As we traveled home after a recent family reunion, the always asked question came forth as the air conditioning in the car took hold, and we relaxed for the drive home. “What was your favorite part of the day?” My son’s answer was quick and to the point: “The food!” Those of you fortunate enough […]
October 3, 2015 By Maryanne Datesman Meet Granny Rhoda, who could be the “poster child” for the self-reliant frontier woman. She was beautiful, accomplished, fearless, neat, sweet-tempered, and had faith in God. An inspiration to us … Continue Reading about Granny Rhoda: She Can Bring Home the Bacon and Fry It Up in a Pan […]
September 11, 2015 By Maryanne Datesman Leave a Comment We can all remember exactly what we were doing when we heard—and saw—the horrendous events that occurred 16+ years ago today. Those events are burned into our collective psyche as we reflect back on … Continue Reading about Reflections on 9/11: Timeless, Inevitable Questions about War […]
October 1, 2015 By Maryanne Datesman Leave a Comment This article was written in 1914, at the beginning of World War I. News dispatches were describing battles taking place in Europe and there must have been some confusion about the names of these … Continue Reading about Battles That Have Two Names: It’s a Matter […]
September 18, 2014 By Maryanne Datesman Leave a Comment “Battling the Armyworm for 100 Years” Last Saturday we were sitting around a fire pit in a friend’s yard, roasting marshmallows for s’mores, when the subject of lawns came up. Our friend said he … Continue Reading about Battling the Armyworm for 100 Years → Filed […]
September 1, 2015 By Maryanne Datesman Leave a Comment Did you ever wonder what life was really like 100 years ago? Well, Vintage American Ways has a collection of The Youth’s Companions for the years 1880 to 1920—over 2,000 of them—containing thousands … Continue Reading about Throwback Thursday: A Fast Food Restaurant 100 Years Ago […]
October 1, 2015 By Maryanne Datesman Leave a Comment This article was written in 1914, at the beginning of World War I. News dispatches were describing battles taking place in Europe and there must have been some confusion about the names of these … Continue Reading about Battles That Have Two Names: It’s a Matter […]
September 12, 2015 By Maryanne Datesman Leave a Comment Boys’ Page for October: “When You Are Lost in the Woods” The Youth’s Companion October 1, 1914, p. 512 Few persons become lost in the woods when the sun is shining; but on a cloudy day, or in a … Continue Reading about When You Are […]
Jodi Crandall is truly one of a kind—a charismatic professional who is “down to earth,” kind, generous with her time and her advice, a creative dynamo, and a genuinely caring person. We’ve worked … Continue Reading about JoAnn (Jodi) Crandall: In Recognition of Her Lifetime Achievement Award from Washington Area Teachers of English to Speakers […]
September 12, 2015 By Maryanne Datesman Leave a Comment Boys’ Page for October: “When You Are Lost in the Woods” The Youth’s Companion October 1, 1914, p. 512 Few persons become lost in the woods when the sun is shining; but on a cloudy day, or in a … Continue Reading about When You Are […]
The last weekend in May is the unofficial beginning of summer—Memorial Day Weekend. This is when the swimming pools open, boats are launched, grills fired up, schools are closed (or closing soon for summer vacation), and local parks blossom with families playing outdoor sports and eating picnic lunches. There are patriotic parades and celebrations remembering […]
Hard work—it’s one of our basic American values, the price we pay to get ahead, to capture the American Dream of a better life. But do our young people really have a good work ethic? Do they understand that all work is not intrinsically rewarding? That some work is mundane and routine, maybe even drudgery? […]
Head to your email inbox to download the 0.5 version of the ROUGH DRAFT of American Handbook: What Your Grandparents Want You To Know and then share your thoughts with Maryanne as part of the dialogue we are beginning.
October 2, 2015 By Maryanne Datesman Leave a Comment Most of us are familiar with the term “grandfathered in” that indicates an exemption from some new rule or law that has been enacted. Merriam-Webster defines the grandfather clause: “Law: a part of a … Continue Reading about Who’s your gran-daddy? The Origin of the Grandfather […]