I might be kidding myself, but I think we will have a nice, quiet, even intimate Open House this weekend, although Simon and Red and the lambs are definitely a big draw – people are coming from all over the place to meet  him.  Usually the big crowd is in October, Spring is a smaller one, people are still getting ready for the summer.

I think the big draws here are Maria and her art, Simon and Red (a tie), the lambs, hot at the moment and the farm itself. I fit in there somewhere, but mostly I direct traffic to the real stars. This is going to be a fun weekend, I am looking forward to it. A contingent of creatives from the Open Group at Bedlam Farm is coming, George Forss will be doing portraits, Maria has assembled a gifted group of artists who have some wonderful and affordable art, and she is selling some of my photos as notecards and as matted and framed photographs.

Mary Kellogg will be reading some of her poetry on Saturday and Sunday, I will be giving a couple of talks, doing some sheepherding demos. We have most of the firewood in the woodshed, the lawn is mowed, some good helpers are Bedlam-found to help us. We are excited to share our good lives with the good people who have followed our trip. Simon is ready. Bring it on, he has an inexhaustible capacity for carrots and cuddling.

Simon is the symbol of our life in some ways, he has answered the call to life, he has come back from the dead, he is an inspiration, a forgiving, affectionate and patient being.