For us, a very powerful tradition continues, and you are invited. We are holding two Open Houses at Bedlam Farm this year, the first is in the Spring, June 25-26, the second will be on Columbus Day Weekend in October, as usual.

This year, a very special celebration for us, we are celebrating three things: Art, Creativity and Rural Life.

We plan to have a shearing demonstration, regular sheepherding herding demonstrations with Fate and Red. This is what we are about, our lives are the subtext and we are proud to share them with you.

Ed Gulley will bring a dairy cow to the farm to show us how they are milked.  He will also talk about the life of a dairy farmer, and the struggles of the small family farm. Pamela Rickenbach is planning to come with two of her big and beautiful draft horses. Ken Norman will be trimming horse and donkey hooves.

You can also get to meet Fate and Red, a baby calf named Maria, a Haflinger-Welsh pony (Chloe) and the veteran crowd-loving donkeys, Lulu and Fanny. Flo the barn cat loves Open Houses.

I imagine there will be some other animals and events as well. I will also be on hand to meet you and talk about my blog, my life and my upcoming book projects.

We’ll be offering regular tours of the pasture and Pole Barn, and Scott Carrino will be here to talk about and demonstrate his Tai Chi and movement practices.

Maria will be selling the works of a number of gifted artists from around our region, lots of wonderful and original art, inexpensive and exciting.. There will be talks and poetry readings. I think it will be special this year, Maria and I are both committed to it and excited about it. The Spring Open Houses tend to be a bit quieter than the October ones, but we have plenty of space and lots of things to see and do. The best place to find details (schedule, events good local places to stay) is on Maria’s Events Page on her blog.

You are invited to our home to share our lives and work and creativity. Maria will be talking about her art as well. The Open House is free, we will be asking for a $5 donation (not required) to help us defray the costs of hosting. No dogs, please, there will be portable toilet facilities, good food right down the road in Cambridge. There are lots of lovely places to stay around here, Maria lists them on her blog. Thanks and hope to see some of you here.