Don’t let the peaceful chirping of birds on an early Vermont morning fool you. It has been nothing but chaos here at Olde Stone Well Farm. Filming for its next episode is delayed a bit more. I won’t go into details, but there have been major glitches and delays with the old roof. And to top it off, one of my chickens got hit by a car Saturday night. She is alive, but something happened to one of her feet and it is tucked in underneath her and she is hopping around. She is eating and drinking, though, and seems perky and alert. Lord, in your mercy. Once filming resumes of Olde Stone Well Farm, there will be plenty to share with you!!!
Well, we didn’t have a total eclipse of the sun here at Olde Stone Well Farm, but at least the sun was out! It’s been a week of rain, sleet and heavy snow…so much so, that I found myself not wanting to do anything. I had no energy and was also feeling a tad bit overwhelmed as life just threw so much my way. In this season of Easter, I found myself like the disciples right after the resurrection, huddling in an upper room in fear and despair. The good news is that I also remembered no matter how hard we try, nothing can keep Jesus from reaching us and urging us on to new life. With some much needed sunshine, I began to find joy again and felt the little seed of hope starting to take root. I also got to work at starting my garden by planting seeds indoors for now. The ground is still too cold to work! Where are you finding signs of joy, new life, hope in your life? And remember, if you just happen to be struggling with finding joy, like I was, reach out and let me know. It is always good to remember that we are not alone and prayers are always there to be lifted up! Blessings to you all! One of the greatest joys is having you all join me at my 18th century home. Like, share, comment!
Friends, let me be the first to wish you all a blessed Easter! Christ the Lord is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
That is my favorite way to usher in this season of new life and hope and resurrection. I come to you with a shorter video than usual as things are a bit chaotic at Olde Stone Well Farm. (The dog — and husband — are both acting up!)
But I wanted to spend time together on this special day and share with you the importance of adding more alleulias to our life — and why singing them everyday can indeed turn our sorrows to joys. I’ll also share with you a little tidbit on what is probably the most popular Easter hymn, “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” — written by Charles Wesley in the 18th century. (I keep saying John, his brother, in the video…my apologies. Did I mention things are a bit chaotic here today?)
So welcome to Easter at Olde Stone Well Farm. Let’s gather in the old kitchen, enjoy some colored eggs and lift our thanks to God for the promise of this new day.
Invite a friend to join us! There’s always room around the table! And let me know, how are you are greeting this Easter day!
These days leading up to Easter — Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday — can be powerful if we take time from preparing for our Sunday celebrations and remember to walk more slowly and be more mindful of what these days mean. They can shape us and give us new insights — especially as we recall the amazing love that was shown for us on the cross.
Yes, new life, new beginnings, second chances, whatever you want to call them, they can be ours all because of God’s love and Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross to save us.
As you might have already noticed, Holy Week is one of my most special times. I do step away from the modern world and try my best to carve out a more prayerful, quiet space. And this year, I invite you to join me as I slip on my kirtle (a dress inspired by the middle ages) and light a lamp popular in Colonial times that was inspired by ancient designs and make a German seven green soup that the faithful would eat on Maundy Thursday.
I also invite you to join me for a Tenebrae service. While a shortened version of one that would be held in a church, this service was introduced in the 7th century. Tenebrae is Latin for “shadows” and it is time to reflect on Jesus’ passion.
And so, welcome to Holy Week at the farm! Your time to get away from it all and step back in time with me to pray and ponder.
After watching, let me know what you enjoyed the most!
March is going out like a lion, roaring in Vermont with a snowstorm that left us with two feet of snow. What a way to head toward Easter! I prefer this time of year to be filled with spring flowers, not icicles. But this is the day the Lord has made, and I will find a way to rejoice in it. Since it is Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week, I discovered a new tradition called a Palm Bouquet or Palm Stick. Popular in Germany, the bouquet featured seven natural materials (think of Jesus’ seven last words from the cross). The bouquets features material like boxwood and pussy willows. The faithful would bring them to the church on the Saturday before Palm Sunday to have the bouquets blessed. I took mine to Sofie’s Hill — and I close our time at the farm with a Palm Sunday blessing (watch till the end!). But as I trudged in the snow, I was reminded of how hard it is making a new path in it. And that got me thinking how hard it is sometimes to make a new path forward in our lives. And so, on this snowy start to Holy Week, I invite you to discover a new tradition with me and to really reach deep inside to find the strength to move forward in life — and not be afraid of doing the hard work of making a new path. So bundle up! It’s cold out there! Blessings!
Shepherding Lessons from the Shepherd Saint Himself — St. Patrick
Welcome my friends to a special edition of Olde Stone Well Farm! What’s the occasion? It’s St. Patrick’s Day! They say everyone is Irish on March 17.
This year, though, I found myself thinking about St. Patrick’s early life as a shepherd. I often forget about his humble start. But it was the very vocation of shepherding that enabled Patrick to hear God’s voice and, thus, hear God’s call in his life to serve and proclaim the good news of Christ.
Shepherding is a solitude job and it can be quite harsh. But it is in such wilderness that we can see and hear the Divine.
