Bedlam Farm Blog Journal by Jon Katz

4 August

Message From Deirda. Stop And Feel. Surround Yourself With The Energy You Love…

by Jon Katz

Well, Jon,
While your body paid the price, your physical suffering revealed your raw beauty. Your inflection (is that a word)
causes me to stop and think. Your photographs cause me to stop and feel.
Thank you so much and do surround yourself with that same energy you surround everyone you love with.
Rest and recover.
Deidra”

 

I often discuss the cruel and hurtful messages unthinking people send on social media; I, too, rarely share the beautiful ones, the ones that make me feel good to do the work I do. I am grateful to know there are human beings who understand the meaning of humanity and empathy. In a time of anger, relentless hate, and cruelty, good hearts and good people stand out.

Deirda sent this message after I wrote that, as promised, taking my flower photos outside in the sun did make me sick. I am in quarantine today. I went to the farmer’s market with Maria to buy fish and Cindy’s soap. I got a brush and some shaving soap. No more shaving cream from big companies.

I loved Diedra’s message not only because it was so kind and generous – I did like that very much – but because it reminds me of the danger ignorant and angry people – we call them trolls – can do, and how messages like this are rare and often driven underground. Lots of good people don’t wish to get harmed or frightened. It’s a significant loss; Deirda’s beautiful thoughts and written messages teach us much about what is lost as well as what is gained.

I hope to hear from her often. I don’t know her, but I would like to.

Thanks, Deirda, for such a beautiful affirmation of my work. Small people can’t do that; they love correcting, suspecting, and disliking. You gave me a real life; you are the energy I love and strive to emulate.

(photo from the Williams College Museum.)

3 August

Flower Art, 8/3/2024 Got Good And Sick. Stay Inside When It Hit’s 100, They Said. They Were Right. I’m Sick, And Inside And Feeling Better.

by Jon Katz

Yesterday, I spent too much time outside in the heat and got what I deserved—sick. I did take these flower photos today, but they were all taken from inside, with the lamp and sunlight behind. It’s not usually how I do it these days, but it was fun. See you in the morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 August

Images From A Museum, Trip With Maria

by Jon Katz

There is something special and unique about the William College Museum in Williamstown, Mass., about an hour’s drive for us.

The museum has a quiet, intimate feel. It is free, has an impressive permanent collection, and allows its students to exhibit, exchange ideas, and talk to the outside world. The guards are lovely and friendly. They don’t care if I get close with my camera.

Maria loves museums; they do something beautiful and powerful for her. I love watching her in them. When I get tired, I take out my Monochrome and look for images to photograph and share. Except for Dorothea Lange’s great photo below, I didn’t feel I needed explanations or captions.  Next, we’ll revisit Mass MoCA, our second favorite museum.

It’s just down the road from the Williams. There is a terrific Korean restaurant between them. Today, I had perhaps the best Asian dinner of my life. I was sick today and had to sit in the museum. I got home to the air conditioning and felt better. I do need to rest.

I just wanted to capture some images that struck me as poignant and powerful and share them. I love wandering through that museum.

I’ve been repeatedly warned to stay out of the sun when there is humility and temperatures in the 90’s. I took my flower photos outside almost all the time. Yesterday, I finally got the message. I got good and sick and am recovering this week. I couldn’t go out for photos today; it was just about 100 degrees, but I could take pictures indoors by the window; there was just about enough light. I don’t usually do it, but I am happy with the outcome. I hope they please you as well. I’ll post them next.

As I said, these photos don’t need captions; they touch the heart.

 

Dorothea Lange was one of the best photographers in America; she left her home and family in San Francisco to travel the country during the Depression and capture the pain and suffering it brought. She is my all-time favorite photographer. Her photos rush right in and touch the heart.

 

Dancing

 

 

3 August

Dan Rogers Is Saving Our Farmhouse From Rot In 100 Degree Heat. Bedlam Farm Hero Of The Year

by Jon Katz

Dan Rogers is the Bedlam Farm Hero Of The Year. He worked all day today in 100-degree heat to replace the rotting wood in the barn, on the front of the house, and on the front porch, which was close to much more rotting.

Our house is looking great and feeling great, and in a few days, it will be in perfect shape after being pounded by rain the past year or so.

Climate change is bearing its wrath here, with Tornado’s severe rainstorms and way too much water sometimes and too little other times. The water is doing more harm than the sun.

He said the rotting was getting close, but we are fine now and well into the future. Dan is a pleasure to have around; he is intelligent, funny, hard-working, reasonably priced, and meticulous about doing it right. He is also honest about the work he does. He always has a better and usually cheaper idea than ours.

We have become good friends. I look forward to his visits, but he insists on using the water hose. He’s a country boy; they always take their shoes off inside.

He and I seem to have the same warped sense of humor, and we always talk to one another when he takes a break from work, which he only does if I bring him ice water. He said the heat nearly did him today; he’ll come to finish this part of the porch in a day or so.

When we saw the damage beneath the barn, the front steps, and the rotting cedar shakes, Dan made time—he is busy—to replace them individually, usually early in the morning. It is difficult to do hard physical work in any weather, and brutal in this heat. He’s done much work already; there is more to do.

Our farmhouse is old, and it needs continuous care. We saved and planned and are getting it done. This year, we fixed the roof, which was damaged in a rainstorm (we got some insurance help), the septic, and an upstairs toilet, and are now tackling the rot. The farm will be good for at least another hundred years. We owe it to Bedlam Farm to keep it healthy.

We hope to work with Dan to put some insulation into the attic. It’s a small space, and in the winter, there are a lot of cold seeps. I’m trying to get Dan interested before Maria does it.

She has two cords of wood to stack and insists on doing it herself.

Even Dan had to stop in the late afternoon. He did a great job. We will stain the Cedar Shakes blue, the same color as the house.

 

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