Artist and writer and illustrator Rachel Barlow is putting together creativity kits for refugee and immigrant children, and for foster children who have been mistreated or abused. These children all have one thing in common, they need to explore the bounds of their creativity, build their confidence, and light the creative spark that will help them heal and find their voices.
Rachel has already raised over $2,000 to make 80 kits for children who are newly arrived in America, are struggling with language and other social issues and do not yet have social or other networks of friends. It is a very difficult time for them, made worse by the tension and conflict surround America’s immigration program.
These children are not terrorists, they have not come to take anybody’s jobs, they are here legally, and have suffered greatly. Many are now orphans, their parents killed in regional conflicts. In America, some people’s hearts have turned to stone, but many more people wish to do good given the chance.
Here is the chance.
Rachel is seeking help in putting together 50 additional creativity kits to distribute to the children of refugees and immigrants who have already arrived in America., some are still arriving in advance of a potential ban on immigration from many countries where refugees are in desperate need of new homes.
It costs about $15 to create one of these kits, she hopes to distribute 50 more to the refugee children and to children in foster care in various states. Rachel’s idea is red hot, I think it will grow and expand, but she could use some help right now.
If you can contribute – Paypal and major credit cards – for a one-time donation in any amount, you can do so here. $5 is as good as $100, all are appreciated.
These kids are important, not only do the children appear to love them, they give them creative and personal activity while they are in transition and often lonely. Some are now frightened of America, refugee communities are fearful and feel embattled. These kits show our new fellow citizens what Americans are really like.
We are a generous and welcoming people. I can’t think of a more patriotic thing to do.
Tomorrow, I’m taking 10 of these kits to a refugee center in Albany where they teach after school programs and offer some day care. I don’t have enough for all of the children, but hopefully, Rachel will get to make more.
You may have noticed the new “Donate” button at the end of every post. Good blogs are time consuming and expensive, so are good words and good photos. As the cost of blogs increases, advances and royalties from publishing shrink. I never used to have to think about raising money, or about money at all, but this is the new world of the new writer, and I intend to remain current and relevant.
I also like it a lot, it suits me.
I love my books and my photos and my blog, this is the focal point of my creative life, and if you like them, please consider this new way of supporting my work. I was slow to acknowledge it, but I should be paid for my work, as I hope you are and the donate button permits people to contribute one time only for as much or as little as they wish. The voluntary payments options, also below, remain in place, and you are very welcome to contribute on a monthly subscription basis, you can do it for $5, or $10 a month, or $75 per year.
The blog will always be free, and your contributions help to keep it that way.
If you prefer, you can also contribute by writing to me c/o Bedlam Farm, Post Office Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. And thanks for supporting my work. These donations and payments make it possible. You can donate here. One time, any amount you choose, at anytime.
I know we are all thinking about money these days, and I hope to offer voluntary options that are comfortable for people. No one will ever be deprived of the blog for lack of money.
Life In A Chloe Less World: Above, Chloe meeting her new stall mate at her new home.
My farm is a living thing, organic and accepting and timeless, and her, the water have closed over Chloe as if she was never here. We cannot help but emotionalizing our animals and projecting our human waste onto them, but they are different, they live in their own nation and their experience of life and death and coming and going are not the same as ours.
I am a life-long book writer who always worked along and whose thoughts and ideas had room to grow and breathe – that was the idea, really. I suppose I will never fully get used to the way social media interacts with one’s own shared life. In a book those thoughts are mine, they belong to me, they get to live a bit.
Online, they seem to belong to everyone, and everyone gets a say. There is something democratic and wonderful about that, and something awful about it. I wrote yesterday that I did not see Red as my best friend, as close as we are. I need a human best friend to talk to me, challenge me, and love me.
In seconds, a very nice and thoughtful woman posted a very civil message saying: “I peacefully disagree. Haven’t had a best friend since high school. I’m childless by choice, single, and too independent and frank for most folks to handle. It’s lonely being me. By necessity, my dog is most definitely my best friend. ♡♡♡.”
