Bedlam Farm Blog Journal by Jon Katz

7 March

Friday’s Pantry Choices: SpaghettiO’s, Spaghetti & Meatballs. Urgent Item, Dish Soap. Happy Dogs And Cats

by Jon Katz

Today, Sarah hopes for a spaghetti and meatballs celebration, a favorite for pantry members and their children. Note that two of the items today are bargain choices from Amazon.

(Above, thanks for your support of the new dog and cat food shelf, and thanks to the donator who made it possible. The animals and their families thank you. Sarah said this one was “an immediate and great success.”)

Thanks for your help. You are making a world of difference.

SpaghettiO’s Canned Pasta with Meatballs, 15.0z Can (Pack of 12), $11.44.

Chef Boyardee Spaghetti and Meatballs  14.5 Oz. Cans, Pack of 4, $4.48.

 

 

BARGAIN: Urgent item today:

Palmolive Ultra Sgtrength Liquid Dish Soap, Original Green, 20 Fluid Ounces, $2.50.

 

 

 

The newest trend in the Army of Good Pantry Support is people browsing the Amazon Pantry Support Wish List and making their own choices—often in a large box or two. This is great for the pantry families and feels good in times of stress and confusion. We thank you.

I hope you feel good about yourselves. You are blessed angels to me and many others. You have helped feed the pantry members and significantly boosted their morale. Please keep sending appreciation messages to the pantry volunteers. It matters.

7 March

Busy, Beautiful Morning. Zip, Eye Doctor, Sewing Trouble: I Choose This – When They Hate, I Love, When They Lie, I Tell The Truth

by Jon Katz

 

It’s a busy morning. Maria and I are leaving for my scheduled eye exam with Dr. Solomon. Then, we will drop her sewing machine off at a repair place. It’s jammed, but she has another one that is working. We’ll be gone all morning. We can see and smell Spring, the light, and the robins. My new motto: When they hate, I love; when they lie, I tell the truth. I have faith in my choices. They might be right; they might be wrong. But they are mine.

Zip has decided to befriend the White Hen. He visits her several times daily (I imagine he steals some food), and she seems very easy with him. They were not friends before she disappeared.

 

 

Morning sun.

6 March

Flower Art, Thursday, March 6, 2025. Animal Love And Calla Love

by Jon Katz

Until one has loved an animal,” Anatole France wrote, ” a part of one’s soul remains unakened.”

Sometimes, the awakening of that soul is the only objective and rational thing about being alive.

For me, dogs have awakened my soul more than once. Dogs were magic helpers walking alongside me in my hero journey in search of myself. They did help awaken my soul.  A cat is doing it again.  So did a donkey.

The donkeys do it whenever I rub their soft noses.

I don’t believe animal love is superior to human love; they are not the same thing, at least for me. Each powerfully complements the other. I don’t think one is better or superior to the other, but each one brings love out of hiding, brings a smile out of brooding, and shows what it means to love another being. They are not in competition; they bring richness and meaning to life in different but powerful ways.

 

 

 

 

 

 

6 March

Sue Silverstein In Design Mode With Disney’s Little Mermaid. Her Class Is One Of The Most Creative Places On The Earth

by Jon Katz

I would have given anything to have had a wonder teacher like Sue Silverstein when I went to school. I’m not sure there is any other teacher like her. I can’t take her class, but I can be grateful she is my best friend. Thanks a million for supporting the amazing art she produces with her students. Sue is one of a kind, and I am so grateful to the publisher for her weekly reports from the art school. Jon Katz.

______

News from the Art Room – Teamwork! 

 

This week has been all about teamwork in the art room. The annual school musical is just a few short days away, and we have been in set design mode all week. The music department has chosen Disney’s Little Mermaid Jr. What fun!

So far, they have constructed a large rock for Ariel, a boat, a fabric “whirlpool”, and created a fanciful ocean backdrop. I was a stage crew kid myself in high school and enjoyed the process.  The community is as important as the results. Yesterday, we were working on the stage after school, and I just said things like “happy fish” or “lots of coral”. That was it; I let them take off! The results were terrific. A couple of the other teachers jumped in to help, too!

