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Grandma’s Victorian Greeting: Happy New Year!

by MarianBeaman | Jan 1, 2014 | Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Uncategorized

Here is a postcard from precisely 100 years ago: Grandma Fannie Martin Longenecker’s New Year’s greeting passed down to me and then to our daughter Crista who now displays it in a frame with her holiday decorations: They were called penny postcards for a...

Moments of Extreme Emotion Series: Curio Cabinet Explosion

by MarianBeaman | Dec 28, 2013 | Family / Nostalgia, Memory, Nostalgia, Reflection, Uncategorized

It was twilight. And twilight was turning to dusk as Cliff and I sat down to eat supper. He said, “Let’s light a candle.” She said, “Well, that’s a good idea. It’ll look pretty.” One of us said, “Let’s put the candle into the curio cabinet. The mirrors behind will...

The King

by MarianBeaman | Dec 25, 2013 | Family / Nostalgia, meditation, Nostalgia, Uncategorized

Merry, Mary Matryoshka Doll

by MarianBeaman | Dec 24, 2013 | Family / Nostalgia, meditation, Nostalgia, Uncategorized

A matryoshka doll also known as Russian nesting doll refers to a set of wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside the other. The first Russian nesting doll set was carved in 1890 by Vasily Zvyozdochkin from a design by Sergey Malyutin, a folk crafts...

White Paper Bags Glowing with Light, a Favorite Thing

by MarianBeaman | Dec 18, 2013 | Family / Nostalgia, Neighborhood / Environment, Uncategorized

Traditional luminaria of the Christmas season have their origins in the culture of Spain. Impressed with the paper lanterns from the Chinese culture, Spanish merchants decided to make their own version when they returned home. Killarney Shores, our community, has kept...

Mennonite Lexicon

by MarianBeaman | Dec 14, 2013 | Family / Nostalgia, Lists, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Uncategorized

You won’t find the definitions for rumspringa or bundling, (often referring to the Amish) in this mini-dictionary of Pennsylvania Dutch words, but here are some expressions the Longeneckers and other Mennonite families in Lancaster County often used growing up...
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