—written by Monte:
One of my tenants said “It’s a small world,” after I related to her a few of our experiences on the New England trip. Later I thought to myself, “No! It’s a world in which God brings some real surprises to remind us that He is still in charge, that ‘Behind the dim unknown, standeth God within the shadow keeping watch above his own,’ as James Russell Lowell wrote in a familiar hymn.”
The surprising events—let me tell you a few of them, starting with the most amazing situation. A year ago Carolyn had sent out a note to the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church, letting them know I was available for guest or fill-in preaching during our vacation. Rev. Karen Munson, pastor of the Readfield: Torsey Memorial United Methodist Church in Readfield, Maine, responded, scheduling us on September 7 in this small community northwest of Augusta. At the beginning of worship, during a greeting time for the forty-five to fifty worshipers, I went down from the pulpit side and Karen descended from the lectern side. Soon she approached me. “You need to come over here and meet someone (more…)
My daughter Sandy loves lobster. Being inland, she’d eat at Red Lobster restaurant a dozen times a month if she weren’t budget-challenged.
Personally, lobster’s not my favorite, but (more…)
Between April 8 and June 12, 1630, a fleet of 17 ships carrying over 1000 passengers set sail from Yarmouth, England to Salem, Massachusetts. It was under the command of Massachusetts Governor John Winthrop, who sailed with 400 emigrants aboard the flagship (more…)
Southwestern Pennsylvanians drink pop or soda pop. In New England, they order tonic.
Either way, the beverage is carbonated, sugary tasting, and usually a well-known brand.
That is, unless it’s (more…)
—written by Carolyn October 15, 2006
Definitely it was not a goose!
This beast was massive,
Certainly not passive.
While racing high speed ahead
It saw me (more…)
Lizzy Borden took an ax,
And gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.
I’m sure this childhood rhyme is familiar to you. The difference between us is that you weren’t talking about someone who shares your ancestry. Lizzie and I share common roots: both of us descend from Rebecca and Thomas Cornell, albeit our lines separated prior to 1700 (I only discovered this paternal thread of connection in January 2003!).
That’s why the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast in Fall River, Mass., was placed on my list of non-negotiable plans (more…)
OBITUARY NOTICE
(See Blue Buoy’s picture—click on:
We regretfully report the demise of Blue Buoy, age unknown, sometime last spring or early summer. Following Blue Buoy’s capture near the Isles of Shoals in September, 2003, he spent a short time at a lobster shack in New Castle, NH. From there he took up residence at the Seacoast Science Center in Rye, NH, where visitors, including many school children on field trips, admired his robin’s egg blue color.Blue Buoy leaves behind cousins Whitey, Baloo Bell and his aged uncle, Toughage.
His legacy is not only in the hearts (more…)
Photo illustrations for this post are located at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/beaneryonlineliterarymagazine/2294677309/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/beaneryonlineliterarymagazine/2295470648/in/photostream/
On Feb. 8, 1673, a 73-year old widow, Rebecca Cornell, was found deceased, burned to death, in front of her bedroom fireplace. Her son, Thomas Cornell, 46, was hung for her “murder” on May 23, 1673. (more…)
Between April 8 and June 12, 1630, a fleet of 17 ships carrying over 1000 passengers set sail from Yarmouth, England to Salem, Massachusetts. It was under the command of Mass. Gov. John Winthrop, who sailed with 400 emigrants aboard the flagship “Arabella.” This 28-gun ship also transported the Charter of the Massachusetts Bay Company to Salem, thereby giving legal birth to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
(to read the rest of this story click on IN SEARCH OF THE ARABELLA: A STORY OF TWO BOATS )
