A, Zip, and Zinnia are great pals; Zip loves to ambush Zinnia in the morning by hiding somewhere and reaching out to catch her by surprise. Zinnia is always startled but never mad. She has the sweetest disposition of any dog I’ve ever had. Zip is savvy; he used a fence for cover and then reached out to smack Zinnia in the nose.

For me, the white hen is a symbol of acceptance and stoicism. She is sick but never complains. She sits all day happy and calmly in her stall, waiting for water and food to arrive. She seems intent but also weak. We are determined to keep her comfortable to the end.

Maria has her gossip items to add: The Callissidy Larva will give you a window into life on the farm. Maria often returns from her walks with strange things I’ve never heard of: could you take a look? This is the story of the remarkable Caddisfly Larva, exclusive to the Bedlam Farm Gossip program. Even the pond yields gossip.

I like Maria’s shot of me trying to photograph the fantastic Fate. On another cold morning, I was getting spoiled. But I love the light now, the way the sun hits the ground—photographer’s light.