Bedlam Farm Blog Journal by Jon Katz

14 October

Morning At Bedlam Farm, Cold, Dark, Wet…Beautiful Still, Monday October 14, 2024

by Jon Katz

Maria climbed into the woodshed to cover the wood overflow with tarps to keep it dry for the winter. She is my Willa Cather girl. I heard the hammer and went to check. I can’t imagine how she got up there and then down.

The lonely hen, getting old, left behind. Nature is rough on its citizens.

Zip ambushing Zinnia, every morning. They are pals.

Mad dog. I love the look on Fate’s face when she wants to be told to get the sheep. She is never happier or more willing. And she never quits, even at such a great distance.

 

Manure throw, our fertilization of the pasture.

 

Lulu, Fanny, in the rain, asking for good, black and white.

 

Still life, living room.

 

13 October

Flower Art, Into The Whirlwind, Flowers Have Hearts. So Do Bumble Bees. Widening My Repertorty…

by Jon Katz

The majestic terrain of New Mexico, with its varied geological formations, wide range of exotic colors, intense clarity of light, and unusual vegetation, provided O’Keeffe with a rich source from which she expanded her already extensive visual vocabulary. Mountains and bones—new and powerful themes readily adapted to her style of combined representation and abstraction—were added to her repertory.

– The Metropolitan Museum Of Art, New York.

Above. Never Forget The Bees.

 

 

Abstraction

Artistry

 

 

Heart of a flower

Purity of White

 

Paying Attention.

Golden flower

Character

Bud at rest, in black and white.

13 October

Sick Day, Sunday. Bloody But Unbowed. Rainy Sunday, I’m In Bed. Life, Of Course, Goes On New Items For Food The Pantry

by Jon Katz

I got sick last night, ended up on my butt for most of the day. It was raining hard and cold so I couldn’t go out or to the Farmer’s Market or anywhere else. It’s chilly here and has heavy rain, so it’s a perfect day for a wood stove fire. Maria built the first fire of October; I spent much time explaining my life and good deeds with our new bookkeeper.

I got my Flower Art done yesterday and am heading back to bed. I plan to be functioning tomorrow.

We have a new lineup for the food pantry this weekend. Thank you to the Army of Good for getting the pantry enough soup to last a few weeks. Sarah has added these to the Running Out List.

Velveeta Shells & Cheese, Original Shell Pasta &Cheese Sauce Meal (3 C Pack 12 Oz Boxes, $7.47.

Swanson’s White Premium Chunk Canned Chicken Breast in Watter, Fully Cooked Chicken, 4.5 Oz Can (Pack of 4), $7.93.

 

 

Fate at rest.


Zip

 

 

They are filling up with donations from the Army Of Good.

12 October

Sunday Afternoon, Saturday, October 12, 2O24. Happily Holiday Weekend

by Jon Katz

I’m not posting flower art this afternoon, but I’m working on relaxing, thinking, and taking the day off. I took these pictures today and felt the urge to share them. Thanks for your remarkable support of the food pantry. Blessings to you. I’ll see you in the morning; I hope for a sweet and meaningful holiday and a safe one. It’s a beautiful Fall day here.

 

Zip gets his morning hug. And my scratch.

 

I made a new spider friend, and we meet every morning at the pasture gate. He comes out to check his web.

Sun in the morning.

The sweetest dog I’ve ever had…

 

12 October

You Did It Again, New Weekend Pantry Plans: “They Went Crazy For Soups. We’re Stocked And Grateful.” New Weekend Requests: Velveeta, Canned Chicken!

by Jon Katz

As usual, Sarah messaged me around 5 a.m. with the beautiful message that the Army of Good had “gone crazy” for the soups we requested Friday afternoon for children in the backpack program and their parents.

As winter approaches, the families are desperate for healthy, warm dinners. She said they were stocked and grateful. However, the pantry had run out of soup for the backpack kids and couldn’t find replacements; this worried Sarah.

I really didn’t think  people would respond so fast (she doesn’t know my people as well as I do yet).” Sarah wastes little time back patting and celebrating: “Can we switch this weekend to Canned Chicken  and Velveeta Cheese?

Sure, we can, and I bet we will.

We did.

(The backpacks above are going out to the school on Thursday. Food for the weekend.)

First, thanks for our fantastic response to the call for cereal and soup, which mainly went to children and much to the families.

Every child in the backpack program will get at least one (one per child) can of Cambell’s Noodle Soup, which nutritionists at Beth Israel Hospital in New York  City have praised for “its wholesome blend of carrot, celery, and onion. It is a nutritional powerhouse, packed with vitamins C and K, antioxidants, and minerals.”

The researchers also said it is excellent for helping with speedy recovery from illnesses, which is music to the ears of parents with young children.

They have enough soup, for now, thanks, at least for a week. The new weekend Pantry Project Sarah’s chosen foods are Velveeta and Swanson’s Premium Canned Chicken:

Velveeta Shells & Cheese, Original Shell Pasta &Cheese Sauce Meal (3 C Pack 12 Oz Boxes, $7.47.

Swanson’s White Premium Chunk Canned Chicken Breast in Watter, Fully Cooked Chicken, 4.5 Oz Can (Pack of 4), $7.93.

 

 

You can access the Cambridge Food Pantry Amazon Wish List anytime by clicking any links above or below. You can also see the list, which is updated regularly, at any time by clicking the pantry food button at the bottom of every blog post.

If Sarah gets enough of the requested item, she replaces it on the list with another equally needed item. Thanks, thanks, thanks for your miraculous and transforming support.

You’ve brought countless smiles to the families and their children. You raise spirits and allow these struggling families to regain dignity and hope.

_____

New Weekend Plan:  Above are Sarah’s two choices; here are my five urgently needed Amazon Bargain Items if anyone wants to make their own choices over the weekend. (I like to do this in the middle of the night when I can’t sleep.) It feels so good to do good.

Help if you can. These items will be up on the list all weekend until Monday.

Ultra Thin Pads with Flexi-Wings for Periods, Regular Absorbency, Unscented, Size 1, 36 Count, 1 Pack, $4.94.

Huggies Simply Clean Baby Wipes, Unscented, 11 Flip-Top Packs (704  Wipes Today, $16.97.

Pura Size 6 Eco-Friendly Diapers (29 plus lbs), Soft Organic Cotton, Chlorine Free, 12 hours leak protection, Allergy UK, 1 Pack of 18 Diapers., $11.33.

Pura Size 5 Eco-Friendly Diapers (24-35 lbs), Chlorine Free, Hypoallergenic, Soft Organic Cotton, Sustainable Comfort, 12 Hours Leak Protection, Allergy UK, on pack of 20 Diapers, $10.93. 

Alberto VO5 Extra Body Voluminizing Shampoo, 15 Oz (Pack of 1), $1.01.

Colgate Whitening Toothpaste Gel, Mint Flavor, 4 Pack, 5.1 Oz, $15.31.

 

 

It takes special people to help those who have nowhere else to turn. Thank you. Have a wonderful weekend.

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