The first Bedlam Farm Donkey Cookies and Tea gathering. From left Fanny, Lulu,
Jeannette, Jesus.

March 14, 2008 – It’s still cold, and there is still snow and ice all over the place, and soon it will be mud all over the place, but things are looking up. Rose is back at work, and the farm seems more centered, less a bastion holding on against a fierce winter, more a farm again. I just ordered firewood for the fall and am hoping for a weekend of quiet, rest (maybe a move or two) and reconnecting with some of the animals.
  Annie says I’ve been neglecting the donkeys and the sheep and they miss me. This may be true of the donkeys, but the sheep miss only the hand that feeds them, and then, only until another hand comes along.
   And then again, Annie thinks I’m neglecting all of the animals, most of the time. I have not been faithful to  Elvis, but will start bring him carrots, apples and the occasional donut again. And I will sit with him and read.
  I’ve started a new practice for the donkeys – cookies and tea. They eat cookies, and I sip tea and sit on my L.L Bean Camping Chair. The donkeys did, in fact, seem to miss me, all of them coming over to nudge and nuzzle me in the soft and loving way that donkeys have. They are soothing creatures, easy and very intuitive. So aftertoon tea with the donkeys will be a new late afternoon initiative. Very civilized. We sip tea and eat our cookies and watch Rose run around like a fool  chasing the poor sheep.