The Urban family drove up from New York City to catch the last hour of our 2017 Open House. Sue says they couldn’t get a car rental Saturday, so came up Sunday as soon as one was available. I’ve know this family for some years, I met them at a NYC rally for the New York Carriage Horses several years ago.

They wanted to see and support the farm, my work and Maria’s art show. America was here this weekend, from California to New York.

We did not see the America of cable news or Twitter this weekend, we saw the real America and  I was affirmed once more in my love for it. These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country, but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.

I am a lifelong admirer of Thomas Paine, and I believe he would have loved this weekend’s Open House, the real America showed up to stand by their country and what it means.