As a shepherd, I am sure Patrick found himself anointing many a sheep’s head, too. I’ll explain more about that act of pouring oil on a sheep and the powerful meaning of it has for us today.
I also invite you to join me in one of my favorite Lenten activities — making pretzels, which have so many meanings and legends attached to them. I also share with you how beaver — yes, beaver — was once a Lenten delicacy!
And so, welcome!!
Pull up a chair, pour some tea or coffee, and join me at the old farm table — where there is always room for you and your friends.
I’m curious to hear from you as to what shepherding can teach you in your walk of faith today?
And the burning question is this: Do you like corned beef and cabbage? (My husband dislikes this St. Patrick’s day dinner. So I will need a place to a takeout order for my celebration!)
Drop me a note. I love hearing from you. Blessings!
What a week I’ve had. I hope yours was better than mine!
First, thank you for the chicken soup recipes many of you sent to me when I was feeling under the weather. It really meant a lot to me, and I tried several of your delicious recipes. I am back now, feeling a bit better — just a wee bit congested still.
But while I was struggling with the sniffles, I had so much work still to do. Writing assignments were due, I was slated to guest preach at a midweek Lenten service and I was also a guest preacher at an adorable Vermont church where dogs are welcomed. It was so cute to see one little fur ball sitting in the pew.
As the week progressed, I began feeling better. Yes, your chicken soup helped, as did the warmth of the sun and signs of spring that I began to see all around.
Just as hope was truly blooming, I got a surprise — four inches of snow the other night. Ugh. I am so ready for spring. But I vowed not to let things beyond my control impact my mood. So I found a way to turn the snow day into a day of joy.
So come and join me as I share the many signs of hope and new life all around and how I even try to see that hope when things just don’t go the way I want them to!
Tell me about your week…and where you are seeing new life, hope and signs of spring where you are!
Time Doesn’t Heal Hurts, It Teaches You to Live With Them
It is great to be back. After a week away from the chatter of social media, I feel refreshed. But this time off was about more than just the need to unplug, it was a time to acknowledge an important anniversary and to honor the heaviness in my heart.
And I came to realize that time doesn’t heal the heart; rather, time teaches you how to live with the losses and how to keep moving forward.
My time of reflection also came at the start of the Lenten season — those 40 days that the faithful are invited to enter into the wilderness and walk with Jesus to the cross of Good Friday, where on the other side of death, waits new life. I couldn’t think of a better time of year to think about death and life, and everything in between.
So thank you my friends for patiently waiting for a new video. And thank you for being part of Olde Stone Well Farm!
How are you observing the season of Lent? What anniversaries make you move more slowly and make you remember a time gone by? I would love to hear from you.
Ashes and Hearts and Some Moravian Love Feast Coffee!!
A special time together on this special day as we celebrate Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday. Yes, they are both on the same day, and how perfect is that! It’s a time to broaden the definition of love beyond Cupid and chocolate hearts and really remember that the most beautiful love is sacrificial…giving ourselves to another. So on this day, when I burn the palms from last year to make ashes and make some Moravian Love Feast coffee (more on this in the video…hint: it was served at the first love feast in 1720s), I invite you to join me because I have what I think is an important message for you. That is, YOU ARE LOVED!
Age Is Just a Number — We Should Never Stop Dreaming
I finally visited the homestead of Grandma Moses, a prolific artist who picked up a paintbrush in her late 70s. I needed to be reminded that it is never too late to start something that will add beauty to this world. And, it is never too late to dream up something big and wonderful. With the celebration of Candlemas on Feb. 2 (where I share a candle blessing with you) I was reminded again of two people in the Bible who held onto their dreams and kept believing in God’s promise no matter how long they waited or how old they got. They are an inspiration to me as lately I am feeling age sneak up on me and I am letting the world’s “you’re too old to…” messages put a damper on the dreams I still hold dear to my heart. What about you? Do you still believe that your dreams can come true? Do you realize that you are NOT too old for whatever it is you might want to do? Before you disagree with me, settle in and let’s spend some time together here at Old Stone Well Farm. Blessings to you!! (And share your thoughts…and share this message with others who you think might need a little encouragement to embrace all that life is offering!)
The end of January brings with it more rain, then more snow, then more rain…and then lots of foggy days. I don’t know about you, but I need a little ray of sunshine. The winter blahs are hitting many people (like me) earlier than usual.
So much so, that I realized it is time to share with you how I manage to pull myself out of winter’s grip and turn around those drab days by blessing the blahs. That’s right…bless the blahs.
Where can we find goodness? Where is there hope? How can we give ourselves permission to step back and nurture our souls when we are feeling out of sorts?
I read that napping, hugging a pet, going outside for a brisk walk, calling a friend, can be some ways to bless those blahs.
I think, though, giving yourself a mental health day (and not getting out of your pajamas) is another way of coping with the blahs. And RuRu, the cat, agrees! Yes, RuRu makes another guest appearance in the video, along with Fritz, the dog, and my neighbor’s playful cows!
So come, join me! Get comfy, pour yourself some hot coco or coffee or tea and let’s get through the winter blahs together.
Here’s the recipe for the 18th-century Funeral Cookies I shared in the latest YouTube video.
