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!

Come and Join Me This Shrovetide — And Flip Some Pancakes With Me!

The days leading up to Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent, is often marked by carnivals and feasting. Here at Olde Stone Well Farm, I get ready to enter into the weeks of Lent by observing an ancient time called, Shrovetide — the three days before Ash Wednesday where pantries are rid of meat, eggs, flour and butter. Women would make pancakes on the day before Ash Wednesday and legend has it that they would race to the church to show the priest their pancakes. Today, there are still parts of the world that hold Pancake Flipping Races on the day before Ash Wednesday.

I give it a try (enjoy my feeble attempt at running and flipping at the same time!). I also share with you a wonderful 18th-century pink pancake recipe made by mashing a boiled beet! It is yummy! But there is something deeper to all this fun. This is a time to do some early spring cleaning, to not only clean out the pantry, but clean out the soul — and we do that with confession.

Yes, confession is good for the soul because to be our best we need to recognize our worst. So, come and prepare for the season of Lent with me with a little fun and reflection. Share! Comment! And tell a friend about your visit to Olde Stone Well Farm.

(And yes, that is a picture of my old house at the beginning of this episode. And yes, I did add an “e” to the Old in Olde Stone Well Farm as it feels more 18th-century!) What do you think of this episode.

Let me know!

Blessings!

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!)

A Sad Day at the Farm

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!

Finding Peace Amid Winter Storms

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!

Blessings! Donna

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!

Dreikönigskuchen (Swiss Three Kings Cake)

Stepping Into the New Year With Hope

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!

Keeping the Light Shining!

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!