(Great news – My daughter Emma and her husband Jay just signed contracts for a 100-year-old free-standing house in the Kensington section of Brooklyn just off Prospect Park. Robin gets a lovely room (with a secret closet), and Emma gets a big, beautiful office. This is an excellent move for them and a bold and brave choice for Emma and her husband. They are committed New Yorkers. She’s wanted to do this for years and finally pulled it off in one of the most challenging media markets in the country. I’m very happy for her. Robin will go to city public schools next year. Emma is coming to see me on Columbus Day weekend. We’ll celebrate. I greatly admire the way she is living her life. I nearly choked on the price.)

The morning mists are a gift from Mother Nature. Something about mist and fog is beautiful. I never miss it.  Zip is sleeping on the porch now, which was where Minnie and Flo slept. Something about the porch draws barn cats, although barns are preferred when it’s raining or snowing.

Zip follows me everywhere now, rubbing once against my legs and just hanging around. He is my new photo companion. I don’t touch or scratch him or pay attention when I’m taking photos; he keeps his distance and gives me space. He never comes near the doorways to the house, and he seems to know he will never get in. He doesn’t seem to care much either; he loves exploring the farm. It keeps him busy and feels just right to him.

We saw him on the front porch yesterday, checking it out. He looks pretty content to figure out his options.

I love seeing Maria move through the mist. Fate stays with the sheep, Zinnia follows her closely, then comes into my study to write with me. She is happy wherever she goes. Tomorrow, I go to Saratoga to have the stitches in my left foot removed, hopefully for the last time.

This afternoon, I will see Casey Pace and her food cart get going on my project to follow her dream. More later. Life is good. Thanks to Ted Emerson’s inspiration, the new Guardian Angel charm I ordered yesterday on Etsy is on its way. I’ve got a 24 ” inch necklace for it.

Begonias are royal flowers to me; they keep getting more beautiful.

Maria hangs her experimental potholder and quilt fabric on the line to dry. She never throws anything away.

The pigeons came over to greet me again this morning. I think it’s Fred on the far right; he’s always at a different angle.

The bugs in the yard are mostly gone; the Imperious Hens are out in the pastures where the weeds are tallest. There must be some fat worms out there.

I never tire of seeing the dogs graze out in the pasture. They always make me think everything will be okay.