Well, we seem to have made a lot of people happy bringing Lulu and Fanny and some sheep back to the farm, at least for awhile. Maria is surely happy. I’m a bit uneasy about it. There are a lot of animals here again – nine sheep, two donkeys, four dogs and two cats. Not nearly as many as there used to be. But enough to keep an eye on. The practical thing is that I have animals to eat down the grass in the pasture.

I am especially loving having the donkeys back and also giving Rose a chance to work every day. The donkeys have forgiven me for sending them away and appear waiting to be scratched, brushed and given treats. Rose  was going fine without the sheep, but I see now that it is her life, and it is nice to give that to her, at least for awhile. The plan is for everybody to leave in the Fall, and then come back next Spring.

There is a lot going on in my life. Books due, books being edited, children’s books underway (next Winter) book tour to plan, wedding to plan, the blog to support, photos to take, notecards to print. Makes me nervous. I don’t want to go back to running around like a loon. But this seems manageable. The writing is going well, I love photography more than ever, and I am becoming dimly aware that the blog is important to people. I am grateful for that, and appreciate the the words and photos are getting out there. We’re going to try and maintain some statis for a bit, if such a thing is possible for me. On May 15, my daughter Emma and I will do a joint book appearance at Northshire Books, Manchester, Vt. She will be reading from her new book “90 per cent of the game is half mental” and I will be previewing “Rose In A Storm,” my new novel.

__

A friend gave me a stern talking to over the weekend. He said I should charge for access to the blog, a growing trend apparently. He said since it takes a lot of work and photos are expensive, I should charge a small fee for all or part of access to bedlamfarm.com and make some money. I was astounded at the idea.

I won’t charge for the blog, in entirely or for any piece of it. Money always comes in handy, and the blog is work, but it is something I love and is good for me as well as other people. It isn’t a one-way thing.

Obviously, people who come here support my work and life, buy books and notecards, come to readings and fill up bookstores when I appear. Subscribers to the blog have been a tremendous support for me in many ways. They offer encouragement, support,  ideas, stories and feedback. Many photographers gave me wonderful advice when I started taking photos. And the dog people – yes some are intense – brim with love and enthusiasm. That is infectious.  Nobody will ever come onto this blog and find a fee for text or photos. I’d close it down first.