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I might be kidding myself, but I think we will have a nice, quiet, even intimate Open House this weekend, although Simon and Red and the lambs are definitely a big draw – people are coming from all over the place to meet  him.  Usually the big crowd is in October, Spring is a smaller one, people are still getting ready for the summer.

I think the big draws here are Maria and her art, Simon and Red (a tie), the lambs, hot at the moment and the farm itself. I fit in there somewhere, but mostly I direct traffic to the real stars. This is going to be a fun weekend, I am looking forward to it. A contingent of creatives from the Open Group at Bedlam Farm is coming, George Forss will be doing portraits, Maria has assembled a gifted group of artists who have some wonderful and affordable art, and she is selling some of my photos as notecards and as matted and framed photographs.

Mary Kellogg will be reading some of her poetry on Saturday and Sunday, I will be giving a couple of talks, doing some sheepherding demos. We have most of the firewood in the woodshed, the lawn is mowed, some good helpers are Bedlam-found to help us. We are excited to share our good lives with the good people who have followed our trip. Simon is ready. Bring it on, he has an inexhaustible capacity for carrots and cuddling.

Simon is the symbol of our life in some ways, he has answered the call to life, he has come back from the dead, he is an inspiration, a forgiving, affectionate and patient being.

Simon can be irresistible sometimes, he seems to be getting more affectionate as time goes on – unless you are a ram, a dog, or a donkey going near his grain. He loves attention, comes looking for it. I expect he will have a grand time at the first Bedlam Farm Open House, scheduled for this weekend, Saturday and Sunday from 11 to 4 (Sunday, noon to four). Details on Maria’s events page.

Many people think we are nuts to open up the farm, but it has felt good every time we’ve done it. We are pleased to share our lives with the people who support our work and share our lives through blogs, books, photos, quilts, potholders, creativity and art. We only promote the Open House on the blog, and that seems to do fine. There will be affordable and interesting art, visits with donkeys, a chance to see Red her the sheep, talks by me. Hope to see some of you there. Simon is eager to meet his growing list of fans. Bring carrots. No dogs, please, food and refreshments available in nearby Cambridge, please visit the Battenkill Bookstore, the Round House Cafe, George Forss’s will be at the farm taking portraits, so you can’t visit his gallery.

You can go see a concert by Athene Burke Saturday night (details also on Maria’s page.) Getting close, we are scrambling to get ready.

My

My 27th book is about to come out in October, it is called “Saving Simon: How A Rescue Donkey Taught Me The Meaning Of Compassion.” Red and I went to Battenkill Books today to touch base with Connie  Brooks, the owner of Battenkill Books. We are plotting our fall campaign to sell 2,000 copies of the book at Battenkill Books, my local bookstore. Last year, for “Second Chance Dog,” we hit 1,000 copies sold in the store. This year, we will start earlier, perhaps in July. . Any book purchased through Battenkill books will be signed and personalized by me, and can be shipped anywhere in the country.

We will also be offering some give-a-ways again, free books, notecards, potholders, maybe some free Fromm  food again. Connie has put up a pre-order page for “Saving Simon,” the book details the rescue of Simon from the farm where he was starving, his rehabilitation at Bedlam Farm and his move to the new farm, with Rocky, the blind pony, and with Red, who he repeatedly tried to stomp and drive off. It explores the theme of compassion.

The experience of working to save Simon – Maria said she had never seen a look on my face like the one when I first saw  him – and learning to love him opened me up in a lot of ways. He led me to accepting Red, to letting go of Bedlam Farm, to moving to the new farm, to understanding that compassion isn’t always about prolonging life it is sometimes about taking life. Simon helped me to look at compassion in a number of different ways.

I am happy to join the proud line of crazy writers who hang around with donkeys, and who walk through life with them.

Compassion is an easy thing to preach, a difficult thing to practice. You can now pre-order “Saving Simon” through  Battenkill Books. Many of you know the wonderful staff there, it is a great bookstore, an affirmation of the need for bookstores in our communities. So you can support bookstores and my work and Simon’s life all at the same time and strike a blow or two for individuality. Please consider pre-ordering “Saving Simon” from Battenkill Books, thanks. The book will be published a day before the October Open House at Bedlam Farm. Simon and I will be signing autographs and book jackets.

Simon is always eager for his morning brushing, grooming and communing. He is a social animal, he loves attention. Maria is loving her new French boots, which she got for $8 at a consignment shop. Online, they cost $200

Simon has every reason to be mean-spirited and wary, he is not unless you go after his grain. He loves people, loves attention, he loves Maria and I, and we return the favor. We each give him a kiss on the nose almost every morning. This is something he expects and we have come to love to do. Kissing a donkey is the best way to get your day going, it sets the tone.