Bedlam Farm Blog Journal by Jon Katz

18 January

Flower Art, Saturday, January 18, 2025. Looking Back At The Rejected Photos. I Learned A Lot

by Jon Katz

Every now and then, step away and take a moment to relax. When you return to your work, your judgment will be sharper. Move some distance away because then the work seems smaller, allowing you to take in more of it at once, and any lack of harmony and proportion is more readily easier to be seen.”

– Leonardi Divinci on Creative Exhaustion.

I am a victim of Creative Exhaustion.

I drive myself relentlessly from one exhaustion to another, working until I wear down my spirit, body, and mind. Today, I decided to try something new with my flowers.  I rested and meditated for several hours, and then I listened to music.

I poured back through my archives and picked flowers I rejected, considered incomplete, or did not rouse my emotions.

They did look different as I reworked a few, and I was sorry I rejected them. I apologized.  My spiritual life is helping me learn how to step back and relax. And also to be wrong. I learned a lot going back to those photos. My idea of creativity changes every single day.

 

The grind is destructive of both the person and the work. Unless the soul can be refreshed enough to think, create, and recoup its energy and interest in the work at hand, there is no  hope for either recall or creativity.” — Joan Chittister.

 

 

It is requisite for the relaxation of the mind that we make use, from time to time, of playful deeds and jokes.”   – Thomas Aquinas.

 

 

 

 

18 January

Inexpensive Dog And Cat Food Comes To The Food Pantry. This One Is A Pleasure. (We Also Need Some Jasmine Rice And Cranberry Juice.)

by Jon Katz

The above photo shows Alexis, a Pantry volunteer, opening the second donated Army of Goods box containing pet food for cats and dogs, which had already been removed from the Food Pantry Service shelves yesterday. The first box came two days ago from Judith Feely, also an AOG member. The second box is anonymous. Thanks to both generous donors. The dogs and cats, thank you also.

(If you want to send Alexis a message thanking her for her work at the Pantry, I know she would love to get one. Amazon offers messages on their checkout page.)

It seems more than fair to help the pantry food members care for their pets, which is a key element in their morale and comfort.

So today, Sarah put two inexpensive pet foods, one for dogs and one for cats, on the Pantry Amazon Wish List; you are welcome to support this new element of pantry support.

Sarah found reasonable prices for both, comparable or even less than most of the items on the wish list.

 

 

My AI Research: Jasmine rice is rich in iron and can help produce red blood cells in our body. Lack of iron can lead to anemia, a condition in which you can have symptoms like fatigue, headaches, fast heart rate, shortness of breath, etc. Iron can also help have healthy hair, skin, and nails. Jul 25, 2021. Consumed in moderation, 
Jasmine Rice also provides complex carbohydrates, some essential vitamins and minerals. The rice can also be a good energy source.
Below are the two items Sarah has requested for food pantry support today:

Ben’s Original Jasmine Rice, Easy Dinner Side, 8.5 Oz Pouch (Pack of 6), $8.48.

Happy Belly Juice Cocktail, Cranberry Plastic Botte, 64 fl oz (Pack of 1), $2.39.

More AI research. Cranberry juice is rich in antioxidants and essential nutrients that support a healthy immune system and heart health and may help with recurring urinary tract infections.  Cranberry Juice can be a good addition to a balanced diet.

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Below are the two new pet foods that can also be purchased for the many pantry customers anxious to keep and care for their cats or dogs. So far, the interest has been intense and positive. You can access the Cambridge Amazon Food Wish List any time and support the dog and pet program and other urgently needed items.  This is a robust morale and emotional boost to the pantry members and their children. It will go into a new shelf area of the pantry called “the Pantry store,” which is meant to look like a real market that sells kitchen devices; the items are free to pantry members.

Now on the Wish List:

Strong Heart Wet Dog Food Cups, Filet Mignon Flavor in Gravy, 3.5 Oz Cups (Pack of 12). Made in the USA with actual filet mignon, $11.43.

Purina Friskies Wet Cat Food Variety Pack, Tasty Treasures Prime Filet (with Ocean Fish and Tuna, Chicken, and Turkey), 5.5-oz cans (Pack of 12), $8.33.

 

If you can, please message Alexis and the other Pantry volunteers. It means a lot.

 

18 January

Beautiful Morning, No Sun, Lots Of Motion.

by Jon Katz

Saturday morning is my half-sabbath, but I have some neat things to write about. Inexpensive pet food has come to the Cambridge Food Pantry; more details will be provided later.

 

 

Zip by the wood stove; it’s hard for Boston Terriers to stay warm in this weather. We keep him inside most of the time, he only goes on for short periods of time.

Old straw getting tossed out of the barn, they love it.

Fate is so very happy running around the sheep. She doesn’t seem to care that they pay no attention to her.

 

Zip wants to know everything, including what the sheep are eating that Maria threw over the fence.

Cleaning out the water house for the animals warm water tank.

