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Can this Be Happening in Obama’s America?
Where have I been these past months? Apparently I have been anesthetized by the shenanigans of the election. Today I became aware of a report of Native People in North Dakota getting hit by water cannons in frigid temperatures as they were protesting the installment of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). Then I also saw…
Read MoreThe Beauty of Nature
Once in a while my heart swells with gratitude for the beauty I see in nature. The other night, I was making dinner when David and I both noticed the gorgeous sunset. I quickly ran for my camera and took several shots, first from the porch, and then from the attic window. Sunset from my…
Read MoreTrip to Ohio
Last week David and I traveled to Ohio. We took a different route this time, by way of Route 88, 17, and 86, through the middle of New York State. The mountains were in full color, so we had plenty of colorful vistas. Unfortunately, the highways don’t lend themselves to taking photos, so you will…
Read MoreThird Story Studio at the Bridgeside Retreat
I want to thank all of you who responded to my last three blog posts. It was so gratifying to feel such solid support for this book project. I cannot tell you how moved I was by the comments, especially for those of you who shared of your own stories. It makes me realize how…
Read MoreMem: Life Lessons I Learned from my Amish Mother, Part 3
“Art is a kind of innate drive that seizes a human being and makes him its instrument. To perform this difficult office it is sometimes necessary for him to sacrifice happiness and everything that makes life worth living for the ordinary human being.” ― C.G. Jung I have now written to the conclusion of my…
Read MoreMem: Life Lessons I Learned from My Amish Mother, Part 2
Three years later, in February of 2014, I published my second book, Bonnet Strings: An Amish Woman’s Ties to Two Worlds. That summer I realized that even though I have written two books that recalled memories of my Amish childhood and I did not shy away from writing about the abuse I endured at the…
Read MoreIntroduction: “Mem: Life Lessons I Learned from My Amish Mother” Part 1
I am writing a third book, so far called Mem: Life Lessons I Learned from My Amish Mother. This title will likely change when I find a publisher. This book is about my relationship with Mem, so I’ve been reading her letters from years ago. That is what prompted me to post excerpts of her…
Read MoreFrom My Amish World to My Vermont One — The Second Time
David’s “Faithful Charger” outside my parents’ home in 1981 Lately I have been reading my journals that I wrote in the months and years following the second and final time I left my Amish community. I’ve also been reading letters I received from “home” during that time. What I am concluding is that I would…
Read More‘Among’ the Amish but not ‘of’ Them
I apologize to those who do not understand my experience, unless you have walked in “our shoes” it probably does not make much sense. I love being “home” ! ~ Delmar Martin First I want to thank everyone for contributing to the lively discussion about the decision David and I are facing of where to…
Read MoreAnother Crossroads
I promised a while ago that I would reveal our future plans. Since then, our plans have changed several times over. So the short answer to where we will be moving once the house sells is: we don’t know for sure. We put our house on the market partly because David’s job situation is tenuous,…
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