I’m clinging to color and light, the Fall light is here, the nights are beginning to get chilly, the Farmer’s Almanac says we are in for a nasty winter. Our gardens are beginning to fade, I am appreciating the color and light while we have it. In one month, Columbus Day Weekend, we will have an Open House at Bedlam Farm – October 8 and 9.

The purpose is two fold – for Maria to have her eclectic and increasingly popular art shows, and for people to meet us, talk to us, see the animals, see the farm they keep reading about in books and blogs.

I’ve lost focus at times but we are back on track. They got too big, too social, there were too many people coming for too many different reasons. It seemed to me to have gotten out of hand. If feels better now.

The Open House is for people who care about us and who wish to see us on our home ground. There will be shearing, the trimming of equine hooves, some talks and poetry readings and Maria’s quite wonderful art show, featuring gifted artists selling unusual and affordable art.

I will be giving a talk about my work and our lives with animals and Maria will be talking about her forthcoming trip to India. The Gang Of Four will give up their wool to Jim McRae. Ken Norman will trim equine feet. I will do several herding demos with Red, who does amazing work, and with Fate, who does her own unique style of sheepherding.

We’ll have poetry reading and Ed Gulley will talk about farming and his folk art. We want the weekend to be low key, comfortable. I want to have time to talk about the dogs, my books, to meet with visitors and not be so harried and rushed. Deb Foster will be on hand for donkey tours and Tyler Lindenholl will be handling parking and crowd control.

The Open House idea is simple.

Come share our lives and art in a relaxed and informal way. We will accept donations of $5 to help defray the costs of the Open Houses. No dogs please. The Round House Cafe will be open and serving good and healthy food until 3 p.m. My portrait show will be on display there. Come and see us if you can. Fate and Red will be greeting. Chloe loves carrots, so do the donkeys. Details here.

The only promotion we ever do is on our blogs, and that seems to do the trick.