Day: January 16, 2013

“I am a little world made cunningly

Of elements and an angelic sprite,

But black sin hath betray’d to endless night

My world’s both parts, and oh both parts must die.

You which beyond that heaven which was most high

Have found new spheres, and of new lands can write,

Pour new seas in mine eyes, so that I might

Drown my world with my weeping earnestly,

Or wash it, if it must be drown’d no more.

But oh it must be burnt; alas the fire

Of lust and envy have burnt it heretofore,

And made it fouler; let their flames retire,

And burn me O Lord, with a fiery zeal

Of these and thy hose, which doth in eating heal.”

– “I am a little world made cunningly,” by John Donne.

The winter pasture is unique in the world, creating its own hues, contrasts, perspectives. I’ve driven by this gate a thousands times, and never seen it, until this coating of snow called it to my attention, next to this curious spot of brightness and beauty that seem to protect the gate, be the guardian of the path. Winter pasture photo album on Facebook.

Fromm Foods and I have reached an agreement for this family-owned company to be a continuing sponsor – the only sponsor ever – of Bedlam Farm. I am very happy with this arrangement. Fromm is the food I have been feeding my dogs for nearly a year, and they have never been leaner, more allergy-free, or had better coats and stools. It is a good thing to have a sponsor who is making a product I have been talking about this food for a long time. And using it. Their banner ad and special coupon offers will appear at the top of the Bedlam Farm Journal blog page. Since the ad first appeared, I have received more than 100 messages from my blog readers telling me how happy they are with this food.

 Fromm is the oldest family owned premium dog and cat food company in America, and they take nutrition seriously. People say their customer service is outstanding. I did not permit  an advertiser for this blog because I couldn’t really find one I could honestly endorse, and to have a classy premium food company that does not outsource any of its food content is an excellent thing, for dog lovers, for me and for the blog. I also support the buy-local movement, as many of you do,  and this company is family owned, one of the very few animal food  manufacturers of whom that can be said. Companies like this need support.

I welcome them to this world. It’s a good match all around. I intend for this to be the only sponsor of the website for as long it is comfortable for me, them and you. Red, Lenore and Frieda have been thriving on this food. When Red came, his coat was dry and bristly. Frieda has long had issues with allergies and a dry coat and Lenore has the Lab tendency to puff up if the food isn’t right. I don’t want to go into much detail, but I do pay attention to the stools of my dogs, a solid barometer of health and nutrition, and their stools have never been more solid or healthier. These are the same results many of you have been telling me about..

All of these issues have been resolved since they began eating Fromm foods – Frieda is on senior food, Lenore has mixed food, senior and adult and Red has the most  active breed foods. I welcome Fromm as a permanent part of this blog. Researching this company, I spoke with a number of vets I met while researching “Going Home: Finding Peace When Pets Die.” Many spoke of this excellent food and recommended it to me.  Next week, Flo and Minnie will go on Fromm cat food. They will be the luckiest barn cats anywhere. Proud to have them.

The winter pasture holds its own beauty. On a gray and snowy day, the yellow barn sits in the winter pasture, invoking color and history, promising Spring and Summer, making itself all the more beautiful for the gray and black colors all around it.

Light snow is a grace note, a touch of winter. Not harsh, inviting. The wood stove is going, the dogs are arrayed around me, my love is in her studio dreaming up fiber magic, the donkeys are finishing up breakfast. Light snow is a poem, a gracious postcard from the natural world.