This weekend, The Pig Barn Art Gallery at Bedlam Farm will offer its farewell to our farm, “Anointing The Goddess.” For us, a beginning, not an end, a temple on the arduous, thrilling, defining Hero’s Journey that both of us have been on, first separately, now together. There is the art show, which is exciting enough.

But is is more than that. It is our farewell to Bedlam Farm and it is yours, whether you are here or not. Maria’s evolution has been as poignant as it is spectacular, a soaring start whose many and long suppressed gifts will be on display Saturday and Sunday, from 11 to 4.

For me, there are barely words to describe the waterfall of emotions I am feeling. What the farm has meant to me. The journey of my life that led me right here. The change, loss, gain, sorrows and joy all jumbled together. What a creative place, what a wellspring for me. A part of me never wants to leave. A part of me knows I have to. My life is not about standing still. Our lives together demand our own place, put together by the two us. So many images come to mind. That awful winter. Rose and the sheep. Orson. Carol the donkey. Farmers, photography, divorce, loneliness and an awful break down that nearly ended me. I am on the other path now. I wanted love and found it. I wanted the artist inside of me to try and come out, so it has begun. This art show is an affirmation of me, of her, of us, of you. We have all been on this trip together and I have shared it.

For me the weekend is a farewell – my farewell to the farm I bought in 2003 – and a celebration. New things, many of them here to see – Simon, Lenore, the sheep, and now, Red. We will do some short demos this week, we are both ready. I’m not sure the sheep are. And it is the start of many new things. My work continues. My writing continues. The animals remain. My photography continues. The blog continues, all at the New Bedlam Farm. A new trip, a new path. Wow. So glad I am not going the other way, hunkering down, freezing in place, digging in, downsizing. An early kind of death for me, to succumb to the idea that our lives must shrink as we move through life.

I took some photos tonight of Maria who has finally hung her art show. They are radiant, I think, capturing her sweetness, energy, heart, creativity and presence. I’ll put an album up on Facebook. I welcome those of you who are coming to the farewell Pig Barn Art Gallery show. Those of you who can’t come will not be forgotten. I will share the experience with you on the blog, in words and photos. Bless you all. For me, the weekend is a bit  wet smooch to the world’s most magical farm.