Green farm. I often find stale cereal in the cabinet, sometimes even wormy, if it’s humid. I used to throw it out, but no more. I give it to the chickens, who eat it in their herky-jerky, synchronized ballet. On top of eggs, another good use of chickens. You throw very little garbage away.
Marilyn Brooks, mother of Connie Brooks, who owns the Battenkill Bookstore, lit up the Internet a week or so ago when she was the first person to review “Going Home.” Her review pulled in well over a thousand views on YouTube and helped push my book to the top of several bestseller lists weeks before it was to be published. Sunday, she volunteered to read a couple of her favorite passages from the book for a video to go up Monday morning.
Marilyn is very impressive in many ways. She is quiet, almost shy, but speaks with force, intelligence and clarity. Her decency and thoughtfulness shine through and her review and her reading from the book – “Going Home: Finding Peace When Pets Die,” out September 27 from Random House mean a great deal to me and hopefully, to you. She’s getting dinner at the restaurant of her choice. Marilyn works at the bookstore several days a week.
Signed and personalized copies of “Going Home” and of the “Going Home Video” can be ordered by calling Connie Brooks at the Battenkill Bookstore – 518 677-2515 or by e-mailing [email protected]. Connie is approaching 400 pre-orders from all over the world. I will sign the book – and the video – in any way readers request and Connie will ship it anywhere. I’ll put the video up at 9 a.m., right after Simon braying (hopefully.)
As soon as Meg dropped her egg (barely visible in the lower right hand corner) Alice hopped up for a turn. We’ll see. Winston was quite proud of himself, as if he had gone and done it, puffing up and crowing. Typical male, says Maria.
For some time, a photo of the Daily Egg was an elemental part of my photography. When I had my rolling crack-up, the chickens, goats, steers, tractors and round bales went hurriedly off of the farm as I tried to save it and afford it. I am very happy the Daily Egg is back. A symbol of a return to normalcy, part of the call to life, and also a metaphor for nourishment and bounty. I was surprised at how excited we were. Simon, too, as you’ll see in the video later.
We got our first egg this morning, from Meg and much excitement here. Winston and Alice climbed into the roost with her and after much squawking and clucking it came out. It is boiling right now, and Maria and I were surprisingly excited. We will eat it together. Video to come.