They are very simple to make…and I did in fact use a vintage butter mold as a cookie mold in the video. It worked beautifully.
And thank you to the viewer who let me know that it was a butter mold!!
If you make these cookies, share a picture with us and let me know how they came out!
I had some last night and I heated some red wine with spices and cinnamon sticks and dipped the cookies into the warm mulled wine as it would have been done in the 18th century. It was so comforting. Blessings!
Funeral Cookies
One tablespoon caraway seeds (I didn’t have caraway so I substituted fennel seeds instead)
2.5 cups all-purpose flour
1.5 cups white sugar
3 eggs
Directions
Place your caraway seeds on a pan without oil and toast until they darken in color. This should not take more than 5 minutes at medium heat. Remove from heat. Combine your flour and sugar then add three whole eggs. Finally stir in your toasted caraway seeds. If your dough is too sticky add a spoonful of flour at a time until it becomes workable and suited for rolling out. On a well-floured surface roll out your dough, again adding flour if needed. Stamp out designs into the dough by stomping down a mold. Cut your cookies out into either squares or circles and place onto a cooking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes until the bottoms are no longer sticky.
And here’s the video for those who missed the link.
Friends, it was a sad day here at Old Stone Well Farm as I lost two of my chickens to a fox. I’ve had chickens before and I don’t remember feeling this sad, but this time around it really hit me. That’s when I realized how important it is for us to care for ourselves when our heart aches. It doesn’t matter if it is a chicken or not, grief is grief and you need to honor your feelings. So I share with you a few ways I coped and the lessons Omelet and Priscilla taught me. I also discovered an 18th-century cookie recipe called “funeral cookies” or “death cookies” that were served with hot spiced wine at funerals, especially among the early Dutch settlers of colonial New York. So come, join me here at Old Stone Well Farm. I wish I could share the cookies with you (they are quite good!), but I am more than happy to share the recipe if interested. How do you cope when your heart is heavy? Share your thoughts…and even your special recipes for comfort food. Thank you for coming to Old Stone Well Farm. Share with others! Blessings!
We’ve had a series of wicked storms in one week here at Old Stone Well Farm, and I have to admit, they rattled me! The winds blew over trees, caused damage to the 18th century house and made me realize that sometimes my faith isn’t all that strong.
So when an old tree toppled over, I had to ask myself, how strong are my faith roots? Can I trust God’s goodness when the storms of life hit? So join me in this episode of Old Stone Well Farm where I get real and share the good, the bad and the ugly! I also share how I found peace in the storm using an ancient prayer technique.
What about you? How do you nurture your faith when times are tough? Where do you find peace? I would love to know. Comment, like, share!
Led By the Light — An Epiphany Story of Love Lost and Life Found
January 6 is the start of Epiphany where we remember how the Magi visited Jesus bearing gifts rich with symbolism. But it is a season where I am reminded how to always seek God’s light and to never be afraid of venturing onto a new path. I will share with you a bit of my story on how a loss of a loved one set my life in a different direction…and explain how I got to be an “accidental country pastor.” I also share with you some Epiphany traditions, like my Swiss Three Kings Cake! I’ve included a link to the recipe. I hope you make it…let me know if you do, and how it turned out! Blessings!
Happy New Year to you!!! I look forward to beginning 2024 with you by sharing my surprise snow that I found, a Swiss New Year’s tradition, how early Americans rang in the new year on March 25 … and so much more…like how I embrace the tradition of a candlelit breakfast and step into a new year letting God’s word shine light on my path. Drop me note, too. I would love to hear how you are stepping into the new year! Blessings!
The world around me is packing up Christmas and turning off all the festive lights — even though we are still in the season of Christmas. It’s the 12 Days of Christmas here at Old Stone Well Farm and as we head into a New Year, I find myself coping with those post-holiday blues by creating my own light to brighten my 18th-century home. Yes, I tried hand-dipping candles. It was fun — and prayerful, as I remembered the reason for the season, that is, how God sent his son into the world…Jesus, who is the light of the world. So, if holidays have gotten you down or you are already feeling the emptiness of lights no longer twinkling, then join me and have your light of faith, hope, love rekindled. And a note to say THANK YOU to all who have joined Old Stone Well Farm either here or on YouTube! The outpouring of support this past week has been such a blessing!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Share Old Stone Well Farm with your friends, and let me know how you battle those post-holiday blues. I would love to hear!
Advent is over and we are now in the season of Christmas, those 12 days to unpack the gift that is the best one ever — Christ. Here at Old Stone Well Farm, I embrace a quiet Christmas — just my husband and myself. Some might see that as lonely or sad, but it really isn’t. I have learned to let go of expectations of what my life should be and am learning to live in the moment and just let Christmas happen. Yes, the Grinch was right when he said it doesn’t come with ribbons or bows. Christmas is so much more. So join me for a quiet Christmas…and watch till the end for the lighting of the candles and singing “Silent Night.” I have this beautiful rendition of the classic carol called, “Night of Silence/Silent Night.” I hope you enjoy it! But before that, I want to thank all of you for being part of Old Stone Well Farm! You have blessed me so much! Our time together here is my gift to you! Blessings!!
