"We're going to Florida, but we're NOT going to Sarasota or Pinecraft," my sister and I agreed when we began planning our February Florida trip. "Absolutely not. That's where all the other Mennonites go, and we're going to be different." "Not Sarasota, and not Pinecraft. All the plain people go to Pinecraft to visit other plain people and play shuffleboard." "What a silly reason to go somewhere on vacation." "We can see plain people at home in Lancaster County." "We can see plain … [Read more...] about Flying with the Snowbirds
Family
Snow Stories— Two Broken Bones, a Close Call with a Horse, and a Tulip Snow
We just got our first snow this week, a few inches of pretty, fluffy snow. Living in eastern Pennsylvania, we can usually expect a few measurable snowfalls each winter, nothing too serious. But there's always the chance of something more exciting happening when there's snow, such as the winter both my brother and I had broken bones, or the time I nearly got trampled by a horse on a snowy back road on my way to church. My brother had the first broken bone. After school one day, he and the … [Read more...] about Snow Stories— Two Broken Bones, a Close Call with a Horse, and a Tulip Snow
Camping with the Cows
We won't forgot that night. The story begins when my aunt and uncle invited us to their farm for a campout. Uncle Norman's farm had a shady pasture with a flat, secluded spot to set up tents. My parents, my younger brother, and I, plus my aunt and uncle and three of their children would all sleep out together. I was thirteen and very excited about camping. What wasn't quite as exciting was realizing that Uncle Norman kept his cows in the same pasture we would be sleeping in. "It … [Read more...] about Camping with the Cows
Christmas Cherry Bells
Yes, I know October is a little early for Christmas cookies. But these Christmas Cherry Bells freeze super well, and Mom and I thought we'd get a head start on the holiday baking tonight. So I took some pictures of the process, and I'll share the recipe here. Christmas Cherry Bells are delicious cookies, although not cheap, thanks to the chopped pecans. So they truly are a "Christmas time only" food at our house. You don't need any special cookie cutters for this recipe. A round biscuit … [Read more...] about Christmas Cherry Bells
The Plays at Penn Johns School
When the night of the school program came and the red gingham curtains parted, our classroom was a theater filled with wit, drama, and far more comedy than we intended. Last week I went with my sister to watch my niece play a bit part in a children's music film, and the experience made Brenda and I recall the plays we acted in at Penn Johns School some twenty years ago. "I wish I could get my hands on the old video of me playing Mrs. Brown." Brenda told us. She, her daughter Angela, and I … [Read more...] about The Plays at Penn Johns School