I  I woke up in the middle of the night with some chills, and I gather this may be a more or less permanent part of my life. I woke up later with a lot of excitement, also a permanent part of my life. I got up at dawn and took Red and the Canon 5D out to Lulu’s Crossing and there she was with the other donkeys and sheep. She turned up to look at me and gave me one of those donkey assessment looks that are familiar to donkey owners. As if to say, “yes, you’ve crossed your own bridge, I see, come on over to mine.” And so I did, and the donkeys gathered around me for a few minutes as Red went out to keep an eye on his and Maria’s sheep. And the sun burst right through the clouds and my Canon did not fail me.

I am feeling good, am full of myself.

I am excited about today for other reasons. Last night, before I went to bed, I started an Open Group For Bedlam Farm in which I invited members of this community – and all animal lovers, photographers, creatives and writers, seekers of a meaningful life, refugees from the fear machine, recovering cable news watchers, survivors of the corporate machine,  former members of the left and the right – to post their own photos and videos, stories about animals, hopes for a full and loving life, their own space – and when I woke up there were more than 150 people already waiting to join. How great, this community is deepening, connecting and expanding.

Take a look and sign up if you like it. It will be a safe and communicative place, no selling, arguing, political posts.

And then there is this: Red and I are heading to Vermont this morning to begin the process of his becoming a therapy dog as well as a working dog. Today’s test is an hour-and-a-half of obedience and temperament testing. The group is Therapy Dogs Of Vermont. They are not kidding around. I will, of course, report back.