One of my long-held dreams, ever since I was a child, was to work in broadcast…reporter, anchor, you name it, I wanted to tell stories through video. My passion project, Old Stone Well Farm, fanned the flames of that dream, as I found my soul being fulfilled by bringing stories of rural life, faith in God and love of all things 18th-century to you through my YouTube channel (YouTube@oldstonewellfarm).
Then last spring, while working briefly for a local Vermont paper before landing my communications job with the United Church of Christ, I ran into the news director of the local TV station —GNAT-TV.
We exchanged cards and promised to find time to meet up and chat over coffee. Months went by until one day, in the fall, that chat that had yet to come weight heavily on my heart. I felt the nudge to make it happen. A date was soon arranged and before I knew it, I was brainstorming and dreaming big with Andrew, GNAT’s amazing news director.
So with days before Christmas, and a schedule crammed tightly with day job deadlines, church duties, Christmas shopping, vet and hair appointments, and Old Stone Well Farm’s Christmas Eve special still to produce, I found myself interviewing, filming, editing and producing a holiday segment for GNAT. I still can’t really find the words to relay the deep gratitude and awe I have to how the Spirit guides us in this life.
Yes, ever since I was a child I held this dream in my heart. I am now 56-years-old, and I cannot believe it has finally come true. Friends, hold on to your dreams. Never give up. Never stop dreaming. For I believe when you stop dreaming, your heart stops beating. Hang on. And believe. Miracles do happen — at Christmas and all the year-round.
Blessings!
(Heres the link to the segment! Share, like, comment!)
On this second Sunday of Advent, John the Baptizer comes to us with his cry, “Prepare the way of the Lord!” I wonder, though, how are we really preparing? I don’t think John meant prepare by stringing Christmas lights or baking gingerbread men. What if preparing the way meant paving the path for peace in the world?
Here at Old Stone Well Farm, as I deck my old house with dried orange ornaments and a pineapple centerpiece, I wonder what more can I do to “live peace”? Perhaps being hospitable to strangers is a start.
Did you know the pineapple became the symbol of hospitality in the 1700s — a way to say “welcome” to friend and strangers alike.
On this second Sunday of Advent, when we light the candle of peace, I realize being welcoming can lead to peace. If we stop fearing or being suspicious of those we don’t know, like or understand, what would we learn from them and what rich friendships could emerge?
What else does it take to live peacefully with others? Well, it takes more than a pineapple! Welcome to Old Stone Well Farm. Pull up a chair. Let me know how you find ways to live peacefully and how you share this peace with others.
And if you haven’t subscribed on YouTube, consider pressing that “subscribe” button at the end of the video. Old Stone Well Farm is just 7 subscribers away from hitting 400…that is a milestone for the channel!!
It’s Time for Stir Up Sunday — And Remembering What Is Really Important This Season
Today at Old Stone Well Farm I share a few post-Thanksgiving traditions with you as I collect evergreen to decorate my 18th-century home here in Vermont and fire up the almost-complete stone bake oven (it just needs a slate roof!).
This is a time to prepare for the holidays…and I don’t find meaning in the malls and shopping. Rather, I find meaning in the simple things — and, of course, in whipping up my Christmas puddings and fruitcake, because today is the day to do so.
The Sunday before Advent is not only Christ the King Sunday, but Stir Up Sunday, when all the Christmas puddings and fruitcakes should be made, giving the brandy and rum a full five weeks to soak in!
I’m curious. Do you like fruitcake? Let me know. And share a favorite family recipe if you have one. I love collecting family favorites.
Thanks for coming to the farm. Please take a moment to hop over to YouTube and like and comment on Old Stone Well Farm’s channel there — and tell a friend or two to stop by. Blessings!
This is a little bit of a different Thanksgiving video. No cooking this year. I had wanted to use the outdoor bake oven for my pies, but it has been snowing and raining here in Vermont. Sigh. Perhaps I will fire up the oven for Stir Up Sunday — the Sunday before the start of Advent in which it’s a tradition to make your Christmas fruitcakes.
But for now I share with you a very raw and honest video which began when I got reacquainted with the song, “Over the river and through the woods, to grandmother’s house we go…” Something about this 1844 poem, later set to music, which was originally written for Thanksgiving, not Christmas, tugged at my heart.
I began wondering, what if grandmother’s house is no longer? What if “home” has changed for you, or is changing? I am going through a trying time, but no matter what, on this day, I can say, “and still, I am thankful.”
Where do you see blessings among trials? And I need to know, which Thanksgiving pie do you prefer: pumpkin or apple?
It’s a blessing having you part of the Old Stone Well Farm family! Click on the video below, pass it along to friends, like and share on YouTube.
It’s St. Martin’s Day (Nov. 11) here at Old Stone Well Farm, and it is the start of early Advent. No, I’m not talking about Celtic Advent which begins Nov. 15. Rather, in the early church, Advent would begin on Nov. 12 with that was known as St. Martin’s Lent — 40 days of showing acts of kindness and compassion just like St. Martin did in the 4th century. And so, I share my little cape (where we get the word chaplain and chapel from) and invite you to join me these 40 days leading to Christmas by showing our love to others in need. Join me and learn more about St. Martin and make your own St. Martin Advent lantern! Click below and join me. And send me pictures of your St. Martin Advent lantern. Email them to oldstonewellmedia@gmail.com.
