July 28, 2007 – Dank, sticky, warm. The farm is shrouded in mist and fog, the sun occasionally peeping through. I haven’t seen Paula or Emma in weeks – both are off working on their own books, and I miss the days when we were all together most of every day. That will perhaps never happen again, though my life is filled with many new things, and Paula has been up on the farm more than ever this year. Still, it’s never easy or natural, as often as we talk.
  One of my favorite parts of the day is going out in the morning to see Lulu and the other donkeys at first light. She is always the first to stick her nose through the gate, suggesting that yes, she’ll take the cookie. This morning I’m taking some pictures for the art show – Maria’s studio, Mary Kellogg in her writing room, perhaps  Anthony if he gets back from the Lake George water park. I have to go look at Ginny’s sketches for the “My Farm” book I’m working on. She has done lovely sketches of the barns, and now, the house. I hope to hang around all day and check out the work done on the new sheep feeder, on the studio and carriage barns and in the dairy barn. I have to take Izzy to the vet, as he has what looks like mange. I have to pay John Sweenor for the work he did on my car and four-wheeler.
  Bedlam Farm evolves, and evolves. And evolves. I have to unpack boxes from Amazon. I’ve ordered calming stones for Anthony and I (that will blow his mind) and go check out the new pictures on his blog. I have to post new pictures on mine. I have to replace the phones blown out,  yet again, by a storm. I have to go take some pictures of Elvis with my new lens, which is almost as big as he is.
  I have to go to Glenn’s Pharmacy, and get gas, and go food shopping.  Maybe the day won’t be that quiet.
  I love this picture of Lulu. One never knows what’s going on in an animal’s mind, but Lulu always seems to be laughing at me, and how ridiculous I am. I am sure she knows that. Donkeys have been observing fools like me for thousands of years.

. I have a few days to collect myself before the next round of the book tour. My hopes are to try out my new telephoto lens (to make its first appearance shortly on the photo journal), take some portraits for the art show, hang out with the dogs and animals, finish my Michael Chabon novel and not otherwise set foot of the farmhouse. I am lucky to be so busy in good ways, but tired. And Lulu’s morning greeting goes a long way to perk me up.