Bedlam Farm Blog Journal by Jon Katz

7 April

Abstract Flower Art: The Beauty Of Sight, Heart And Memory. Thanks Alexa. These Photo Paintings Are For You. Giving The Iphone A Shot

by Jon Katz

In response to Alexa’s beautiful message below, I’ve included these flower photos dedicated to her, a long-time blog reader. I appreciate it so much; she got me sniffling.

Not that it was raining, windy, cold, and icy today, but I didn’t go outside with Zap. Instead, I decided to give my Iphone 15 Pro Max a moment in the light; this was the camera that started it all. These are all Iphone 15 photos; I call them Photo Paintings because of the texture.

Daffodils in our side gardens, subtle shades of yellow.
Even on overcast days, they resemble a spot of sunshine. On sunny days, they almost glow with vibrant color. When the sunlight hits them just right in the afternoon, they seem illuminated from within. Each time I look out the window, my heart smiles. I bring a few inside to enjoy their scent. After about three days, I remove the water. Before placing them back in the now-empty vase, I cut the stems so the flower heads rest just above the lip of the vase, preventing them from dropping while drying. When dried, they retain their color with minimal fading. They become like paper flowers, bringing sunshine and joy to my spirit. I have been doing this for several years now. I noticed a couple of dandelions today and adore the deep richness of their yellow color. Once abundant, they have become rare. It’s sad for me. Will there be no more small jars filled with them, often brought in as a gift from a young child?
Jon, I particularly love your flower photographs for many reasons, but also because through your eyes, I can see the beauty despite failing eyesight. I can no longer use my camera to view the world. The videos and photos that you and Maria shared provided a space of sanity, joy, and peace to my mind and heart.♥️ – Alexa

Heavenly curl.

Guts of a flower.

Heart and soul.

Heart of a flower.

Purple light.

Will you marry me?

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7 April

Zip Postcards Have Arrived: Here’s The Deal

by Jon Katz

We ordered two postcards, one of Zip and one of a flower photo (above), which arrived today.

The idea is to thank donors, large or small, whom we depend on by sending them something to show appreciation for their support, which is now approaching 15 years.

At first, we thought of a flower photo Maria had chosen—I left this decision to the real artist on the farm—but then Maria took this fantastic photo of Zip basking in his new sleeping spot in a straw-filled bucket in the barn. (He has about a dozen places to sleep; the farm and the barn are his sleeping places.) We changed our minds. We know who the star is.

Zip is the most popular living thing on the farm these days, so we pivoted and ordered some postcards to send to people who want them. We’re putting the flower photos aside for other uses later (or maybe when the Zip ones are all gone).

Maria will post both on her Etsy page shortly so people can purchase in packs; details will come later.

She hasn’t set a price just yet.

So here’s how it works.

Anyone who has donated to the farm, online or by paper and check, will get a Zip postcard with a signed thank you. We do this automatically when people mail their donations, but we are expanding this to include everyone who donates online if they ask. It’s more work, but it’s worth it. The online donations have to be recent – within two months – or we’ll run out right away

Several people who have donated in the past have e-mailed me with their addresses, and they will all get Zip postcards until the ones I purchased are gone.

We are very grateful to the people who support the blog in any way and are eager to show our thanks. I hope this helps. The postcards arrived today, so we will start sending them out tomorrow.

We would be grateful if you donated to Bedlam Farm at any time in any amount. The blog is the engine for everything we do—our lives, animals, flowers, photographs and videos, and King Zip himself. The blog is free to you, but everything and everyone on it costs us money.

To send support in any amount, one-time or regularly, you can go to blog support, which will provide details of straightforward ways to help us. You can contribute one time, weekly, monthly, or yearly and cancel anytime you want. It is just as easy to cancel as it was to send.

If you wish to donate through the most popular methods, either through Facebook (jon@bedlamfarm.com) or Venmo (Jon Katz@Jon-Katz-13), please e-mail me your home address at jon@bedlamfarm.com after you donate. I get a lot of messages, and I can easily miss one. We don’t miss any that are mailed or e-mailed to us.

If you have donated in the past or online, please remember that we might not see or know of your donation immediately, so e-mail me your home address. The same goes for the Blog Support options. If necessary, you can also donate easily by sending a check to Jon Katz, Blog Support, P.O.Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816,

The Zip photos can be sent only as long as they last; we got about 300. After that, we’ll send something else. We depend on and appreciate blog support. If you find the blog useful or meaningful, please consider supporting it in any way that is comfortable for you.

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The Cambridge Food Pantry

7 April

Cleanliness Is Godliness: Today, Again, Body Wash And Shampoo For Kids And Adults, We Still Need Spaghetti And Meatballs (Urgently)

by Jon Katz

Sarah is trying to get enough cleanliness items to last more than a few hours. She is repeating her request for shampoo for adults and children, and the urgent item is Spaghetti and Meatballs. Thanks once more for your support.

