Bedlam Farm Blog Journal by Jon Katz

25 January

Inexpensive Super Hygiene Support Day For Mothers, Babies, At The Cambridge Pantry: Toothpaste, New Barn Diapers, Women’s Pads And Liners

by Jon Katz

Today is Women’s Day, and we hope to re-stock the pantry shelf with the necessities of life for women. The pantry has run out or is running out of all of these items.

The Food Pantry works hard to meet the needs of America’s growing population of food-deprived individuals and families. According to Food America, 49 million people, one in six Americans, rely on food pantries for their food.

They receive a lot of healthy produce from donors, farmers, and food banks. Still, they receive little or nothing of the casual, heated family foods or the necessities of everyday life—the things that make people clean and healthy, the warm foods they can cook quickly.

We are helping to fill the void and boost hope and morale, and the projects Sarah is seeking today tell that story.

The essentials of life can be expensive and can often suck up desperate budgets and force awful choices between health and health.

We are helping to void that gap – the best detergents and the costly necessities like dental pastes, can openers, diapers, tampons, and fast, warm foods, listed here today. They make life familiar, and they make life better.
These inexpensive items (the pantry often receives special rates) will help the pantry’s families who need to live more regularly and healthily.

Supporting Women, Babies, Kids: Sarah’s weekend request for Saturday, January 25, 2025:

Colgate Max Fresh Whitening Toothpaste Helps Fight Cavities, whitens teeth, and freshens breath, 6.3 Oz, Pack of 3, $10.65.

Huggies Size Newborn Diapers, Skin Essentials Baby Diapers, Size Newborn (6-9 lbs), Skin Essentials Baby Diapers Size Newborn, 31 Count, $9,94.

Carefree Panty Liners for Women, Regular, Wrapped, Unscented, 54 Ct, Carefree Liners, Daily Liners for Women, Light Periods and Leaks, 8-Hour Odor Control (54 ct), $3.35.

Amazon Basics Thick Maxi Pads for Periods, Super Absorbency, Unscented, 48 Count, 1 Pack, $5.42.

Seeing the kindness and admiration coming into the Pantry Volunteers nationwide lifts the heart. I’ll post more; they are coming in fast and lifting spirits. Nobody can tell me that Americans are not kind.

Seeing this kindness and appreciation lifts my heart and reminds me why our nation is so great. People are good. Coffee is essential, especially in arctic weather, but the children of the pantry families miss their pizza.

The messages are kind and touching—one Army of Good to Another. You can find them on Amazon’s Checkout Page.

You can browse and donate items from the Cambridge Pantry Amazon Wish List anytime by linking to this page or clicking the green button at the top of every web post.

Support My Blog Support the Army of Good Cambridge Food Pantry

Read or Post a Comment

24 January

Video: Good Morning From Bud, Fate And Zinnia. A Great Way To Get Out Of The Shower

by Jon Katz

My dogs know how to start the morning with joy. This is my greeting coming out of the shower every morning. Bud is the treat chairman; he reminds me there is a treat waiting for them every morning when I go out of the shower. He is happy to see me, of course, also…:)

I can’t think of a better way to climb out of the shower and be greeted by the tail wags, thumps, barks, and cheers of the Bedlam Farm Morning Treat Brigade. It’s impossible not to get up smiling; it is a command. We would have much to learn from them if only Labs, Border Collies, and Terries entered Congress. Why don’t we know it?

Support My Blog Support the Army of Good Cambridge Food Pantry

Read or Post a Comment

Flower Art

24 January

Flower Art. Windows Into The Spiritual Life

by Jon Katz

I have the spiritual responsibility to see life as a moral force, not simply a private one. I’m taking that responsibility seriously. My flowers have helped me see and understand that the center of my soul is not decaying, still, or some disease.

I see the flowers as my soul’s guardian, guide, and inspiration for goodness, energy, gratitude, and silent creativity. It is beautiful, mystical, and hopeful down there. The flowers are my guides and ushers. I can’t say how it works; it just does. They opened the door for me, and my world is filled with color and light. What a gift they have been to me.

