The Road To Magnalia
Snapshots of a Homesteader’s LifeSnapshots
Forged In Fire: Our Local Village Blacksmith Wins the Prize
Jan 6, 2022 | EVENTS & PLACES, FAMILY & PEOPLE
On episode 200 of History Channel's #ForgedInFire this week our friend, Chris Moss (fellow churchman at Christ Covenant Church Greensboro, NC...
A New Year’s Toast to Creating Community, Together
Dec 31, 2021 | HOMESTEAD LESSONS
A beacon is regarded by many people as a symbol. But it’s more. If it does its job, it’s also functional in the way it warns and welcomes travelers....
Christmas Auction Raises $8,200 for Jubilee Barn Art Studio
Dec 23, 2021 | HOMESTEAD LESSONS
Thanks to encouragement from many of you, our Magnalia Elves and generous donors worked together to help create community and make some gift-giving...
The Magnalia Homestead Christmas Auction is Now Live!
Dec 17, 2021 | HOMESTEAD LESSONS
Thanks to the encouragement of many of you, our Magnalia Elves (all of whom sport big, warm smiles and give lots of hugs) are happy to announce that...
After a Weekend with Babette
Dec 16, 2021 | EVENTS & PLACES, HOMESTEAD LESSONS
This past weekend we had the joy of hosting a Babette’s Feast at the Homestead. From a fictional fjord community in Norway in 1871 to present-day...
On Reconnecting with Time, and Giving Thanks
Nov 24, 2021 | FAMILY & PEOPLE
A dear family friend, the “elder stateman” in our church, recently passed on to us the treasure of an heirloom grandfather clock. Made by the people...
More Priceless than a van Gogh
Nov 9, 2021 | EVENTS & PLACES, FAMILY & PEOPLE
We recently went to the van Gogh Immersion in Charlotte. For us, it was a wonderful encounter with The Beautiful. Of all the photography I tried to...
On Naming Things, like Jabe’s Grove
Nov 4, 2021 | EVENTS & PLACES, FAMILY & PEOPLE, PLANTS & ANIMALS
We had the privilege this past week of welcoming to Magnalia the family of Jabe Isaac Wilhoit. Jabe has been a counselor at Camp Jubilee, the summer...
A Toast, and Hanging Up the Boots
Oct 12, 2021 | FAMILY & PEOPLE
Semper Fi Hall was the setting this past weekend for a Gratitude Meal and a “Hanging Up the Boots Toast” to honor the end of active duty service for...
In the Company of Friends
Oct 2, 2021 | REFLECTIONS & IDEAS
In college, I heard an old Swiss-born professor (the inimitable Roger Nicole) once say that when you’re in your library – no matter how big or how...
On Kaizen, and the Momentum of the Next Little Thing
Sep 27, 2021 | HOMESTEAD LESSONS
I saw a now famous American speak at a youth entrepreneurship summit years ago. I won’t soon forget it. A student stood up and told the speaker he...
Sehnsucht Sightings
Sep 17, 2021 | EVENTS & PLACES
There are places and moments in our lives that we wish we could make last. When C.S. Lewis was an atheist, he spoke about times when that sensation...
Forged In Fire: Our Local Village Blacksmith Wins the Prize
Jan 6, 2022 | EVENTS & PLACES, FAMILY & PEOPLE
On episode 200 of History Channel's #ForgedInFire this week our friend, Chris Moss (fellow churchman at Christ Covenant Church Greensboro, NC...
After a Weekend with Babette
Dec 16, 2021 | EVENTS & PLACES, HOMESTEAD LESSONS
This past weekend we had the joy of hosting a Babette’s Feast at the Homestead. From a fictional fjord community in Norway in 1871 to present-day...
More Priceless than a van Gogh
Nov 9, 2021 | EVENTS & PLACES, FAMILY & PEOPLE
We recently went to the van Gogh Immersion in Charlotte. For us, it was a wonderful encounter with The Beautiful. Of all the photography I tried to...
On Naming Things, like Jabe’s Grove
Nov 4, 2021 | EVENTS & PLACES, FAMILY & PEOPLE, PLANTS & ANIMALS
We had the privilege this past week of welcoming to Magnalia the family of Jabe Isaac Wilhoit. Jabe has been a counselor at Camp Jubilee, the summer...
Sehnsucht Sightings
Sep 17, 2021 | EVENTS & PLACES
There are places and moments in our lives that we wish we could make last. When C.S. Lewis was an atheist, he spoke about times when that sensation...