It’s Halloween at Old Stone Well Farm and I invite you to come and explore witch hunts with me, mainly why they happened and who some of these women were.
I share with you one of my favorite books that has to do with an 17th-century teen named, Kit, who found herself dealing with witch fever in Puritanical Connecticut.
And in case you were wondering who the last woman to be accused of witchcraft and executed in Europe was, I share that as well. (It happened in the place you would least expect it to — Switzerland!)
Sadly, witch hunts still happen today when we just don’t understand someone else.
Come, join me! Share with friends and let’s move into the month of thanks and gratitude with more patience for others and a deeper appreciation for opposing viewpoints.
Halloween at the Farm: This’s Year’s Pumpkin Message Revealed!
What does an old hymn — reputed to be set to a beer drinking tune and sung by martyrs being led to their death — have to do with Halloween here at Old Stone Well Farm? Well, it inspired the message in this year’s pumpkins.
Yes, the tradition of carving a message in the pumpkins is back, but this time, rather than lighting them on Sofie’s Hill, we go to the back woods for a little old time spooky leaf crunching.
But do not fear, there is nothing spooky here…just an important message of how to live in a world filled with fears and frets.
Come, join me! Click below and transport your self to rural Vermont. What would your inspirational message be if you were to carve one out of pumpkins? Leave a comment. And invite your friends to come to Old Stone Well Farm! There’s plenty of room around the farm table! Blessings!
Have you ever heard of a witch window? I just discovered this Vermont architectural anomaly and the fun folklore behind it. (You can click on the image below and fast forward to the video to the 4:44 mark to get a preview of it)!
But such a window got me thinking about the things we do to “protect” ourselves from harm. The world we live in seems so unsafe at times, but there is what I call an ancient security system that we have forgotten about and it involves God.
In this season of harvest, as our Jewish friends just finished their celebration of Sukkot (or Festival of Booths), I turn to the Hebrew Scriptures — the Psalms and the Book of Deuteronomy — to remember the promises of God to not only provide for us manna from heaven and water from a rock, but to protect our loved ones — to send “an angel of the Lord to encamp” around us.
Drop me a note and let me know your thoughts! What do you think of the witch window? And what can you do in your household to remember always the goodness of God in this world that is so full of darkness and so broken?
Is it autumn or fall? Whatever you call this apple picking, pumpkin carving, cider drinking time of year that we are in, let’s not forget that it is also a season of the soul — a time to reflect, ponder and celebrate life’s uncertainties.
Friedrich Nietzsche once wrote, “Notice that autumn is more the season of the soul than of nature.” I couldn’t agree more.
With the leaves falling and the garden breathing its last breath before a time of slumbering, I, too, find myself reaching deep into my soul, eager to hear what my life is saying in the uncertainties that are on my path. I have decided this time around, though, to celebrate those uncertainties.
Yes, celebrate uncertainties, for I do believe they are God’s way of inviting us to really listen and not be afraid of our authentic selves.
And so, pull up a chair here in my 18th-century Vermont home, and bring a friend as there is always room for more. Share with me what you like about this season, and how you face life’s uncertainties. Click below to start our time together. (And, as promised, here’s the link to the song I reference by Nichole Nordeman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbIv–NSe5c)
School is in session and I invite you to learn with me this year how to unlearn. You read that correctly. I am going to concentrate more this year on unlearning things that I once thought were right and question all those assumptions and expectations that just might be holding me back in life.
Richard Rohr, a Franciscan monk and author, once wrote that “transformation is more about unlearning than learning.” I am starting to see how true that is.
Join me as I explain more — and explore one of Vermont’s oldest one-room schoolhouses.
Click the video below, and let me know: What is it that you have to unlearn this year?
Summer is winding down and already my schedule for September is filling up. I realize I need to have a healthier work/life balance, but I am failing at it. My first step in better boundaries is realizing who I really labor for…God, not man…and that is where my sense of worth will come from. And so, welcome to Old Stone Well Farm on this Labor Day weekend. Pull up a chair and let’s spend time together. I would love to know how you find balance in your life! And, as always, I can’t thank you enough for stopping by…and liking, commenting, sharing and, if you haven’t already, hop over to YouTube and subscribe @oldstonewellfarm. (Finally, apologies for not being 100% in this video. I have been struggling with a wicked sinus infection all week. Slowly getting back on my feet!) Blessings!
I can’t wait to share with you my almost completed Italian round gown — and a look at what it took to get dressed in the 18th century!
Also, in my research of 18th-century women’s dresses I discovered a poignant story from England’s Foundling Museum on how fabric swatches told the story of mothers and the babies they abandoned. It got me thinking of how clothes tell a story…but most of all, it got me thinking of the “garments” we should be wearing — garments of praise, love, etc.
So come and pull up a chair and spend some time here in Vermont with me!