Aging is hard work. Every day, I must consciously decide what kind of person I will become now, what kind of presence and spirituality I can bring into my life, and just how alive I intend to be. It’s hard work but exciting. I just don’t let angry and cruel people in anymore. Politicians will not get into my head.

Oh, and I realized today that birds are artists; I will treat them that way in every possible way—artists of love, movement, and energy. (I need to thank my eerily efficient AI software has been for me. ) Days go by without a typo or error.

Birds in the morning mist. Artists, one and all.

Support My Blog Support the Army of Good Cambridge Food Pantry

Read or Post a Comment

Ruminations:

24 January

Warning: Life In The New America: You Can Read This And Cry, Or You Can Read This And Smile. I Did Both When I Wrote It.

by Jon Katz

Thomas Paine on leadership: “The World Is My country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.”

Also, “Suspicion is the companion of mean souls and the bane of all good societies.”

As it often does against my wishes, some news popped up on my iPhone, and I was looking for a way to turn it off. I got upset over what I heard and went into healing mode. I decided to research leadership and its meaning over the years. I want to be a patriot; I can’t live in shock for long. Perhaps I will always need a fire to put out somewhere in my head.

We can’t survive without laughter and irony, so I researched leadership for hours. Here is what I came up with. When something upsets me, I start to read.

I never tell anyone what to do or believe. Please take what you’d like from this. I think you should be smiling at least once. It just feels better.

America started as the most patriotic nation on earth.

Somewhere, we lost the meaning and passion for patriotism, which seems to be one of those “woke” ideas now, like me. History might remind us to think about leadership. I admit what I found was a bit jaw-dropping. It is also hopeful if you wish it to be. I never give up hope.

Freedom is much too big an idea to die on social media.

“But a Constitution of Government, once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.” — John Adams

”I’ve come to believe that a leader is anyone who holds her – or himself accountable for finding potential in people and processes.” – Brene Brown.

_______

The Traits of A Middle School Bully According to Psychologists:

Verbal Bullying includes name-calling, unfriendly teasing, insults, and making threats.

Social Bullying involves spreading rumors or lies, intentionally embarrassing someone, or leaving someone out of a group.

Physical Bullying occurs when the bully hurts someone or their property. It includes hitting, tripping, stealing, and forcing someone to do something they don’t want to do.

Cyber Bullying is any bullying that happens digitally. It can occur in texts, social media, video games, and anywhere people connect online.

Then there are the elements of harassment, bullying’s first cousin: I’ve met them all, as have many of you reading this:

Bullying conduct may include, but is not limited to, jokes, slurs, epithets, name-calling, physical assaults or threats, intimidation, ridicule or mockery, insults or put-downs, offensive objects or pictures, and interference with work performance.

At the moment, this doesn’t sound like leadership. It sounds like the America I see and hear about on the news.

_____

Traits of a leader through history according to Historians:

Empathy means being able to understand and share the feelings of others and to see things from another person’s point of view.

Accountability.

Being able to follow through on commitments. Taking ownership of successes and failures. Admitting when they wreak havoc wrong. Holding themselves and their team members accountable.

Other traits of leaders include Decisiveness, Trustworthiness, Self-Awareness, Courage, Respect, Compassion, Honesty, and Resilience.

“A good leader should have integrity, self-awareness, courage, respect, compassion, and resilience. They should be learning agile and flex their influence while communicating the vision, showing gratitude, and collaborating effectively.”

– Center For Creative Leadership.

From AI Overview, of all things:

A leader guides and inspires others to achieve a common goal. Leaders often take initiative, make decisions, and help their team succeed. (Maybe cry just a bit.)

Support My Blog Support the Army of Good Cambridge Food Pantry

Read or Post a Comment

The Cambridge Food Pantry

24 January

Pantry Needs: More Coffee And Pizza Crust. Plus, Messages Of Appreciation From One Army Of Good To Another – The Pantry Volunteers

by Jon Katz

Today, Sarah is asking for more coffee in the cold weather and Pizza crust for a happy dinner (the kids love it). In addition, I went to the food Pantry this morning to photograph some of the very kind messages pouring into the Cambridge Pantry Volunteers from the Army of Good.

The messages are kind and touching—one Army Of Good To Another. You can find messages on Amazon’s Check out Page.