Bedlam Farm Blog Journal by Jon Katz

23 July

George Okeeffe, Hens, Zip On A Mission, Tuesday, July 23,2024

by Jon Katz

I love the shapes hens take when grooming themselves and eating the bugs that get in their feathers. Georgia Okeeffe saw flowers as sculptures, and so did I. Chickens, too. This morning, Maria and I are going to the food pantry to take some photos. We are here to help unload the food from Albany onto their truck.

Zip appeared briefly this morning and took off into the woods. He has favorite places everywhere, and I rejoice at his freedom to expose himself, as barn cats do. I’ll be back this afternoon, taking some photos of some Thistles. Close up, they are pretty wild-looking.

 

Robin in the back pasture, photo by Maria

23 July

Welcome To The First “Diaper Day” At The Cambridge Food Pantry, All Sizes: Huggies, $9.94, Pura, $10.97, Luvs, $7.27

by Jon Katz

We had a wildly successful Woman’s Day and a stunning Dental Paste Day on Monday, and Sarah Harrington says we are on a roll. “The Army of Good Did great,” she said this morning.

‘I was able to take down seven wish list items this morning,” she told me. ‘I’m  hoping we can help with baby diapers, another item  badly needed and hard to stock or keep.”

I proposed hosting the first Cambridge Food Pantry Diaper Day, and Sarah loved the idea.

(The above photo shows the first round of Poligrip pasts to pour into the Food Pantry after an elderly woman patron asked if the Army of Goods could help her get some. She is in her 80s and has dentures but could not afford the dental paste to keep them in her mouth. Carol found that many other visitors to the pantry had the same issue. Not today. Thanks so much for your fast and furious response. We’ll keep an eye on this and women’s needs. She is coming to get her poligrip today and is grateful “beyond words.”)

What a wonderful feeling to know that this woman can keep her tongue in her mouth and help her chew. Lifts the heart.

When President Biden stepped down, our donations stopped for a day or so, which is quite understandable. We got a bit nervous, but now, says Carol today, “They are back, and thank you all.” She could not stand on her laurels, so she asked me this morning if we could help with baby diapers.

Your unwavering support has been a source of strength for the pantry and the people who need it. We never really doubted it, and we are truly grateful for that. Thank you.

Most pantry visitors now are single women with children, some of whom are very small.

They seem to be hit the hardest by inflation, divorce, or men who aren’t around anymore. Your donation of baby diapers can significantly ease their burden. I am sorry to say we all know this story.

Sarah posted three sizes of diapers, all poorly needed. They are not expensive. It’s been tough to keep all sizes on hand or, later, to have any.  Perhaps we can help:

Huggies Size 6 Diapers, Little Movers, 16 Count, $9.94.

Pura Size 5 Eco-Friendly Diapers, totally chlorine-free, 12 Hours Leak Protection, $10.97.

Luvs Diapers, Size 4, 29 Count, $7.27.

 

 

One by one, we pick away items that are hard to find.

22 July

Flower Art. Sometimes, White Is Brightest Color Of All. The Study Of Color And White. Reflections On Smiling, And History

by Jon Katz

I realized yesterday that I had been more upset about what was happening in our country than I realized. We went to Williamstown to see a stand-up comedian and were very happy to laugh for two hours. We last did that a long time ago. On the way out of the theater, we confirmed that President Biden had withdrawn from the presidential campaign.

The comedian had mentioned it briefly, but we needed to find out if it was true or a joke.

There was an almost palpable sense of relief in the car, a weight lifted from both of us.

We were relieved, grateful, and hopeful. It has been a long time since we felt those things. I found myself a veteran of news and politics and was surprised at how relieved I felt. I’m not big on any political party these days.

I was surprised to realize this was a profoundly big deal, a kind of revolution, a historic event I would never forget. I soaked it up, sat in silence, meditated, talked to Maria, and called some friends. History was being made, and something significant was happening that had never happened before, dwarfing all the political stories I wrote for years.

I can’t say who the next President will be; I don’t know, but I was saddened by the fact that Donald Trump has frightened so much of the country that people are sending mainly small donations of 80 million dollars to Kamala Harris, who isn’t yet even the official nominee.

Wow. Revolutions take all kinds of shapes, and I hope that the long-awaited Compassion Revolution is getting underway. It is neither natural nor comfortable for people to live in fear in America, especially Americans who have been free for so long.

It does seem that freedom is somewhat in jeopardy as fanatics, many acting in the name of God or Jesus Christ are telling us who to marry, what read, what religion is good and which is not.

Biden’s decision has re-ignited hope for many people, even though the vicious attacks on her began almost instantly.

The hate squad was ready, working overtime to ensure someone hated her. Death threats to come, Donald Trump’s true legacy.

 

I don’t know a lot about Kamala Harris, but I liked her first speech, which was given at the White House to honor some athletes. I was impressed and reassured.

She spoke, laughed, assaulted no one, uttered no lies or conspiracy theories, and seemed to like our country. It felt good. I want to hear more rather than run, hide, and meditate after a leader speaks.

I missed the country I love, the one that welcomed my parents and saved their lives.

She smiled a lot, and it felt sincere—no threats, laments, declarations of hate or vengeance. It felt odd that this would mean so much, even as she said nothing of great importance. I just felt lighter.

I hope she guides us away from a world dominated by billionaires. Money has polluted, corrupted, or diminished almost every part of our country. It is time for a Compassion or Empathy Revolution, the rise of real people.

I might fly a political candidate’s flag on our flagpole for the first time. America is all about freedom; I’m thinking of declaring mine. I had a good scare, as did everyone reading this.