I want to thank Samson Historical for the wonderful underpinnings in this video (stays, shift, stockings, hat, shoes!). They are a godsend for people like me in love with all things 18th-century. Visit at https://www.samsonhistorical.com/
It’s August 1 and that means the Swiss National Day celebrations are in full swing here at Old Stone Well Farm. And, yes, as you can see the red dirndl won! Thank you to all of you who voted which dress I should wear.
But on this day, I not only spend time with the cows remembering an old Swiss folk song from the 16th century, but I reflect on the God moments I found while revisiting an old friend — Heidi. I never realized how spiritually rich this children’s classic was.
Come and celebrate with me — and Fritz. He has a starring role in this video! Also, watch to the end and enjoy the heart-tugging tune of that Swiss cow song. Let me know how you enjoyed Swiss National Day with me! Share with friends!
We are taught at an early age to climb the ladder of success, but do we ever talk about the ladder of faith? What if our journey is all about coming back down to the low rung after climbing high?
It’s summer here at Old Stone Well Farm in Vermont and as I battle beetles in the garden, flies in the house, bad hair days (hint: I share a wonderful 18th century hat I am making…you get a glimpse of it in the video preview!), a rambunctious Bernese Mountain dog, I invite you to ponder with me Jacob’s dream about a ladder with angels and what it means to embrace each rung we find ourselves on.
And please watch till the end as I need your opinion on something. Please hop over to YouTube and leave your opinion/vote in the comment section, and if you haven’t already, click subscribe to the YouTube channel. Can’t wait to hear from you!
Take my yoke upon you…Jesus invites us to a life where burdens don’t weigh us down. Here at Old Stone Well Farm, I recently discovered a way to ease the burdens and find peace within no matter what the day brings. Come, join me! (This is a short note today as I am running to get ready to lead worship today!!) More to come! I promise!
Sometimes life feels like you are always stuck behind a tractor full of hay bales — slowing you down, blocking the view ahead and leaving no room to pass. Life can try its best to slow you down — and get you down.
But lately I found peace amid these hiccups…and it has something to do with my joy snacks. Come, join me and find out my recipe for these “snacks.” And let me know what your joy snack will be today! Like, comment, share with others.
And remember, no matter what is happening right now in your life, the promises of God are true. There is a peace that passes all understanding.
There’s a Cherokee proverb that goes, “walk softly on the earth.” It’s a reminder for us to care for the resources we have.
So when I discovered a new way to garden that doesn’t involve ripping up the ground, I got so excited. The method is known as “hugelkultur” — used in Germany for centuries.
And the best thing about hugelkultur is that it uses rotten logs, and I have lots of them on top of Sofie’s Hill.
So come, join me here at Old Stone Well Farm as I share with you how we can walk softly on the earth, even beyond gardening. I would love to hear from you.
Who would have thought that dandelions weren’t pesky weeds but rather amazing plants that can be used in so many ways to benefit our health. Ever since becoming an “accidental country pastor” I have changed they way I look at dandelions (thanks to the local farmers who opened my eyes!). I now embrace them for the beautiful plant they are. They have taught me about God’s provision — and God’s love for us. Join me as I share with you some insights I discovered as I tried my hand at making some dandelion wine. Drop me a note and let me know if you will now see dandelions differently? Will you embrace them, too? (And perhaps make your own batch of dandelion wine?!)
Old Stone Well Farm on YouTube (a longer video) will be coming shortly, but for now here’s a teaser (and a look to how I am spending my weekend!). To all the mother’s out there (and my mom), wishing you a Happy Mother’s Day!
Yes, I watched the king’s coronation the other day. I am a royal watcher. But beyond the pomp and pageantry was a powerful reminder for kings and common folk alike: We are all called to care for others. That responsibility might feel heavy at times, but the burden is lightened when we know we don’t do it alone. So come and join me here in Vermont where spring is finally bursting forth at my 18th-century home. And I share an announcement with you.
It’s finally warming up here in Vermont and time to work outdoors. I can’t wait to tend to my garden beds. Admittedly, I didn’t do much to them last year, so I am paying the price now. As I tend to my chores, I keep thinking about the violence in the world and how we need more peace. But where peace? Where do find that comfort we need? I invite you to escape your world for a little bit and join me here at Old Stone Well Farm where I am surrounded by the things that give me comfort in a crazy world. (Like the wonderful early 1800s desk I recently acquired, my cat snuggled in the old cradle, a chicken enjoying the daffodils…these are just a few of my favorite things!) Where do you find comfort?
The sting of betrayal is painful. Yet during Holy Week I am reminded once again that during those times of betrayal in my life, I do not walk alone. Holy Week is all about betrayals — the people turning on Jesus, Peter denying knowing Jesus and, of course, the ultimate betrayal of Judas. And I have found a way to heal from my own betrayals.
Come and join me as I offer you my tips, and discover a wonderful English springtime fruitcake that is rich in flavor and Holy Week symbolism. I’ve included the link to the recipe here! https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/24995/easter-simnel-cake/
This is an easy version. I don’t use a bundt pan, but a round cake pan and I melt apricot jam and spread it on top before placing a layer of marzipan.
Let me know what you think! Like, comment and remember to go to YouTube and subscribe to Old Stone Well Farm on YouTube!
