The Bedlam Farm Open House was a great experience for us. Between 500 and 700 people came through the farm from noon to 4 p.m., including a half dozen members of the Open Group At Bedlam Farm, who traveled from all over the Northeast to come and see us. The donkeys had a great afternoon, groups of 20 to 30 coming non-stop into the pasture to meet them and hear their stories. Lots of carrots, some organic apples. It is always a special pleasure to match faces with the e-mails and Facebook names and messages, like meeting good and valued old friends.

Maria sold a ton of her art and the Schoolhouse Studio was full all afternoon. Mary Kellogg read some new poetry and Kim Gifford and Diane Fiore read from their work in the Hubbard Hall Writer’s Workshop. The donkeys were a hit, but Red was a superstar happily showing off his herding skills in front of his biggest crowds yet. Red was great, when he is with the sheep, there is nobody in the world but him and me. People were fascinated by him, had dozens of questions. Four hours was not really enough, there was almost too much going on to fill the time.

Lenore was an industrious greeter, she wore herself out saying hello. I brought Frieda out to introduce her, talk about my next book and acclimate her to the crowds. She was great, calm and comfortable. I think in my next life I’ll drop all of the writing stuff and just be an animal handler. Maybe my next life is here. We’ll do it again September 1. Many thanks to Jack Macmillan for handling the crowds and traffic and pasture control and to Kim Macmillian for putting together some scarves in the studio. Maria and I collapsed and five and fell asleep on the living room couch. I am stirring again, sort of. More photos coming.