The first day of our 2017 was different from any other. It was the largest crowd by far since we moved from the first Bedlam Farm to this one, it was the warmest, the most emotional and humbling open house.

It was a coming together of so many different elements, people came from Canada, Oklahoma, Georgia, Connecticut, Kentucky, Minnesota, California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and about a dozen other places. Maria’s belly dancing group, the quite amazing “Ladies Of The Shawl” came to dance on our back porch and hundred of people swarmed the farm to see them.

The RISSE refugee soccer team came to say hello, so did a van from the Mansion Assisted Care Facility. Farmers from South Dakota came and a score or more members of the Army Of Good, some of them from very far away.

This was America to me, and the American ideal, a rich rainbow of people deeply connected to common ideas and values, and also deeply appreciated to the mission of the farm, and of my life with Maria. Farmers and refugees, teachers and students Red States and Blue, left and right. We were one thing Saturday, all day and in every way, human beings profoundly connected to one another.

And celebrating love and compassion and creativity. There were many different kinds of people here, but there was not a single argument or hateful moment.

Susie Fatzinger and Susan Smith, two knitters, worked out of a tent in the back yard,

Jim McRae, our shearer came and put on a spectacular shearing show, he announced his retirement,  (although the sheep rebelled, broke out of the Pole barn, and it took us an hour to get them back in. Red is exhausted.) Jackie Thorne and Mary Kellogg came to read their beautiful poems, and the feeling of the day was hectic, loving and warm.

Honestly, it was how we wished to feel about our country, Maria sold a lot of beautiful art, and we are tired but eager to face tomorrow, although there is some rain forecast for the morning. People love watching dogs work, and Red showed off his astonishing focus and herding work. Fate ran like a madwoman around the sheep, and Gus is trying to keep us. He will get there.

I just loved today, and was very deeply moved by it.  It was one of the greatest days of my life, and I think Maria’s, and an  homage of our time together.

I can’t count the number of people who thanked Maria or me for opening up our lives to the people, but I think it is me who should be thanking them. They give shape and value to my life. They have done so much good for so many people.

In a curious way, the Belly Dancing reflected the heart and soul of our enterprise. These remarkable women shared with us their dance of pride and defiance, an affirmation of who they are and what they represent.

Maria cried watching them do their three sets. Beauty is always external, not just external, and these women were so beautiful. Maria has joined their group, but she insists it will be years before she can dance in public. We’ll see.

I wanted to cry when the RISSE kids and Ali came walking up the drive, and when the Mansion people lined up in a row to watch. Life is good and rich today. People just went wild over Gus, and he returned the favor.

Apart from the good will and love of the many hundreds of people who came today – six or seven hundred at least – there was the joy of seeing Maria’s own growth as an artist, a curator, a blogger, a writer, a photographer, and a strong and proud human being.

She is the heart and soul of the Open House, and I am immensely proud of her, although I have to say Gus very a huge draw also, people were very eager to see him work with Red and Fate and the sheep, and sit on a donkey’s back. They were not disappointed, we will be back at it tomorrow,  from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

And oh yes, I signed a lot of books and sold some photos as well. Maria will be offering her art for sale online Monday, if there is any left. We are humbled by today. I’m posting some Open House faces.