by MarianBeaman | Aug 7, 2013 | Uncategorized
Central California Coast in Pictures SIGNS WONDERS Our wonderland along the central California coast was bounded by Monterey Beach, CA to the north and Pismo Beach, CA to the south. Succulents along the street on the way to the huge rock jutting as if out of nowhere...
by MarianBeaman | Aug 3, 2013 | Family / Nostalgia, Neighborhood / Environment, Tips, tree surgery, Tree surgery, Uncategorized
3 Stories in One The certified arborist surveys the 16 tall oaks on our property in Florida and pauses at one: “I don’t like the looks of that tree,” he warns. “Its bark looks splotchy and the ground around it feels spongy.” He taps near the root with his...
by MarianBeaman | Aug 3, 2013 | Conflict, Uncategorized
PT – Prolonged Torture. Wonderful post from a favorite blogger, Traci Carver. Check out her torturous visit to the physical therapist as she prepares for a trip to France.
by MarianBeaman | Jul 31, 2013 | Coming of Age, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Uncategorized
The whole family crams into the gray 1951 Studebaker: Our family of five, Daddy, Mommy, Janice Jean and I (Mark isn’t born yet), Aunt Ruthie and Grandma–seven stuffed into an airplane cockpit, it feels like. We don’t take two cars because we are...
by MarianBeaman | Jul 27, 2013 | Coming of Age, Conflict, Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Uncategorized
The Martin clan gathers together for large family meals at my Grandma Longenecker’s house because Grandma, the oldest in her family, is a wonderful cook and has an enormous kitchen. Everybody likes Grandma, my dad’s mother. Grandma Fannie was a Martin and the Martins...
by MarianBeaman | Jul 24, 2013 | Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite Lore, Recipes, Southern lady friends, Uncategorized
Plan A The sweet aroma of ham-loaf baking wafts through the house as I hurry to welcome my Southern friends at the front door. They are in for a real treat: ham-loaf from Wenger’s Fine Meats in Elizabethtown, PA brought shrink-wrapped in my suitcase on the plane, My...
by MarianBeaman | Jul 20, 2013 | Coming of Age, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Mennonite Lore, Uncategorized
Here we are, Juliets without our Romeos When Mom says “sca-doo!” at home, we know we can find amusement at Grandma’s house. Aside from the mysteries of the woods behind her house, other attractions include a slope where lilies of the valley...
by MarianBeaman | Jul 17, 2013 | Coming of Age, Conflict, Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Mennonite Lore, Uncategorized
Thumbnail: Home is on Anchor Road, connecting our house to Grandma’s house and neighbors in between. The story continues . . . . . . . As we drive from Grandma’s past the Hoffers, I notice off to the right the weathered frame house of Mr. Heisey, who...
by MarianBeaman | Jul 13, 2013 | Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Mennonite Lore, Neighborhood / Environment, Uncategorized
Home for me is bracketed by the two houses we ping-pong between: our parents house and Grandma’s house on Anchor Road. Her house is at the bottom of the hill and ours at the top. Both houses are along side Anchor Road, between Elizabethtown to the west and...
by MarianBeaman | Jul 10, 2013 | Lists, Purple Passage, Tips, Uncategorized
Debut of purple passages! A collection of lines from books I have read since 1989 when I began jotting them down in my journals, my 9 books of wishes, dreams, laments, and bursts of praise. The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines a purple passage as one...
