July 26, 2009 – Hot, cloudy, sticky. Showers. Mary Kellogg came over for dinner last night and Maria and I brainstormed for titles of her next book. She wanted “Stepping Stones,” and I wanted “Go To Hell, Ethel,” the title of one of her new poems. She liked “Stepping Stones” because it suggested the continuous movement of her life in new directions, at a time of life when some people are telling her to slow down and get off of her farm.
  But then Mary mentioned one of her poems – “Whistling Women,”  and it hit me and Maria and Mary that “Whistling Woman” just captured her and her life, and suggested her joy, independence, courage and great gifts. So we have a title, and Mary will be reading from her second book of poetry around the time “Soul Of A Dog” comes out, so hopefully we will get to appear together in some places. I am proud and excited to be a part of Mary’s creative life. “Whistling Woman” will be the third book published by Bedlam Farm Books. The first was Mary’s “My Place On Earth,” the second “Out of The Shadows,” and after Mary’s book, BFB hopes to publish a collection of photographs by artist, photographer and cow-lover Corinna Aldrich, a friend and neighbor.
  I’m very proud to know and love Mary, and to publish “Whistling Woman.” Mary is a powerful argument for the notion of living your life, and the thought of her inspires me every day. Maria will edit the book, as she edited the first one.
  I am surrounded by amazing women.