Well my friends here at Old Stone Well Farm, I just had to be with you for the start of Holy Week. Yes, it’s Palm Sunday and once again I am waving the pussy willows rather than palms — a very European tradition. But these pussy willows are extra special this year as I found them in the farm’s burn pile. Yes, new life can emerge from the ashes and rubble. Just a little background to today’s video. As many of you know, I have many projects that I am working on right now. This video almost didn’t happen because I was swamped (I was on a newspaper assignment for a good part of the day and had just finished filing my story and pictures!). But I felt a tug at my heart to be with you. So, I filmed this in my old beat up jeans and running shoes and I didn’t even bother with an extra coat of mascara. May you find hope today in your burn piles! Thank you for being part of Old Stone Well Farm. I can’t wait to celebrate Easter with you.
There’s a song by folk singer, Kate Rusby, which talks about the wandering soul being found and how often that soul was never really lost. He or she were always surrounded by friends. He or she were always home. My time of wintering is ending as spring slowly emerges here in still snowy Vermont, and I am discovering that all I was searching for was right before me all the while. Let me explain (and share some wonderful antique finds for my 18th-century homestead!). How has your Lenten journeys been going? What have you discovered?
It’s St. Patrick’s Day here at Old Stone Well Farm and not only did I discover how easy it is to make homemade Irish soda bread (the real Irish way, without raisins!), I was reminded once again of how Christ is all around us through the kindness of friends like you. So come and join me for a snowy Paddy’s day! P.S. And pull up a chair and hear why Irish bakers would cut a cross on the top of the bread before baking.
Day 2 of snow…and up to three feet. While I do love the white stuff, I have been hankering for blue skies and green grass. And I learned a lesson today: When trying your hand at homesteading, go for what is practical, not what you think looks pastoral. This was my morning. Vermont living at its best.
It’s still snowy here in Vermont and I am getting a case of the winter blahs. I decided if spring won’t come, then I will take matters into my own hands and fill my house with greenery. There’s a poem written in the 17th-century that talks about a specific greenery that would be placed on mantels in the season of Lent. It’s an interesting choice as the green would often be used at funerals.
Into the Lenten woods I go. Yes, this season begins with an invitation to enter the wilderness but many times we don’t go on our own or even willingly. It’s even less inviting here in Vermont where winter’s bleakness lingers on creating a feel of isolation. But as I go into the woods I discover there is beauty to be found. Let’s explore together!
The season of Lent begins with ashes — our reminder that one day we will return to the dust we came from. So how is it that we can live out the days we have? Recent events — the disturbing performance at the recent Grammys, the revival down in Kentucky at Asbury Seminary — got me thinking how we tend to applaud the darkness in the world and question the light. So, come join me at the farm, where I fire up the still unfinished bake oven, share a humble Swiss soup that is going to become an Old Stone Well Farm Ash Wednesday tradition, and ponder things in our world that have me scratching my head.
I took a muddy drive up Two Top Mountain the other day to prepare for the season of Lent with the monks of New Skete in Cambridge, New York. I did this because I realized we often focus our Lenten journeys on preparing ourselves for Easter, but what if we spent a little bit of time preparing our hearts for the actual 40 days. So that is what I am going to do as I seek some quiet prayer time and ponder two questions we should ask ourselves before embarking on our Lenten adventure.
P.S. I also share with you my one Fat Tuesday indulgence that the nuns here are famous for!
It’s been a wonderfully busy and blessed time here at the farm, and it shows no signs of slowing down. But I intend to slow down and rest a bit today. Well, rest by doing what gives me joy by searching for and capturing wonderful stories to inspire you and make you smile.
So today, as we prepare to head into the season of Lent, Fritz and I will be “off” today scouting future locations here in Vermont to film for you.
We will see you this week with some mountaintop experiences, pretzel making and the story of a pre-Lenten Swiss soup that ushers into a time of humble meals. Till then, have a wonderful Sunday. Do something on this Sabbath day to rest and renew. Do something that gives you joy.
(Now to get Fritz ready for the camera. “Please Mom, no filming me till I do something with my hair!”)
When I lit the candle of joy on the Advent wreath, I was reminded of how often we struggle to feel that holiday cheer the world says we ought to feel. So many people are hurting and grieving. And, once again, the headlines recently were filled with news of senseless violence and death. But amid life’s sorrows, there are holy whispers of joy to be heard. And that is the message of Christmas, isn’t it?That Christ was born to share our tears. I invite you to step away from the Christmas busyness that is ramping us as we draw closer to the big day. Come, sit and let us share a cup of cheer together. Come and be reminded of the true meaning of this season. And as you join me, I will share with you the beautiful hope that emerges with amazing joy when we do bring our brokenness to God. I also share with you a poignant story behind a very special Christmas poem that became a song. If you enjoy this time together, let me know! Press like, leave a comment and, this holiday, give the gift of Old Stone Well Farm’s YouTube channel with friends. Share today’s episode with them! I can’t wait for you to join me! Blessings!
The Vermont snows have been coming regularly and furiously, turning Old Stone Well Farm into the perfect setting for a Hallmark Christmas show!
During the recent snowstorm, I began to deck the halls of the old homestead with the gifts from Mother Nature — greenery!
