by MarianBeaman | Feb 17, 2015 | Education, Gratitude, Recipes, Tips, Travel, Uncategorized
Once upon a time, there were five memoirists who met online through their writing websites. One of them, Janet Givens, who had a rustic log house on Chincoteague Island, Virginia, invited four blogging friends to join her for a writers’ retreat: Kathy Pooler, Joan...
by MarianBeaman | Feb 11, 2015 | Family / Nostalgia, Quotations, Tips, Uncategorized
Remember punching out valentine cards that came 8-10 to a page and addressing them to send to your classmates? Back then the do-it-yourself craze hadn’t caught on in the Valentine’s Day department. A least, not at Rheems Elementary School. Though we may...
by MarianBeaman | Nov 22, 2014 | Education, Quotations, Tips, Uncategorized
In praise of color! God did not create the world in black and white. Our world vibrates with vivid color from the cerulean blue sky above to fluorescent coral reefs sea deep. Generally, colors are hues we see, but Neil Harbisson hears color. Now, you ask, what is it...
by MarianBeaman | Nov 15, 2014 | Coming of Age, Family / Nostalgia, Nostalgia, Recipes, Tips, Uncategorized
BAKE It’s cold outside, maybe even Polar-vortex cold, and Saturdays with Grandma or Aunt or Mom will be spent indoors. One cold day three of our grandkids warmed up the house, at least the kitchen, with cupcake baking. Yes, it’s fun to help mix up the...
by MarianBeaman | Nov 8, 2014 | Family / Nostalgia, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Reflection, Tips, Uncategorized
Unlike Hansel and Gretel, whose mother tried to starve them and then lock them out of the house, Mother Longenecker provided well for her children and left behind, not white pebbles or bread crumbs, but hand-written notes tucked away to tag her heirlooms. Each note...
by MarianBeaman | Oct 22, 2014 | Family / Nostalgia, meditation, Mennonite History, Mennonite Lore, Nostalgia, Quotations, Tips, Uncategorized
The bustle in a house The morning after death Is solemnest of industries Enacted upon earth, — The sweeping up the heart, And putting love away We shall not want to use again Until eternity. Emily Dickinson was referring to the morning after the death of a loved...