It’s time for some peace and stability.Theresa’s these feeling that something had changed.

Hearing a politician speak clear!sentences without spouting any venomous lies or delusional assurances was refreshing.

Harris smiled and looked comfortable, ready, young, and full of smiles and energy. I am curious that this felt refreshing and promising, and I know little about her.

If that’s all she does, it will be enough for me.

Presidents need to make themselves clear; if they can’t, they can’t be presidents, at least to me.  

She was clear and at ease facing the country for the first time since she might be President. I knew intuitively Biden was finished; I didn’t expect the explosion of joy and hope that followed Trump’s dour and menacing movement.

I kept thinking of Dracula and the dark and misty world around his castle for some reason. Dracula didn’t seem able or willing to go away either.

The dark cloud follows Trumpism wherever it goes; it was and is as depressing as it is disturbing. I don’t think anyone wants to live with that for years and years.

Lying to yourself is a requirement for joining that movement; the Democrats do it, too. I want to avoid it.

Over the next few months, the rest of the country will have a good look and make their decisions.

I hope Harris knows that the presidency is also about real people living their lives and paying their bills. They need to feel again that someone in Washington is listening to them, not just to the billionaires who now fund their campaigns and dominate our civic life and highest court.

Little people are jumping in. I like little people. I trust them.

I am one and come from some.

I hope Harris spends a lot of time outside of Washington. I hope she listens and hears some of the things I have heard from people since moving to the country.

I wish she would move the White House to the middle of the country, see ordinary people in her life, and speak to them, as has happened to me in my rural town, which I have come to love.

I’m excited to see what comes. I hope I will never succumb to the lying, hatred, and conspiracies that have polluted our connections to one another and our very idea of truth.

I’ll do my part. On my blog, no hatred, in or out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

22 July

The Three Sisters: Sarah’s Repeat Food Pantry Request For Today – Juices For The Pantry Children, All Under $3.00. Mango Peace, Orange Pineapple, Cranberry. . See What A Few Dollars Can Do.

by Jon Katz

Sarah asked me to stick with the juice campaign—I call it the tree sisters: Mango Peace, Orange Pineapple, Cranberry. She hopes to stockpile some for the summer; it is one of those items that disappears almost the same day it arrives. Thanks for the juices already on the way.

All three juices are less than three dollars and are essential to keeping the pantry children hydrated and healthy in the heat. Single mothers, in particular, are asking for these for their children. They run around all day in the heat and can quickly dehydrate without knowing it.

Donating these very inexpensive juices could make a significant difference in helping these kids stay healthy and hydrated throughout the summer.

You can see them on the Pantry’s Amazon Wish List if you wish to browse or buy more than the juices. Everything on the list reflects a food in need.

Sarah said from the Amazon receipts that many polygraph denture cream donations are coming.

We would greatly appreciate your response to this appeal. The needs are significant, and your help, whether through juice or other donations, means a lot to Sarah and me, the pantry’s patrons. Juices fly right out, and so do coffee and tea.

Here are the juices. Sarah is hoping to get enough of them so she can stockpile some.

V8 Splash Mango Peace Flavored Juice Beverages, 64 fl oz Bottle, #2.18.

V8 Splash Orange Pineapple Flavored Juice Beverage, 64 Fl.Oz Bottle, $2.18

Happy Belly Juice Cocktail, Cranberry, 64 fl. oz pack of one., $2.19.

 

Let’s see what $9 can do. (Hint: A lot.)

22 July

Bedlam Farm In The Mist. My Favorite Sunrise, I Think, Is A Foggy One. Come and See…

by Jon Katz

It was a beautiful, misty morning today. I had a wonderful time with my camera outside just after 6 a.m. Maria did her usual Manure Throw, and Bud did his patrolling. Our farrier came to look at Fannie’s limping leg; she had a nasty abscess and would need soaking and heavier bandages.

I went to see my Primary Care Physician, Dr. Hannah Dodge, who is part of the Saratoga Hospital health system. We did well.

My AiC  diabetes) is going down, I’ve lost weight, I’m sleeping better, and my blood pressure and heartbeat are okay—suitable for men my age. She’ll see me in three months.

We had a meaningful conversation about memory loss. I told her that after I had my concussion, and my typos soared (there have always been some, plus my Dyslexia), the social media yenta police unit  (the Correction Busybodies) went into meltdown.

I had misspelled the Calla Lili. Some suggested that I was experiencing Dementia.

Dr. Dodge left and told me they knew little about it (this is typical of social media yentas. When they aren’t giving out warnings, they are hunting for corrections. Of course, they would find me!).

She said that short-term memory is about getting older and not getting sick. The problem would come if I forgot what flowers were, not if I forgot their names, or if I forgot what dishes were, not if I forgot to wash them. I had no signs of dementia, she said and saw no reason to be tested.

Patients with Dementia don’t write on blogs every day or take flower photos.

It’s good to hear it; my hearing also sounded fine. She had no worries, she said. I didn’t need blood pressure, either. For a soon-to-be 77-year-old, she said, I was “awesome.”

Come along for the morning mist show, perhaps the most beautiful time here. I like Dr. Dodge; she is open, transparent, and fun to talk to. And like my female doctors, she is interested in what I say. I don’t think they teach the male doctors that.


 

Asher with a leaf on his nose.

The morning sun is always beautiful, even around the clouds. The sun showed itself, and my camera responded.

Bud is on the trail of a turtle.

Misty landscape.

Lulu is the most thoughtful animal I’ve had. And those eyes….

I love my new Cosmos flowers; they are my favorite of the month.

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