There was absolutely nothing offensive or disturbing in Lori’s message, but I did say to her that this was not an argument for me, not something for others to agree or disagree with. It was just what it is true for me, if her dog works as a best friend for her, I am truly and sincerely happy for her. I couldn’t possibly agree or disagree with her, I don’t know her and I don’t second guess the choices other people make in their lives.
I fear we are losing the idea that we all have our own path, ideas and choices to make and my idea is to respect that, not to agree or disagree with each one.
Social media is what gives people the idea of commenting like that on my life and other people’s lives, and yes I ask for it, benefit from it and accept that it will not change in my lifetime. I’ve been writing online for 30 years, I know how it works. Social media is relatively new and quite revolutionary.
It’s for me to get used to it, especially when it is cast in so honest and peaceful a way as Lori’s was.
Can’t any idea just live and breather for a minute, why do people feel they need to agree or disagree with every one that appears? Thoughts ought not to be controversial at birth. Thoreau would have thrown himself into Walden Pond.
Putting aside other people’s ideas about it, Chloe’s departure to the farm was loving and peaceful. It felt right to me and to Maria, she will be in the constant company of horses – Treasure called last night to tell us that Queenie, the standard horse and Chloe – had bonded, and were hanging out together. Chloe has a horse pal. She will be loved and visited and ridden and talked and fed all day long.
The experience reminded me of sending my daughter Emma off to camp and fretting for days about how she was doing? Was she all right? Happy? Had she met friends? Was she homesick? Treasure was sensitive to that.
On our farm, there was he sense of quiet, of peacefulness. Lulu stepped effortlessly into the role of leader, chasing the sheep away from her feeder, something Chloe, who is easy-going, always permitted. The sheep went about their business as usual.
It did not escape my notice that Chloe’s departure was good for the management of the farm. She was big and heavy and turns a lot of grass into mud. Her presence tripled the size of our manure pile, and our manure-shoveling time, and because of her voracious grass eating, we had to adopt a stringent rotational grazing plan to make our pasture last for six months.
We have three working pastures and a paddock now, we can just leave a gate open and sleep late if we wish.
Because Chloe was so large and assertive, she made it harder for me to spent time with the donkeys, Chloe always backed them off, hoping for hay or a treat. Donkeys are conflict averse, Lulu and Fanny never challenged Chloe, I felt I got a bit distant from them and I am deeply attached to our donkeys, I’m excited to spent more time with them in an easier way.
And then, there is Red. Chloe and he never quite got along with Chloe, she stomped him several times, and he bit her on the leg a few times. I always had to be careful around the two of them. Red will never back down from his duty to herd sheep, and Chloe will not back down either, she is impatient and not shy about biting or stomping a dog in her way.
She loved Fate and never minded her (Fate often hid between Chloe’s legs when the sheep went after her), but Red was too assertive and stubborn, I think. He would not get out of her way.
He seemed more relaxed out there today, I don’t think Fate noticed Chloe’s absence one way or another. If the sheep noticed, I didn’t see it. And there is, of course, a little more space to spread out in the Pole Barn.
The farm plan just got easier.
We will need 30 per cent less hay, which is a substantial amount of money, and fill the water tanks half as many times each day. The farrier visits will be faster and less expensive, and we will need fewer alfalfa treats.
The treats we do buy will last longer, and the pasture will not become such a bog in wet weather. Chloe dug up a lot of dirt. For a small farm, those are not inconsequential things. Same with large animal vet bills, the last one for Chloe was about $250. For people with pets, it’s all about emotions and often, drama. For people with farms, there is a long list of practical things to consider.
After farm has its comfort point, a balance between grass, barns, money, space and time. Ours feels good right now.
Maria misses Chloe, and felt her leaving deeply. I felt it also, although to a lesser degree. She was always Maria’s pony. The other animals very much are ours, both of ours. It is healthy, in a way, to recognize what it is we can easily do and what we can’t. We are both busy, and getting busier, our lives our full. It is important that the animals never suffer for that.
