My first thought of the morning was of my Amish friends – especially Barbara and the girls – I was wondering if I might spare them a wind-blown, frigid buggy ride into town by shopping for them. I dropped off a giant box of gummy worms, Barbara’s favorite, and giant Tootsie Pop lollipops, which they all love to suck on while they work.

I’m their gummy bear and lollipop supplier.

I also stopped by to drop off some food for Tina, and I found out that Barbara has a cold. They seemed a bit beleaguered to me. got It is just so bitterly cold. I asked if they needed anything – Moise and the men are inside the new house, getting the walls and floors done.

I could see that Barbara could use a hand.

She said they were out of coffee, and she needed two boxes of brown sugar. She added that the girls would love some potato chips of various gross flavors.

She said they usually go into town to the Dollar Store to get these things. I wouldn’t say I liked the idea of Barbara or the girls, who had a cold, riding into town on the buggy.

The Dollar Store had everything they wanted, and I got it and drove it back to them. I was glad she doesn’t have to ride into town on the horse buggy today; it’s in the single teens and windy. Even worse cold is coming Saturday. I’ll start checking in early in the day to see if I can help out and spare them some trips.

—

Jack Kittel, our large animal vet, is coming by this afternoon to look at the pumpkin, our sick wether. He isn’t foaming at the mouth any longer, which is a good sign, but he is sluggish and seems to be eating little or nothing. Jack thinks he needs an anti-inflammatory injection and glycerin to stimulate his appetite. He did eat some apple chips.

Maria is doing a fantastic job with Pumpkin, hand feeding him apple chunks and a syringe full of Pepto-Bismol. But I’m concerned about him. We’ll see what Jack says.

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I got another beautiful letter this morning, this one from Tallahassee. I’m very much appreciating these letters. I have the feeling I’m going back to my roots with the blog lately, thinking more of E. B. White and his wise and funny journals from Maine. It feels good. And people are noticing, which I appreciate:

Patty Oliver wrote me this morning: “Your posts have been wonderful to read lately – I’ve always enjoyed but lately much more. Maybe it’s me, maybe it’s you – but I don’t care.”

I am changing, Patty; it’s more natural evolution than a conscious decision. E.B. White’s column One Man’s Meat  inspired the Bedlam Farm Journal. A little lighter, a little more of a daily journal, funnier, good animal writing, a little less intense perhaps would be the way I might describe it. But otherwise unchanged.

Let me know what you think, [email protected].

I can’t speak for Patty, but I know I am changing.

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And then, a printed letter this morning from Deana in Tallahassee, Florida, which I also appreciated:

“I have been reading the blog for years, and now this is my year to step up and support it. I love the journeys I get to take when I read the blog – Who knows if I will find about the political chaos we are experiencing, or about the donkeys coyly trying to get their treats or the Amish boot saga or the introduction to George Forss and his exquisite photography, or Ed Gulley and his too-short journey and his folk art, or the work with immigrants or your beloved and creative Maria, or the students at Bishop Maginn High School and their journey to the USA and their assimilation to a new world…It’s been a wonderful read every morning, thank you.”

Thank you, Deana; this was an excellent read for me.