(Above, Ellenor, Volunteer. The pet food shelf is a huge success.)

I know one mother who gives up food items to keep her children clean. She sacrifices some of her meals. It’s a painful thing to be poor.

Today, she is asking for both adult and children’s shampoo. I hope we can help them:

BARGAIN: Alberto VO 5 Extra Body Voluminizing Shampoo, 15 Ounce (Pack of 3), $3.03.

Suave Kids 3-In-1 Tear Free Body Wash, Shampoo and Conditioners, Dermatologist Tested, Watermelon Wonder, 18 Oz Pack of 6, $$23,28.

BARGAIN: Urgent Item For Today:

Chef Boyardee Spaghetti and Meatballs, 14.5 Oz Cans, Pack of 4, $4.48.

____

The Amazon Cambridge Pantry Urgent Wish List is accessible anytime, day or night. Click on the links here or use the green button at the bottom of every blog post. Every item on the wish list is urgent and updated several times daily. Some people are adopting favored items and sending them when they can. Thanks for the messages; the pantry volunteers greatly appreciate them. Today, the cleanness items are essential.

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Zip

7 April

Thanks For Zip My New Assistant, And Partner, In Flowers, Meditation, And Life.

by Jon Katz

Of course, true partner in life is Maria, but I seem to have a part-time partner these days with fur; I call him an assistant, but he is more than that. Zip is far too independent and strong-willed to be anybody’s assistant. Still, he seems to grasp the things appointed to me, keeps me company, and watches over me.

I took the photo above when I went outside to meditate by the apple tree in the sun yesterday. I closed my eyes for a few minutes, and when I opened them, he was sitting on the arm of my chair, just sitting and watching, careful not to disturb me.

I felt a strong presence from him. He was careful to sit quietly at my side without ever disturbing or asking anything of me. But when it suits me, I like to scratch him on the neck as a thank you. Usually, he is long gone, out chasing after a rat or mouse. He knows his job and does it well. I love the mystery of cats. I have no idea where he comes from or where he goes.

He appears when I need him and leaves when I don’t in the mystical way of cats. Some of my dogs have been close to that, but none in this intuitive, timely, and fast way. He seems to be in my head. I don’t feed him as a rule, and I doubt he is trainable. He just seemed to choose me in some way. I was surprised.

He is just there in this powerful and new way for me.

The other time we are partners is when I go outside to take flower photos. He constantly shows up and sits quietly nearby; if I wave my hand away, he stays back. I like to concentrate on the flower photos, and he focuses on me. I have stopped trying to analyze it and accepted it.

He keeps his distance when I’m doing my flowers but is always inside or dozing nearby.

Yesterday, I was dozing a bit as I meditated when I reached my hand out and felt him there. He was happy to wait for a head scratch, and then he disappeared to investigate something he saw in the garden, probably a mouse. He has his own rich life, and he steps into his mind once or twice a day. It’s challenging sometimes to miss him, but I give him his space, and he gives me mine. He’s a beautiful thing in my life, but not the only thing.

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Birds

7 April

My Morning Bird Meditation, You Guessed It, I’m Hooked. Birds And Flowers Are Good For Me, Hopefully For You As Well. No Bird Apps For Me

by Jon Katz

I’m hooked, as many of you predicted on my bird meditations. The first thing I do in the morning is stand by the living room window and wait patiently. I am sure some birds know me and give me a good stare before graving some seed. I wave at them, and they no longer fly off so quickly, as long as I don’t get too close to the window. It’s a new thing for me, but something I already cherish. We’ve decided to keep the feeder up for most of the Spring so I can continue this lovely new start of the day: rain, snow, or sun.

As they get to know me, the birds like to look at me as much as I want to look at them. They need to see some patience, or they take off. Birds, who are rarely calm themselves, expect calm from the people who presume to take their pictures. Finding the right time, posture, cameras, and lenses took me months, but I’m always getting closer. This is so much better and more meaningful than watching the dread news.

(The bird above loves to sit a bit and stare at me. I like to stare back. We are getting to know one another.)

They also enrich my spiritual work; they are more fascinating, calming, and intelligent than I thought. Their intelligence surprises me, and their energy is beyond my imagination. Most of my birds are hit-and-run creatures. They sweep in, grab a seed, and zoom out. We see our birdseed in some of the next and find it in the trees in the nests. The robins don’t come to the feeders, but some new Spring birds have. As usual, I don’t know their names and can’t remember all of them. No, I don’t want to get a unique bird app; it’s not how I want to spend my time now. I’d rather take photos of them than know their names. It will come. If I don’t limit these new interests and passions, I’ll have no time to read, research, or write. I’d spend all day looking at pictures of birds and flowers. I’d instead rather take the photos myself. I’m not marrying my Iphone.