17 January

Sue Silverstein: When Art Explodes. The Chronicles Of A Wonderful Teacher

by Jon Katz

A reporter from the Albany Archdiocese came to Sue’s class this week to interview her. She is getting an award for being the best teacher in the Catholic School system, the highest award a teacher can get. Sue is humble, to say the least, and she may not mention it. I hope she does. She deserves it.  I’m not the least bit surprised. When the reporter walked into her classroom, he said, “This is an explosion of art.” That’s Sue, an exposition of art and love and life. The great teachers become legends; she became a legend some years ago. Welcome again to her weekly column, and thanks again for supporting her work. We are scheming an Amazon Wish List for the art supplies Sue needs this year. Stay tuned. – Jon Katz

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News from the Art Room – An Explosion of Art

Time is zooming. It is Monday, then Friday, and I have not accomplished half what I wanted to. It is excellent, though. So many students are deeply engaged with their projects and exceeding expectations. An old friend and reporter came to draft a story yesterday, and he said, “It’s an explosion of art in this room! Everywhere you look!” I love that.  

We are so blessed to have a variety of materials; thanks to all of you! My two favorite mantras are: great art takes time and go big or home. I love to watch them get lost in what they are doing. I am like that when I paint at home (not as much as I would like to); I get lost for hours when I should be doing other things.

The younger students wanted to try food art this week. We just redid a bed at home, and I had a 3-inch covered foam topper to cut up! It turned into a delightful competition: colossal ice cream cones, steak, baked potatoes, bacon, egg and cheese bagels, a bit of everything! Such fun!

The wire figure sculptures are going to be exceptional. I was concerned it was over the grade level, but they are nailing the assignment as usual. My studio class rocks this year. I caught a photo of Emma with her wire figure in progress. She has been working overtime before and after school all week!

There was a lot of middle school sewing. Bethany quilted her first pillow, and she is delighted with the results. Ricardo has been carrying his around for days!

I am getting the art ready for the annual show at the Empire State Plaza that opens on the 24th. The students love to see their work mounted and tagged for display!

Karen from New York sent a fabulous box that included so many just plain cool items, including beach glass, which is hard to come by these days and a favorite. Folks are starting to send cooking items, which is such a help!

Teresa from WA sent a beautiful child’s handmade weighted blanket, which our Director of Development was happy to get. From Washington! Thank you, Teresa! We hold a silent auction in the spring, and the blanket will be a terrific addition.

Our beloved Andrea from MA! Yet another box of wonder with kitchen and other items! We are running out of glassware because food art is so popular this year, and she is such a help!

So many people stay in touch with emails and letters. I read most of them to the students and make sure they know where the things they are working with have come from. Paige is creating this romantic picnic sculpture with love letters on rice paper, candles, and a bottle of wine. It happened because she found a locket with photos in one of the donation boxes and started to imagine a couple in love long ago.

Her imagination often awes me, and I cannot wait to show off the finished piece. In art club today, we were taking a candle stick apart with a hammer, and someone said, boy, you trust her (with my hand under the hammer), but she is fantastic, as are so many students. Imagination…looking at her picnic in progress, I can almost see the young couple in the locket!

Jon shared the photos of my former students at the Karen New Year last weekend. It was wonderful to see them. I am so proud of who they have become!

We will begin a new course on the art and photography of food at the end of January. If you have unused baking tools, I would happily use them. We plan to do some baking, food decorating, food art, and photography. Since this is a new course, I would love to hear any suggestions that have worked for others.

 

 We are looking for baking supplies if you have anything you no longer use. We always seek donations for anything you feel could be made into something new! We are looking for rolled gauze, wire, glassware, canvas, art supplies, heavy foil, pinecones, glue sticks, baking tools, seashells, sea glass, bottle corks, sandpaper, and wood. I love hearing from you. My email is [email protected]. 

Have a blessed day! Happy New Year!

Sue

ND-BG

2600 Albany Street

Schenectady, New York 12304

17 January

Flower Art. Flowers Bring Good News. See For Yourself. Thanks Shaboozey

by Jon Katz

Good News, Song By Shaboozey

Man, what a hell of a year it’s been,

Keep on fluffin’, but I can’t win. 

I drowned my sorrows, but they learned to swim,

Man, what a hell of a year it’s been.

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I was in a bit of a low today – fog, mist, cold rain, ice and I decided to spend an hour in the living room chair with my new music friend Shaboozey, listening to his “Good News” for at least 45 minutes. “I need some good news,” he wrote, “Sitting here, sipping on cold truth. Nobody knows what I’m goin’ through; bet the Devil wouldn’t walk in my shows.”

When I’m low, there is nobody better for me than to listen to blues singer Shaboozey. He knows how to feel low and sing accordingly.

Then I went to my photo studio (the kitchen table), and all I needed was the good news of the flower. My heart shot right up.

 

 

 

 

 

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