Epiphany on the Homestead

Finally got the computer back up and running. We did have our Epiphany celebration this past weekend, homestead style. 
Ever since I was a kid we celebrated Epiphany. It was always a big party with many traditions. We would put on skits, play musical instruments and singing.  Well, my sons don't do all that but they do arrive and carry-on any silly thing I have going on.  

First there is always food. For us, I had two crock-pots going - one for pulled pork and with chicken. 
A big kale/cabbage salad with nuts, seeds and dried berries.  We had rolls, homemade cookies, cheeses, crackers, summer sausages, sweet peppers ... oh, a wonderful spread and a big huge chocolate cake . 

Since it is a celebration is of the Wise Men following a star  to a small manager with gifts, we had chocolate gold coins and clams. (Having a homestead with animals and managers we know how amazing this was!) Joke food to represent living off the land too. We used to give gold flakes and essential oils but the kids just looked at it like.... what's this. 

We enjoyed grape juice we had jarred up over the summer.  At first, my grandson only wanted lemonade until he tried the juice. 

We had everyone who was there trace their hands for a quilt I will tackle later. I am hoping it will be an Epiphany Tree with everyone's hands in the branches and children's hands as the flowers.

Many generations were there. Here is Great Grandma with the newest addition to the family, our grandson.

It's all about family and laughter.

...And tractor rides. (yes, that's snow beyond the porch)

We light our candles to signify Christ is the Light of the World and reminds us of the star the Wise Men followed. When I was a kid my mom would say we could stay up until the candles all burned out.  Of course, she lit them in the morning and we never lasted past midnight.

We blessed the house.

The markings include letters, numbers, and crosses in a pattern like this: 20 † C † M † B † 12. The numbers correspond to the calendar year (20 and 12, for instance, for the year 2012); the crosses stand for Christ; and the letters have a two-fold significance: C, M, and B are the initials for the traditional names of the Magi (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar), but they are also an abbreviation of the Latin blessing Christus mansionem benedicat, which means, “May Christ bless this house.” - Baylor edu 

My oldest did the blessing ... oh we are not a holier-than-thou family there were jokes in the background of spells and incantations happening but we take our faith serious and family traditions, just not ourselves. 

We are ready for the year.  Plans this year include work on the remodel. We bought the homestead with an idea and at a very low price due to it's condition. We bought it for the land - the house was a mess and no outbuildings or the greenhouse yet. Time to get back to work on the buildings and a barn. We are hoping for new babies - goat and lamb. Much canning to be done, learning more about spinning wool, quilting, sewing, and growing food, all on a shoestring budget. Stick around and join us for the journey.

Here's to a peaceful year.