024 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Uncategorized
Vintage card from the archives of Miss Ruth Longenecker I’ll be taking a break now . . . back...
by MarianBeaman | Mar 27, 2024 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite Lore, Quotations, Tips, Uncategorized
Springtime At Rheems Elementary, a two-room school of eight grades, we observed a daily ritual: Bell ringing from the school-house steeple (always by a boy), Bible reading, the Lord’s Prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and then singing before morning lessons began....
by MarianBeaman | Mar 13, 2024 | blog, Easter, Family / Nostalgia, meditation, Memory, neighborhood, Neighborhood / Environment, Quotations, Uncategorized
Is it spring? Is it winter? As I write, the Weather Channel reports that a late winter storm is blanketing the Northwest and the Midwest while warm temps tease those in warmer climes. Author Kawaguchi of Tales from the Cafe expresses eloquently the fickle fits of...
by MarianBeaman | Feb 28, 2024 | blog, Coming of Age, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, popular culture, Tips, Uncategorized
“Nearing 30 and trapped in a dead-end secretarial job, Julie Powell reclaims her life by cooking every single recipe in Julia Child’s legendary Mastering the Art of French Cooking in the span of one year. It’s a hysterical, inconceivably redemptive...
by MarianBeaman | Feb 14, 2024 | blog, Cliff Beaman artist, Family / Nostalgia, meditation, Mennonite Lore, Quotations, Reflection, Romance, Uncategorized
When life speeds up, I want to slow down. As I change the tempo of my life, I notice my breath deepen, my pulse slow, and my gaze narrows its focus. I may fix my eyes for a while on something small that catches my attention: a lizard-y critter scampering along the...
by MarianBeaman | Jan 31, 2024 | blog, Cliff Beaman artist, Family / Nostalgia, Gratitude, Quotations, Travel, Uncategorized
Cold in Florida The weather has been rough this January by Florida standards. Not rough like in Winnepeg, Manitoba or Litchfield, Maine, but rough enough to potentially kill plants. At 31° Fahrenheit, the Beamans have had to cover their tender plants with tarps....
by MarianBeaman | Jan 17, 2024 | blog, Gratitude, meditation, Quotations, Recipes, Uncategorized
Persimmon is IN. Yes, Pantone, that persnickety arbiter of color, has decreed that persimmon is the accent color for 2024. It’s the color of pumpkin, saffron, and orange itself. In a sunny room, persimmon looks sorbet-like, which reminds me of the mushy fruit...
by MarianBeaman | Jan 3, 2024 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, neighborhood, popular culture, Tips, Uncategorized
MARY: “Guess what! My Mom gave me her home organ. I may have it any time we can figure out how to get it moved from her house to where Alexei and I are moving. It’s really heavy!” SARAH: “Cool! Okay, let me check with Joel. Maybe we can help you and...
by MarianBeaman | Dec 13, 2023 | blog, book review, Literature, meditation, Quotations, Uncategorized
Medical Musings and Playing with Words Mercifully, I’ve skated through more than seven decades of life with few aches and pains. Over the years, my sympathy for others has extended to sending get-well cards, making phone calls and hospital visits....
by MarianBeaman | Nov 29, 2023 | blog, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, popular culture, Uncategorized
Your thoughts? Curious readers want to know. Lowest Prices of the Year! Click on the titles below to gift these books to a friend. Or, treat yourself this holiday. Mennonite Daughter: The Story of a Plain Girl Educational and thought-provoking ...
