I believe nothing is ever a lost cause — that whatever we love or treasure in our lives (that perhaps needs a little help) — can be made new.
Case in point, my mom’s wedding gown. I have always adored the gown ever since I was a little girl. It’s in bad shape, though, but she gave it to me last year, and I have big plans for it.
Screenshot
It also gave me an idea — and so I have yet another crazy passion project I am embarking on here at the farm.
But as I begin this project that I will share with you, I have been thinking about restoration. The Bible talks a lot about lives being restored because that’s who God is — God wants only the best for us. What does it take in our own lives to experience the joy of being restored?
Pull up a chair and join me as I share some thoughts with you, along with some interesting history in how we got some of the most popular wedding traditions.
While it’s not officially summer yet — a few more days to go — summer living is in full swing here at Olde Stone Well Farm in Vermont.
After too many busy weeks, I am enjoying smelling the roses, taking long walks in the woods and saying hello to my neighbor’s cows.
June has always been one of my favorite months — not just because it is my birthday month and that my parents and I almost share a wedding anniversary day…they married June 17, I married June 18.
No, June has been special to me because it always presented so many possibilities in learning something new, to go on new adventures, to discover interesting places and fun facts. T
his year is no exception as the celebration of Juneteenth led to my discovering of something called “hush harbors” or sometimes called “brush harbors.” T
hese were secret places deep in the woods that the enslaved would go and gather to worship freely. I also heard a story of how one of my favorite foods — hush puppies, which is basically fried cornmeal — got its name.
So pull up a chair and let’s catch up my friends.
And tell me — what was your favorite part of the summer when you were a child?
It’s so great to be back! Yes, I have been away traveling on business and wrapping up several projects — and I have missed my quiet days here at Olde Stone Well Farm (and, I have missed you!).
I have made a promise to myself, though, to NEVER overbook my calendar again. It was crazy what I went through these past two months. And amid the running around, I realized that I really want a quiet life. I want to putz in my garden, sew my 18th-century dresses, church my butter, collect the fresh eggs in the morning, sit by a stream and listen to the Spirit whisper to me in the breeze.
And so, I am back to fill you in on what I have been up to — as well as the the lessons I have learn (and how I am hoping you will all hold be accountable in learning to say “no”).
This is a new beginning here at the farm where I am going to starting living my life in my happy place…and finally finding my happy pace. What about you? Is there something you need to change in your life?
Can your spirit and soul benefit by a slight adjustment in your schedule?
Come, join me. Grab a chair, a cup of tea (iced or hot), and share with me — fill me in on how your days are going. I missed you all. (Click video below!)
While I am still unpacking my bags from a series of business trips, and still dealing with the banging of a new roof being put onto this old house, I finally found time to enjoy the sun and the abundance of rhubarb and lilacs that are filling my days with joy.
I have so much rhubarb that in addition to pie I tried a new recipe — rustic rhubarb bread. It was quite good! I will include the link to the recipe a bit further down.
But with all my trips there were a lot of hellos and goodbyes, and that got me thinking about how important it is to bless all of our interactions. Bless the hellos…bless the goodbyes.
“Leave the blessing” as an old saying goes. What would happen if we did this each and every day? How would blessing every encounter we have change our perspective on the world?
Perhaps we would see more of the goodness that is all around. And so, my friends, it’s great to be back home…and be with you all!
How is your season of springtime renewal going? (And can you believe it is almost June!) Yikes. Where is the time going?
Fill me in. Drop me a note, share and like! (Make sure to watch the end as I share behind the scenes bloopers with Fritz!)
Making a Dream Come True – (And A Recent Award that Changed My Life)
My friends, a truck came barreling down my road and cut the internet line hanging over the road in half.
I was without internet for four days.
But I am back online and here to share with you the news: I WON an award!
The actual winning isn’t the God story, though. It was what led up to that award that the holy, awe-inspiring moments can be found. It’s a story about listening to dreams and fighting the doubt that comes with taking those steps in making a dream a reality.
But that is not even the full story. Shortly after winning, I received yet another award. This one was even more prestigious than the first — and, it brought tears to my eyes.
So come, pull up a chair and join me for a story of God at work…along with some May Day traditions that happened here at the farm and a little dandelion honey butter making.
What have you been filling your spring days with? I hope it includes lots of joy and many, many God moments.
Share, like, comment…there is plenty of room for your friends to join me here at the farm!
Life has been CRAZY here at Olde Stone Well Farm. Work deadlines, roofing problems and delays and a chicken with a lame foot…I don’t even want to ask, “What else can go wrong?”
But in the midst of the chaos — and unrelenting stress — I discovered the healing that is found when we quiet our racing minds and listen to the songs of the birds. I’ve always enjoyed their chirping, but I never realized till now how the feathered choir can soothe frazzled nerves.
So join me here at the farm! I know you have waited for your next visit and I thank you for your patience. I look forward to updating you with all that has been going on—as well as sharing with you my 18th-century bird whistles! (Fritz is not a fan of these once-popular toys!)
I also invite you to come and forage for ramps (wild leeks) with me. They are abundant in the woods and they are so delicious when added to soup or even scrambled eggs.
Like, comment, subscribe and share with friends as there is always room around the old farm table.
And let me know…have you ever tried ramps, and when was the last time you really paid attention to the beautiful song of the birds?
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!!!
Okay, I’m being a bit dramatic here. But after waiting 14 years, the cheap metal roof that was on my 18th-century home is FINALLY going away.
Ever since I purchased “the oldest house in Rupert,” as the locals have always called it, I have wanted to replace the roof. It just wasn’t in keeping with the house’s pre-Revolutionary War history. Ideally, I wanted cedar shakes, but that was costly — and wasn’t very practical with our Vermont winters. I didn’t even dare to entertain a thatched roof. (Only joking!)
Sigh.
I looked into fake cedar shakes, but I wasn’t quite sure how they would hold up. I finally decided on a composite slate in a gray color. Fingers crossed that it will look as good as I am envisioning it to look. I did have to make one compromise. My husband who is a fan of standing seam metal roofs (I am trying hard to refrain how I feel about them…let’s just say, I am an 18th century purist, metal roofs did not exist then!), insisted that metal would be better suited for the low pitch of the porch roof. I have seen other homes in the area where slate and metal coexist nicely. And so, I gave in to the idea of metal on the porch roof. Admittedly, it does make sense as the snow can slide off nicely in the winter.
A drawing of the slate roof with standing seam metal on the porch. I am not thrilled, but I think my husband is right to worry about the weight of the snow on the porch roof.
As the workers began their work I was in shock to see that beneath the ugly cheap metal roof (can you tell that I really HATE that roof), are brown asphalt shingles that look like wooden shakes. I am drooling. Already, the house looks 100% better. Now I am rethinking my decision to go with a gray slate…perhaps I should have just gone with a brown shingle. Oh the decisions!
Whatever the outcome, I am just filled with joy that finally that ugly metal roof will be history, and my little home will once again exude with Colonial charm, not only on the inside, but now on the outside.
And this note is to alway say, the roof work has delayed a new episode of Olde Stone Well Farm. I am just too excited to focus on filming…and anyway, you wouldn’t be able to hear a word I say with all the banging going on — and barking. Fritz is not handling the ruckus very well.
Blessings!
The house is already looking more like it is from the 1700s! I’ve always disliked that metal roof!
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!
accidental country pastor 