I Went To The Woods Because…
Jul 24, 2021 | EVENTS & PLACES
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to...
An Independence Day to Remember!
May 31, 2021 | EVENTS & PLACES
As we're reminded every Memorial Day, FREEDOM IS NOT FREE. So on this hallowed day, we invite you to mark your calendars to celebrate Independence...
The American Crisis
Dec 2, 2020 | EVENTS & PLACES
We're hosting an Adler Roundtable at the Homestead tonight, with high schoolers coming to discuss the U.S. Constitution. In reading the document...
Ratatouille
Jul 30, 2020 | EVENTS & PLACES
Family Movie Night Under the Stars, featuring RATATOUILLE! Join other families with your picnic blankets and lawn chairs under the summer evening...
Jefferson’s Monticello
Jul 16, 2020 | EVENTS & PLACES
We're still caught up in the afterglow of an amazing day yesterday at Jefferson's #Monticello, which captures so much of the character, brilliance...
A Homestead Fourth of July
Jul 4, 2020 | EVENTS & PLACES
Come one, come all: shed some sweat and join us in a merry protest in support of our great nation at the Homestead, from 6-10PM tonight. Don't be on...
Forged In Fire: Our Local Village Blacksmith Wins the Prize
Jan 6, 2022 | EVENTS & PLACES, FAMILY & PEOPLE
On episode 200 of History Channel's #ForgedInFire this week our friend, Chris Moss (fellow churchman at Christ Covenant Church Greensboro, NC...
On Reconnecting with Time, and Giving Thanks
Nov 24, 2021 | FAMILY & PEOPLE
A dear family friend, the “elder stateman” in our church, recently passed on to us the treasure of an heirloom grandfather clock. Made by the people...
More Priceless than a van Gogh
Nov 9, 2021 | EVENTS & PLACES, FAMILY & PEOPLE
We recently went to the van Gogh Immersion in Charlotte. For us, it was a wonderful encounter with The Beautiful. Of all the photography I tried to...
On Naming Things, like Jabe’s Grove
Nov 4, 2021 | EVENTS & PLACES, FAMILY & PEOPLE, PLANTS & ANIMALS
We had the privilege this past week of welcoming to Magnalia the family of Jabe Isaac Wilhoit. Jabe has been a counselor at Camp Jubilee, the summer...
A Toast, and Hanging Up the Boots
Oct 12, 2021 | FAMILY & PEOPLE
Semper Fi Hall was the setting this past weekend for a Gratitude Meal and a “Hanging Up the Boots Toast” to honor the end of active duty service for...
To Make a Better Pesto (or Cobbler)…
Aug 16, 2021 | FAMILY & PEOPLE
We sometimes read leading lines like, "To Make a Better Pesto (or Cobbler)…" If you're like me, we often read on because we're looking for a...
Our DIY Barber Shop
Jul 15, 2021 | FAMILY & PEOPLE
Last night I gave a pre-wedding haircut to our fifth of seven sons. It was at times a bit emotional for both of us. We figured that I had given him...
Blessings Circling ‘Round
May 14, 2021 | FAMILY & PEOPLE
In 2004, we traveled to Ecuador with our two oldest children to participate in a gospel-based humanitarian relief project – serving warm Christmas...
Edison the Builder
May 5, 2021 | FAMILY & PEOPLE
He can be very patient, and very impatient. It depends on the day. Lol But when things "click" together, whether it's puzzle pieces or a model...
Start ’em Young!
Oct 24, 2020 | FAMILY & PEOPLE
Equal opportunity farming lessons on our WW2 (steel rations era) tractor at the Homestead this morning, with the precious grandkids of our USMC...
Patriotic Country Boys
Jun 29, 2020 | FAMILY & PEOPLE
Gotta love some good ol' patriotic country boys having fun. 🙂 I needed the sight of this tonight! Barefoot in the field, playing spike ball under a...
Sand in the Britches?
May 13, 2020 | FAMILY & PEOPLE
Li'l Mr. Sandman has no concerns when at the beach about sand in the pants and other such trivial things. It's just, well, ALL JOY. He reminds us,...
A New Year’s Toast to Creating Community, Together
Dec 31, 2021 | HOMESTEAD LESSONS
A beacon is regarded by many people as a symbol. But it’s more. If it does its job, it’s also functional in the way it warns and welcomes travelers....
