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.

There is plenty of room in the old house!

Blessings!

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!

Blessings!

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate!

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!

Like and comment!

Blessings to you all!

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!

Blessings! Donna

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.

Blessings, Donna

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.

Blessings!