The kids in the art club found an old grocery store balance scale. One of the boys is a car buff and plans to study car engineering (he’s still in 8th grade). He has carefully and lovingly disassembled it and cleaned each piece. Let’s hope it all fits back together as planned.

Drawing with a grid for middle school this week. The students are often amazed at how helpful that is. We talk about how many times we draw from the images in our memory more than what we are looking at. The grid process forces concentration in a whole different way.

Khloe and Emily are creating a gown from well-used sewing patterns. Inspired by the recent costume designs at the Oscars, they took on the challenge. Let’s see what they come up with!

Silk screen printing is also underway. Honestly, and true to form, the class caught on to the process instantly and had some grand aspirations. I instructed them to plan at least four screens on the first try, and they have already planned far ahead of that goal.

Next week, the forecast is for a few 60-degree days. Sunshine feeds the soul. I hope to get the photographers outside with some bubbles.

No one can make me doubt the love and goodness in this country. I have so many to thank this week for so many fabulous donations. Many more of you have been writing to the students, and we plan to create a wall in the room with your messages of encouragement. It means a lot to them and me as their teacher. You are helping some kids believe kindness is for love’s sake. Not for personal rewards but for the simple love of others, most of whom you will never meet.

There is too much depersonalization in the world and on the news right now. Individual people, with hearts and stories, are being targeted and sometimes dismissed as unnecessary.

Liz from Florida sent art and craft supplies that will be truly helpful. This year, I have a large number of prolific artists who produce work practically from sunrise to sundown and use a lot of paint, markers, canvas, and paper. The supplies are much needed. Thank you, Liz.

To Karen and Ken, a large glue gun with glue sticks is a blessing! Thank you!

To Karen, the green plants went directly from the box that arrived to the set design as stand-in seaweed. That was perfect timing, and thank you so much!

To Chris from PA: The wine corks are just what we need for a new spring project. Thank you so much!

Melissa from MO sent lots of lovely cards, calendars, and more! Thank you so much!

This week, our friend Kathy sent stunning shells, glass bottles, and other treasures for our spring projects. We appreciate you and your notes, Kathy!

Thank you for the notes to the students! They mean so much!

 If you have small, colorful bottles, I found a project the kids will love. Seashells and beach glasstoo!

The address is NDBG    2600 Albany Street   Schenectady, New York 12304

For anyone I miss, please know that we could not do this without you!

We always seek donations for anything you feel could be made into something new! Rolled gauze, wire, glassware, canvas, art supplies, heavy foil, pinecones, glue sticks, glue guns, 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

6 March

Home Life For The Cambridge Pantry: Sarah Is Asking For Help With Clam Chowder And Chicken Noodle Urgent Iten Is Paper Lunch Bags For The Kids. It’s A Sensitive Issue

by Jon Katz

Sarah is seeking to stock up on her most popular foods. It is never easy, as the popular items fly out of the pantry, but she is trying to stockpile some, even if only for a couple of weeks. She is getting a grand for a small storage room.

Chicken Noodle soup and clam chowder have always been favorites, but she is just about out of both.

I’m eager to see the truckload of dog and cat food that will arrive today or tomorrow—pictures to come.

As we did last year, we also want to give the children paper lunch bags to take to school so they don’t have to haul their lunch in plastic bags, which makes them seem poor in front of their classmates, who notice.

Sarah got a bargain price on the lunch bags and thanked me.

Campbell’s Condensed 25 % Less Sodium Chicken Noodle Soup, 10.75 oz Can (Pack of 12), $16.16.

Campbell’s Chunky Soup, New England Clam Chowder, 16.3 Oz. Can (Case of 8), $17.20.

 

 

AMAZON Bargain: Shopday 100 Pack Brown Kraft Paper Lunch Bags, 4 lb Capacity, Fold Top Disposable, Brown, $8.99.

The newest trend in the Army of Good Pantry Support is people browsing the Amazon Pantry Support Wish List and making their own choices—often in a large box or two. This is great for the pantry families and feels good in times of stress and confusion. We thank you.

I hope you feel good about yourselves. You are blessed angels to me and many others. You have helped feed the pantry members and significantly boosted their morale. Please keep sending appreciation messages to the pantry volunteers. It matters.

 

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