13 May

Reflections: The New Bedlam Farm

by Jon Katz
Reflections

This photograph was shot through a side window of the house, and the glass reflects the barn and fence and yard outside. It captures in many ways the spirit of Florence, the remarkable woman who lived in the house for 80 years until she was 103. Independent and proud, she called it her dream house, and now, it is our dream house and we are so drawn to it by her powerful and creative spirit. If there are ghosts and she is one, I hope she will hang around her house forever.  It would be a pleasure to have her spirit around. Rocky was her companion for the last years of here life, which ended in December.

It seems Rocky has at least one more chapter to go. Perhaps more.

 

13 May

The New Bedlam Farm

by Jon Katz
The New Bedlam Farm

I’m very happy to share a photo of the New Bedlam Farm, at least of part of it. There is one barn down, one standing, and there is an old and beautiful farmhouse behind both. I’ll show some other photos later. Our offer to buy the farm has been accepted, and we have a mortgage. We have not yet sold Bedlam Farm, but that will happen and we are very excited about our new home. It was built in 1854 and has great character and feeling. I know we will be in there shortly. It was meant to be, and it will be.  I am not prone to believing in such things, but I believe Florence, the owner of the farm for 80 years and Rocky, her companion for the last years of her life, called us to this home.

And how many houses come with a 33-year-old Appaloosa Pony?

13 May

Different Paths. Life’s Happenings

by Jon Katz
Life's Happenings

One of my favorite slogans is “life happens.” It does. Happened to us tonight. We went out to dinner with George Forss, the photographer,  and his companion Donna Wyndbrandt. The Cambridge Hotel, usually open on Sundays, was closed due to Mother’s Day. We tried three other places on the phone, then set out for Bennington, Vt., and the Rattlesnake Cafe for Mexican Food.

We had  a good time and then stopped for some ice cream and on the drive home, on a long dark road a deer came flying out of the woods and hit my car right on the left front corner. It happened much too quickly for me to brake or avoid it, and it was unsettling to see the wounded deer struggle and flail and then collapse dead. Nobody was hurt, but the car was damaged pretty heavily. I am grateful everybody is okay. It could have been a lot worse. The Cambridge Police came to take the report and I called the insurance company and tomorrow my car will be towed and I will probably rent another one.

If you live in the country, this will happen sooner or later. There are so many deer and so many panic and run into cars or get hit by them. I always think of the particular chain of events that has to occur for accidents. If the Cambridge Hotel was open. If we hadn’t gotten ice cream. If I’d stopped on the yellow light or had some tea after dinner. But everything in life is a lesson, and lamentations and second-guessing misses the point. Life happens to all of us, again and again. That’s what accidents are. Life happening. Each time this happens it offers the opportunity to be accepting, gracious, uncomplaining, and to remember that every single person on the earth has a harder life than I do. I do not ask myself why this happened to me but give thanks for my ability to deal with it. I will have my car back soon enough and I am so appreciative of the fact no one got hurt.  Tuesday and Wednesday Maria and I are heading off for a two day visit to a favorite in. Reading, reading, reading.

13 May

Daisy

by Jon Katz
New Puppy

Our friends Nancy and Bill came by with their new puppy, Daisy. They got her from a shelter in the Adirondacks. Nancy found Daisy on petfinder.org and were planning on taking her sister as well, but she already gone when they got there. By the time they drove to the farm to show us Daisy, she seemed quite a home and at ease. This dog will be running the show.  She greeted Lenore and the chickens and handled both with ease. A sweet match. A nice Mother’s Day scene.

Sometimes it's just right from the beginning
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