Even now, there is a lot to do. Two border collies is the equivalent of about a half-dozen Labs in my mind, in terms of the attention and work they need.
Chloe and I have grown close, she has taught me a lot and won me over. I was not happy to see her go.
I love kissing her on her soft nose, and I admired her independence and strong personality. She was a very dominant presence here, I was greeted every morning by her stomping her hooves impatiently and her proud whinny, celebrating the coming of food. And of course, she was important to Maria, who is, I believe, grieving quietly for her and in her own way. She posted a video about going into the pasture this morning.
I like the peacefulness and the quiet this morning. Everyone seemed more relaxed. It felt like a good thing to do, then and now. We are going to visit Chloe this afternoon to see how things are going. More later, and thanks for following the story with us.
Robin has eagerly stepped into her young role as a reminder of the good and joyous things in life, it is stirring on so many levels to see a safe and loved child enter the world with eyes so wide and a smile so broad. Robin, my granddaughter, seems to be loving the world and helping all of us to remember to laugh and smile and bow to the world of wonder that is the fortunate newborn’s path.
Robin is very fortunate to have two loving and patient and generous parents, and you can clearly see the results of that, especially for those of us who were not fortunate in that way. I am happy for her, and for my daughter Emma who is the most wonderful mother:
You are invited to come and dance with Robin today, the start of a new week and to remember what is truly important in our world, it does not come out of Washington.
Keep the discord and anger outside of your heart, where it belongs: Come And Dance With Me
Help For Piper: Above, one of Blue Star’s Draft Horses
There are many animals in the world who need help, but I can think of few as stirring and worthy as Piper, one of Blue Star Equiculture’s iconic draft horses. Blue Star has saved, rescued and rehabilitated countless numbers of these remarkable animals, they helped to build our country and are helping still.
Although some elements of the animal world think it is cruel or demeaning for animals to work with and for people, these proud and strong animals were bred to work with people and they live for it. They are the connection to our past and our future, they call to us to keep them in our world.
Piper needs a molar tooth extraction – a tooth pulled – it will cost $3,500 and Blue Star has already raised $1,387 on on their Piper gofundme page.
Piper needs about $2,115 more for her dental surgery, which is urgent.
We all have many causes, needs and interests, and many differences as well, but I think helping an animal like this end her pain and be healthy again – she has much work ahead of her – is something almost all of us can unite behind.
Some of you may have followed my great interest in Blue Star and friendship with Paul Moshimer and Pamela Rickenbach, who helped Blue Star become a beacon for those of us who wish to keep domesticated animals in our world and treat them and the people who love them humanely.
Blue Star is, I think, the Third Way for animals, a loving and inspirational middle ground between the angry ideology of the animal rights movement and the emotionalizing of animals by people who only know animals at pets. At Blue Star, people and animals are saved in the course of working together. They re-connect us to the natural world and the world of animals.
If any of you have a few dollars lying around – you have been so generous to the refugees and the residents of the Mansion – perhaps you could help Piper out. It haunts me a bit to think of this proud and beautiful animal in great pain.
In recent months, I’ve lost touch with Blue Star a bit, there are so many other issues not to confront.
I imagine Paul’s suicide was a part of that also for me, to be honest. It remains unfathomable for me. But Paul loved Piper dearly, she was special for him, and I am happy to contribute to this Molar campaign in his name and memory, as well as for Piper and Pamela.
But their work is important, even sacred, to those of us who believe in treating people and animals with care and dignity, and not just patronizing them as pathetic and dependent creatures.
Blue Star also recognizes the importance of treating people in the same way. The politics of the animals world, like the politics of the human world, have become cruel and divisive, devoid of empathy and compassion. Blue Star offers us another way, and Piper is a wonderful way to support them.
If you wish, you can click here to help Piper get her tooth pulled. The Army of Good is large and growing stronger, this is something for us, I think we can really help a worthy creature. Thanks.
