We are dedicating the Open Houses this year to one of the people in the world dearest to us, our friend Mary Kellogg, the poet. We have been blessed to have had the good fortune to help publish her first two volumes of poetry, we are thrilled to be helping to publish her third work, How To Dance. The book has some wonderful new poems from Mary and some photos from me.

We went up to Hebron today to see Mary and pick up some of her books to sell. Mary  bought her 30-acre farm on a remote hilltop where she lives by herself, her husband Dick died some years ago. Dick had Alzheimer’s and Mary cared for him herself for 10 years. Mary has been writing poetry since she was six, she is 85 years old. The first person to see her work was me six years ago, and then Maria.

She is a wonderful poet, and an amazing human being, strong, brave and committed to living in the natural world. She is very close to me and to Maria, we are very special to one another. Mary witnessed my relationship with Maria from the beginning, and we have seen her age with extraordinary grace, valor and perspective.

On her hilltop, the phone often goes out, the power is often off. She still moves about 15 acres a week by herself, and one of her daughters has purchased a home nearby. Mary intends to spend all of her days on her beloved farm, she showed us some of her flowers and ponds today. Nature is a part of her heart and soul.

Mary has struggled through some health issues in the last couple of years, she remains radiant and committed to her poetry, her friends and family and to defying the expectations the world has for elderly women. No one defines Mary but Mary. She will be reading from her new work on Saturday at the Summer Open House, Sat and Sun, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids are welcome, but as there are animals running around, they need to be supervised.

Dogs are loved, but not welcome, it is disruptive and disturbing to the animals here, and some of the people. We will have two portable toilets for the convenience of visitors, the Round House Cafe and the Cambridge Diner are just down the road. I’m excited to dedicate this Open House to Mary, she is the spirit of creativity and encouragement.