I will be thinking about this Open House for a long time. It ended today, on the eve of our wedding anniversary tomorrow. We have been married for seven years!
On Saturday, more people came to see us than ever before on a single Open House Day. It was a glorious today, complete with the RISSE refugee visitors and singers, and a van load of Mansion residents, along with hundreds of people who know us only from our blogs and Maria’s art. and who support us and our work.
That is turning out to be a lot of people. We do not advertising other than on our blogs, but the word spreads and the people who want to get here get here. We thank them, they are full of love and good wishes. The weekend was a joy, a love fest, there was such a special feeling about it.
Sunday was much quieter than Saturday, as is often the case. It was also more intimate and Maria and I could actually talk to people.
At the end of the day we did some sheep herding together and then gathered around the Maple Tree to talk about farming, life and our need to understand animals. Ed Gulley talked for awhile and so did Carol Conklin, one of the gifted artists whose work was on sale this weekend.
Both of them talked about the life of the farmer, and the farmer’s love of animals.
It was the kind of discussion I once could have had on book tours,when there were book tours, and I loved having it. I absolutely love conversations like that, it was the perfect way to end the Open House weekend.
We gathered near the dogs and sheep and talked for more than an hour and half.
Then I sat out on a bench with Abrah Griggs, an artist from Vermont and the Gulleys’ who came to see us this weekend, it was a special day and a special time. Maria sold a ton of art, the dogs and I did five or six herding demos.
Everybody loved Red as usual and people just adored Fate.
She has replaced Lenore as the official farm and Open House greeter, she runs to greet every single person who appears and is just thrilled to see them. She does not go into the road, but is very happy to see just about every body. She spread sunshine and laughter all weekend.
The donkeys were skittish Saturday about Ed Gulleys’ cow, Sweet Sally. They recovered their form Sunday and were happy to receive carrots and cookies. We got a few donkey tours in.
Fate is the perfect dog for us, the Ferdinand of border collies, she loves the sheep but will not frighten or bully them, as border collies do. That means she won’t herd them either.
She is a wonderful dog, full of love and adventure. Soon, we’ll see how she does with Leroy. Saturday, she was terrorized by a four-week old kitten.
So tomorrow is our wedding anniversary, I remembered it a couple of weeks ago, but forgot it this weekend.
We are just too tired to celebrate it tomorrow, the 12th, so we are going off somewhere for a night on Wednesday. This Open House was special in so many ways, but I have no illusions about it: Maria is the shining light of the farm, I adore her and so many people love her. The Open House would never be possible or nearly so successful without her love, her energy, and her remarkable creativity.
For us, the Open House is a celebration of our good lives together. We are so grateful for the many wonderful people who share this with us.
Life began on June 12, 2010 and is full of love and light every single day. Happy Anniversary, wonderful woman, may the goddesses always be at your back and carry you through the heavens, where you belong.