Christmas Auction Raises $8,200 for Jubilee Barn Art Studio
Dec 23, 2021 | HOMESTEAD LESSONS
Thanks to encouragement from many of you, our Magnalia Elves and generous donors worked together to help create community and make some gift-giving...
The Magnalia Homestead Christmas Auction is Now Live!
Dec 17, 2021 | HOMESTEAD LESSONS
Thanks to the encouragement of many of you, our Magnalia Elves (all of whom sport big, warm smiles and give lots of hugs) are happy to announce that...
After a Weekend with Babette
Dec 16, 2021 | EVENTS & PLACES, HOMESTEAD LESSONS
This past weekend we had the joy of hosting a Babette’s Feast at the Homestead. From a fictional fjord community in Norway in 1871 to present-day...
On Kaizen, and the Momentum of the Next Little Thing
Sep 27, 2021 | HOMESTEAD LESSONS
I saw a now famous American speak at a youth entrepreneurship summit years ago. I won’t soon forget it. A student stood up and told the speaker he...
A Swarm of Golden Wonder
Jun 26, 2021 | HOMESTEAD LESSONS
[A Blog Post from John Mark Van Eerden] This is a special report about a call for help from a friend. (And what happened afterwards.) My friend...
When You Have to Say Goodbye
Jun 5, 2021 | HOMESTEAD LESSONS
For almost 20 years, our Kubota 2250 and the bushhog that came with it has served us well. That was to be expected. We bought it from one of our...
When Lumber Gets Expensive
May 22, 2021 | HOMESTEAD LESSONS
What happens when the cost of building an important building runs out of control? Well. Sometimes, you have to cancel your building project, no...
First It Gets Ugly
May 6, 2021 | HOMESTEAD LESSONS
My grandpa used to say that "sometimes things need to get ugly before they can be made beautiful." So, it is with clearing a pasture. Dirt, and root...
The Right Tools Help
May 6, 2021 | HOMESTEAD LESSONS
So grateful for friends who have the right tools for the right jobs. Also makes us appreciate those who did this work in generations past, without...
On Naming Things, like Jabe’s Grove
Nov 4, 2021 | EVENTS & PLACES, FAMILY & PEOPLE, PLANTS & ANIMALS
We had the privilege this past week of welcoming to Magnalia the family of Jabe Isaac Wilhoit. Jabe has been a counselor at Camp Jubilee, the summer...
Learning to Like Okra (and Why It Matters)
Sep 4, 2021 | PLANTS & ANIMALS
There’s a lot happening in the news these days, and much of it has most thoughtful people feeling quite unsettled. It’s a time in history when we...
On Seedpods, Pine Cones and Trees
Jun 19, 2021 | PLANTS & ANIMALS
Years ago (when I would actually run for recreation!), I remember jogging to the end of our country road with whichever kids were up for joining me....
The Mascot Greeter
May 9, 2021 | PLANTS & ANIMALS
Every Homestead must have its official greeter and mascot. Here she is: Bella June, our black lab who inspired the Magnalia logo with her sense of...
The Blueberries are Bearing!
May 8, 2021 | PLANTS & ANIMALS
Thanks to help from our friends at Mount Jubilee Ministries, we have planted 50 assorted blueberries near our bee hives, and a small grove of Brown...
Captain of the Guard
May 6, 2020 | PLANTS & ANIMALS
Every Homestead needs a Captain of the Guard, who knows it -- even when he's resting. Meet Jackson. a/k/a Capt. Jack. 114 pounds of linebacker,...
In the Company of Friends
Oct 2, 2021 | REFLECTIONS & IDEAS
In college, I heard an old Swiss-born professor (the inimitable Roger Nicole) once say that when you’re in your library – no matter how big or how...
Why Events Help
Jul 3, 2021 | REFLECTIONS & IDEAS
Since I've been a boy, my Dad has told me a thousand times: "Nothing is dynamic, until it is specific!" When I would talk about wanting to change...
On Dreaming and Doing
Jun 17, 2021 | REFLECTIONS & IDEAS
One of my favorite quotes from Henry David Thoreau is about the connection between dreaming and doing. “If you have built castles in the air, your...
Sun and Moon Praise Him!
Oct 30, 2020 | REFLECTIONS & IDEAS
The October full moon is our favorite of them all! So glad we returned to the Homestead tonight, as the drive down Hilton Hill reminded us -- even...
How Happy Is The Farmer
Feb 14, 2020 | REFLECTIONS & IDEAS
Could not resist sharing this today! No matter the "field" we tend by God's appointment, this is as true today as it was for some farmer in 1805!...
