Our eighth Open House is just about one week away – Columbus Day Weekend, October 7th and 8th. As you can see, Maria and I have just discovered the beauty of signs printed on Vista Prints online, inexpensively and easily. What took us so long?
They say it all – sheep herding with Red and Gus and Fate, Belly Dancing with Maria’s Belly Dancing Group, and an increasingly popular art show from Maria showcasing the artists of rural life.
Our Open Houses have become a celebration of rural life. And a celebration of us, with our readers, our neighbors, our good and much-loved friends. When the Open Houses began at the much grander first Bedlam Farm, people flocked from all over the country, we were somewhat overwhelmed.
We moved to our smaller farm, and it is not so overwhelming, although the crowds can still be large.We have learned a lot about h ow to do it in an order, intimate and comfortable way. A few years ago, I despaired about the Open Houses, through no fault of anyone but my own, they had turned into something disturbing to me, and far from what Maria and I had imagined.
It seemed alien, on many levels.
For one thing, the movie about me had just come out, and people get very excited about movies. For another, a lot of people came who didn’t have any idea what we were about or what the Open Houses meant to us. That was my fault. Time seems to have resolved that, and Maria’s energy and creativity has moved me past it.
That was a very painful learning experience for me, and for others. Last year, and especially this year, I feel we have our purpose and our focus back. It feels very good again, Maria and I are excited. Almost all of the people we want and hope to see are coming, and many new friends have told us they plan to be here also.
Local motels and B & B’s are filling up for that weekend, the start of leaf season in nearby Vermont and her in New York.
There is a glow of community and love and friendship again, just what we hoped for, and the leaves are really starting to turn.
The older I get, the more I realize that things left alone quite often find their own way, and Maria has assembled a quite outstanding group of artists and will also show and sell her own art. I’m back to selling photos again in an inexpensive and hopefully, sensitive, way.
She is a natural curator, with great energy and impeccable taste. We are also mindful of everything we do being affordable.
Maria and I are only planning one Open House next year, so we can plan it more thoughtfully. This year, a focus on the art of rural life, of the gathering strength of women, on herding sheep with Red and Fate (and Gus), on our sweet donkeys. The shearer is coming, knitters and spinners are coming, the art has never been better or more affordable The RISSE refugee chorus is coming to sing, some of our friends from the Mansion will be our honored guests, there will be belly dancing, poetry reading.
Ed Gulley, an artist and the co-author of the popular Bejosh Farm Journal, will be here with his farm art sculptures, wind chimes and striking “flowers” made out of farm parts. Ed is an amazing artist and human being, a life-long dairy farmer with amazing stories to tell. People have bought his very striking wind chimes from all over the country.
We couldn’t feel better or more welcoming about it, and I hope that will be reflected in the weekend. It is, after all, a celebration of warmth and creativity and connection, important things these days. No arguments here or screaming cable news panelists.
Some housekeeping details.No dogs, please. We can’t offer toilet facilities but we do have a port-a-potty coming. There is plenty of food and some neat stores in our small town, just down the road. Children are most welcome, but please don’t let them chase after the chickens, for some reason a favored activity of (mostly) boys of a certain age.
Chickens can get killed that way.
Our dogs are very welcoming, sometimes too much so. Fate loves to jump up on people initially, I have not been successful in totally curbing that. Gus does the same thing, but he is too little to jump too far up. They absolutely love people.
We are sorry to ask people not to bring dogs, especially to Bedlam Farm, but our dogs and the donkeys are very protective of the farm and the sheep, dogs prompt chaos and some danger. Please don’t bring them.
Red is, as always, appropriate. The donkeys love to eat carrots and apples, and Shelby, our friend and house-sitter will be here to conduct some donkey tours.
The belly dancing, a must see will be at 1 p.m. Saturday. Poetry readings, talks and sheep shearing afterwards. Art is sold in Maria’s studio all day. The Open House are free, we accept and welcome donations to help us defray expenses. A donation box will be right near the Tin Man.
You can donate to work of the Army of Good when you buy a pussy hat, Maria can explain.
Parking is along the road in front of the house. Be careful. We are eager to meet you and talk with you. This is not an imposition, but the point, and this year, we definitely have our mojo back, we are psyched.
Maria will be holed up with her artists, I will be happy to sign any books you bring with you or buy for me to sign.