I was born and raised Mennonite Brethren. Although I no longer have a membership in such a church I still consider myself to be MB. At times I forget how important it is to me. Then I read a book by Margaret Epp and am reminded. Easter approaches and I make paska and am reminded. I catch sight of a tub of dry cottage cheese, think of vareneki and am reminded. Hear my mother singing in harmony with her sisters and am reminded.

Amidst all the stories I hold and memories I treasure I realize one thing: food seems to play such a huge part in the MB tradition! Here is a blog I love. Many of the recipes here I recognize, some are newer than those in my Mennonite Treasury cookbook or my We Are Our Mother family cookbook. The beauty behind the food though is something deeper, a desire for relationships. The beautiful gift of hospitality and welcome. A sharing of our selves with each other and even strangers. That is why I sometimes weep when I come across recipes and the stories that go with them. They bring memories of people I have known, times when my life has been influenced and enriched by those with whom I have been privileged to share a moment. Of course my family is central to many of those memories. I am Mennonite Brethren.


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The first fire in our new woodstove. (New is such a loosely worded term in this case since we've had it for over a year and a half, first just inches into the front door since it came home on the back of the pickup during a snowstorm, but at 400 lbs Pieman and I could only slide it so far, then sitting in our cloakroom. Then it was installed with the chimney reaching through the ceiling into the attic. And there it sat. For a looong time. Now it has been fully installed and certified for insurance purposes. Finally a fire. It's going to be a cozy winter!


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A full day of learning started at 8:30 am with baking a cake. It has officially ended with the icing of the cake at 5 pm. Lots of action in the middle including Greek, history (ancient Greece coincidentally), math, Bible, hockey (ok, that's happening now and in the kitchen as though that's normal). The play outside included spontaneous chestnut hunting and caterpillar noticing.

I like a good day.

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Cattails, children running through the fields and woods, fall colours, pumpkins, tomatoes rescued from frost, hot soup and hot chocolate, squash and beans harvested from our own garden. The crunch of leaves underfoot, a warm sweater. Cozy. Fall. Yes, it means winter's coming but what a waste to not enjoy today.

(And after all, winter's beautiful too!)

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