And as I did, I remembered an Advent prayer written by fifth century bishop, St. John Chrysostom, about the true decorations that welcome the Christ Child. It gave me an idea!
I would not view holiday decorating as a chore, but rather as a prayerful time, lifting prayers of thanks for each bough hung and each candle lit. It truly brought a sense of peace to my day.
Come and join me! I share with you the Advent wreath made out of apples to hold the candles. And I can’t wait to tell you about the story of St. Nick…no that the one who gave us St. Nicholas Day.
This is the Swiss St. Nicholas that very few have heard of. Yet his story is one of how he brought peace to the a Swiss village in the Christmas of 1481.
Need a little peace today? Then pull up a chair and share some tea with me. It’s always a joy to visit with you, my friends. It is also a joy to read your comments.
So leave a comment, like, and share this time with a friend.
Advent begins with a little festive foraging and searching for signs of Christmas hope all around. This year, though, I discovered that hope often comes to us in unexpected ways! Join me for the latest episode now streaming on YouTube where I also announce a new Christmas tradition in which I will need your help. Make sure to like, comment and share with friends!
I can’t believe I was able to get to this episode, which has been on my heart for a long time. I have always wanted to spend the day cooking a Thanksgiving meal the old-fashioned way — outdoors in my primitive stone bake oven. I’ve kept the meal real simple as, like many, I am watching my budget closely. This meal was way under $15! 🙂 And it was so delicious.
So I invite you to come and walk alongside me for a traditional 18th-century (maybe even 17th-century!) Vermont Thanksgiving.
Warning: It is going to be a long day. 😉 But I end with a new Thanksgiving tradition I started this year. It is one I hope blesses you and one in which I hope becomes a treasured way to end Thanksgiving Day with. So pull up a chair and join me…and invite a friend. Share the link with others as a creative way to send Thanksgiving blessings!
An early holiday treat for you! For many here in the U.S., Thanksgiving preparations are underway and that means the chaos of “doing” Christmas is here. But here at the farm, I embrace an early Advent…my calm before Christmas…and I do so by sharing with you an old Swiss tradition of making turnip lanterns to light up these November days. So come! Join me at the farm!
My friends, we just had our first snow of the season and it came just as I had to say good bye to PotPie, my old hen. It has been a sad time here at the farm, but in my grief I remember how we must always keep taking those steps in faith forward. For there is always hope waiting for us. So come, join me for this special time together. It is good to be with you.
It’s an Old Stone Well Farm tradition to light up the back pasture with an inspirational message carved out of pumpkins. This year, though I wasn’t very inspired to partake in the Halloween festivities. I feel like the world is scary enough these days that we don’t need anything more to frighten us. So I am focusing more on Hallowtide, the three days on the church calendar (Oct. 31-Nov. 2) in which we remember the saints that have shaped and inspired us.
But as I was on my prayer walk, I remembered how 16th century German Reformer, Martin Luther, banished all fear — and evil — by using one little yet powerful word. And so, I found my inspiration for this year’s pumpkin message (revealed at the end of the video!).
So pull up a chair and join me…apologies that I was a bit under the weather while filming this. Blessings!
Harvest season is in full swing and as I husk the abundance of corn my neighbor gave me today, I think about the old time husking bees and how communities came together to help one another. What does it take to live peacefully with others? It takes an abundance of forgiveness, which isn’t always easy, but something we are called to do. So gather with me here in Vermont and let’s talk about ushering in a new day where forgiveness culture rules. Blessings to you! Donna
St. Benedict once said that “always, we begin again.” I have been embracing that a lot these days, realizing that more, now than ever, we need God’s divine hand to wipe the slate clean of our mistakes and failures, and of our anger and hate.
In this new episode of Old Stone Well Farm, I share with you my thoughts on clean slates. I also share a recent event that opened my eyes of faith and in which renewed my heart that has been lagging and heavy for far too long.
It was also an event that reminded me that no matter what the situation is, God is there moving among us. (I also reveal a little tidbit about myself that I have often kept quiet for many, many years.)
So pull up a chair and join me! Make sure to share with others!
I recently had a week to myself. I didn’t travel to any place exotic. Instead, I putzed around my own backyard, exploring places that I often take for granted. I found myself exploring cottages and cabins from a timber framing company, hoping to find inspiration for my prayer chapel. They were too pricy and the waitlist was long.
I then explored an old school house from 1852. It was at that school house that I remembered how we need to learn (or in my case, relearn) that in a bad news world we need to seek the good — the Good News found in God’s Word.
So if you have been feeling like there is just too much heartbreaking news weighing you down, then come and join me here in Vermont for a mini escape from it all!
Pull up a chair, sit with me as I share some wisdom from the Good News and how that school house visit reminded me of America’s pioneer girl, Laura Ingalls Wilders, and how she had once created a go-to list of Scripture verses to go-to in her time of need. I will share some of her favorite verses, along with my own.
I look forward to our visit together, and share with me what verses would be on your list. Then share them with a friend. Better yet, invite them to Old Stone Well Farm, too, for there is always room for one more here in my 18th century home.
Now more than ever we need to join our hearts together in prayer for the world we are living in.
accidental country pastor 