Fridays are twilight days for me, a hard week of writing and working on the farm. Saturday, preparing for my writing class.  Hopefully, a movie this weekend. Maybe a play, the “Glass Menagerie” at Hubbard Hall. Perhaps on Sunday a trip to the Mansion.If she can receive visitors, I’d like to drive to Indian River Rehab to see Christy on Sunday.

I appreciated this scene yesterday, the best of the farm, the animals grazing already, the grass is still a stubble out there, but turning green.  Fate lying down, Red in the distance, keeping an eye on things. I am lucky to be here, a time for quiet, deep breath, reflection.

My weeks are more hectic than they used to be, more driving to Albany, more stuff to get hold of for the Mansion, my idea of family is extending, more people are entering my life. The political turmoil has been good for me in an odd way, I feel more engaged, more focused, clearer about my own values and my own idea of patriotism.

Ever since the November election, I have seen arguments and tension swirling all around me. The President has become an Orwellian figure, on every screen, every day, all day. There is no such thing as normal news any longer this is a mental challenge for everyone, especially those of us with anxiety, depression, anger, or other mental issues.

Whatever one’s politics, the idea of this as the primary and continuing reality of the country seems unhealthy to me, it promotes conflict, fear and division. It makes people tense and angry.

My own response to this has been to set out to find ways of doing good – primarily, the Mansion, the Refugees, the Immigrants, the undocumented agricultural workers from Mexico and other countries, who are living in fear.

I believe it is essential for me and for ground and spiritual people to severely curb their time on social media and electronic devices.

I am happy to say I have not engaged in a single political argument, nor do I identify myself with the left and the right, two institutions devoted to not thinking or compromising. I am staying out of that space, yet my blog has raised tens of thousands of dollars to help people. That keeps me grounded and feeling strong. Maria and the animals are a constant source of love and purpose for me, I am grateful for them.

I am committed not to promoting argument or discord, but to doing concrete good for real people.

I accept that people see the world in different ways, including different ways than me.

And I am committed to writing about the people I see to support,  and showing their images so that this work is transparent and authentic. From art kids to needy kids to trips to the Great Escape to blankets and fans and pots and pants for immigrants, to  help for sick horses to uniforms for the RISSE soccer players, I am happy to have added this new dimension to my work.

The refugee children seem to me a powerful thing for me to embrace and write about. They need a lot of help. I will stay with them.

I will also retain the existing dimension of my writing, my books and blog and photos and posts about life on the farm, life with Maria and the animals here. I

Recently, I have opened up a new channel for people to support my work – one time donations in any amount – and this is giving some people a chance to contribute in small amounts they are comfortable with. I thank you for those and for the voluntary payments, which are supporting my work and the foundation of my blog and photography.

My words and photos, as always remain free, you are welcome to use them in any form you wish. I hope they brighten your days.

I will continue to use the blog in these ways.

My purpose is not to defeat or stymie President Trump, but I will continue to work hard to promote the values that I seem to share with many of my readers. Many of them are supporters of Mr. Trump, they are welcome here. Everyone is welcome here, except people who express themselves in hateful ways, or people who cannot bear to read anything they don’t agree with.

Those people will not like it here and will be happier elsewhere, as some have already concluded. On social media, there is no shortage of places for people to hate and argue. This will never be one of them. Thanks so much for sharing this extraordinary journey with me. I am just getting started.