The photo is the portion of our mature woods where this year we tapped six sugar maples, collecting over 80 gallons of fresh maple sap. Not being prepared yet to complete the process, we gave this away to friends to include in their active syrup production. But I had an interesting experience last night and this morning I felt compelled to share with you, my friends. My wife and I are now empty nesters on forty acres of her century old family farm. As I’ve admitted many times, I’m far from worthy to be called, let alone call myself, a… Continue reading

When I came to you, brethren, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:1-2) This has long been a favorite and inspiring verse. Apparently the Christians in Corinth had already been inundated with the “lofty words and wisdom” of self-acclaimed prophets, philosophers, and other first-century “influencers”. By the time Paul arrived, before he even opened his mouth, his audience already had preconceived expectations. Maybe they assumed he’d offer wise solutions to the struggles in their… Continue reading

I’m in the process of taking one more step towards trying to understand what so called self-imposed “retirement” is. So, I’m rearranging, upgrading, and organizing my small home Study. The goal is to make it so appealing, warm, comfortable, even inspiring, that I’ll slowly wean myself away from getting up every morning, and driving robotically into my old Coming Home Network Office as I’ve done for over thirty years. As you can see by the photo, my bookshelves are a haphazard throw-bag of all kinds of stuff. There are intermingled books and nick-nacks from my childhood, college, engineering, seminary, farming,… Continue reading

It was really cold out there this morning. None the less, I followed my usual routine. I first fed our four barn cats, and then cautiously walked down the frost-covered hill to fill the bird feeders. As I was inserting the suet squares into a wire cage, I heard in my mind the echoing chastisement of a former well-meaning neighbor: “Don’t you know you shouldn’t be feeding those wild birds? It messes up their instinctual search for the natural nutrition their bodies really need. It even confuses them when it’s time to migrate south! And besides they’ll become dependent upon… Continue reading

The fence line in the above photo has a Michenerian history, and as “just an old man out standing in my field”, my entire homesteading experience definitely has the same Michenerian bent. You may be wondering what the heck is a “Michenerian” bent? Before I explain, I want to thank those of you who have encouraged me to return to blogging. I fell behind and then gave up, because I just couldn’t imagine myself telling anyone how to do anything on their homestead! Even the most wayward FFA kid knows more about farming in his little finger than I’ll ever… Continue reading