Jon Katz
Salem
I write books for adults and children about animals, people and rural life. And I take pictures.
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Articles by Jon Katz
BOOK REVIEW: 'Saving Simon'
In the spring of 2011, New York Times bestselling author Jon Katz received a phone call from an animal control officer. During an investigation, she had found a neglected donkey near death at a farm in Washington County, N.Y., and the officer hoped Katz and his wife, Maria, would adopt him. The donkey was emaciated, covered with lice and rat bites, and forced to live in a pen barely big enough to accommodate the donkey’s prone body.
From Maria, The Zinnia-Fate-Bud Morning Song. Start Your Day Right.
This morning, while I was in the shower, I heard Maria singing a new song to the dogs as they waited for me to come out and get their treat. I knew I had to share this; it is a classic in the Bedlam Farm history. I dearly love this woman. She brings light wherever she goes. Someone messaged me last night to say she thought the world was ending. I don’t know if that’s true (I sort of doubt it), but if so, we will go out smiling. The dogs loved it, so did I. VIDEO
Zinnia Makes A Smash Debut At Bishop Gibbons High School. The Queen Of Chill Is Back On The Job
This afternoon, Zinnia made her debut at Bishop Gibbons High School in Schenectady; I was never prouder of her. She was a smash. In one sense, it was my worst fear as a therapy dog handler. Scores of dog-loving students from the sixth grade to the ninth begged for permission to come to the art studios to meet her, and Sue Silverstein, who loves Zinnia so much I had her implanted with a computer chip just in case (kidding, sort of), told them all to come. But I had nothing to fear.
The Bishop Gibbons Art Studio (Sue Silverstein) Is Seeking Old And Abandoned Dress Patterns
Sue Silverstein and her art students are calling for old and discarded dress patters in large and medium sizes for teenage students. Please send any you have and are willing to part with to Sue Silverstein, Bishop Gibbons High School, 2600 Albany Street, Schenectady, N.Y., 12304. Sue is not asking for new ones, but they are not expensive if you wish to send any. I’ve sent two packages ($12 and $14), and a blog reader sent $25 for more.
Today, Zinnia Debuts At Bishop Gibbons High School: We Need Old Sewing Patterns
Today, Maria and I are going to Bishop Gibbons High School in Schenectady with sewing machines, fabric, books, and Therapy Dog Zinnia. They will be making her first appearance at a school since Bishop Maginn shut down in June. (The art program urgently needs old sewing patterns. Details below.) This summer was too hot to drive her around to Schenectady, and we had to get her clearances and approvals to come into the new school. All that’s done clearance work is done, and it’s a pretty cool day.
The Soul Of A Landscape Painter. A Shy Gift Artist And Loner Invites Me Into His World To Take Some Pictures. It Was Special.
I sat in my favorite chair for my afternoon quiet hour – a time of silence, meditation, and contemplation. I heard the text beep on my phone: “He Jon, hope you are well. I’m painting out in the back of VARAK Park if you want to stop by; thanks, Matt.” Ever since I wrote about Matt earlier this year on the blog, I’ve been trying to catch up with him as he makes his solitary treks around our county to take his peaceful and beautiful landscapes. We’ve been going back and forth.
One Man's Truth: Hell Is Hatred. As Always, The City Of Love Is Drawing Together
When I think about it, I sometimes feel I’m in a fire – lies, hatred, paranoia, conspiracy, guns, shootings, homelessness, division, conspiracy, violence, the war on the “woke,” the loss of empathy, compassion, honor, and truth. We live in a Shameless Time, where there is no such thing as honesty, shame, or accountability. The bigger the lie, the more the contributions.
The Food And Culture Revolution Continues: A Night At The Unihog In Hoosick Falls
Maria and I recently realized that we got sluggish and a bit lazy during the worst pandemic years. We just stopped going out because I was at high risk, and it wasn’t safe. Our liberation also confirmed there are now a lot of neat places to go around here post-pandemic. That is exciting, we are in the country where most folks stay home anyway.
Both Sides: The Shower Committee Waiting To Greet Me Out Of The Shower
Maria and I each took a photo this morning of the Treat Committee waiting to greet me as I came out of the shower. The goal is to pressure me into giving them their morning treat, which they do, I admit, wait patiently for. They score every time. We decided to share our photos. I love this ritual; it is a great way to start the day. The photo at the top is by Maria Wulf.
Wednesday Journal. Hell Is Hatred I'm Thinking
This morning, the calendar is pretty wide open. I have my Blog Zoom Meeting at 10 a.m., and I plan to write this morning about my idea that Hell Is Hatred and that the people who hate will suffer, not because they are evil, but because they are broken. And take some pictures with my monochrome. Hatred is a kind of pandemic; it sweeps across a country like locusts sweep across farmland. Hating is like being in Hell. I think there’s a lot of truth to that.
Autumn Shadow, Woodshed
This old flower holder is a symbol of the seasons for us, it is full in summer, fades in autumn, and dies in winter. It’s one of the oldest things on the farm, and it has a lot of meaning for me. I take a picture of it every season.
Meditation Day: How I Intend To Live In An Angry World: "I Want To Love Like A Child, And Battle Like A Warrior Bold..."
My Meditation Class this morning focused on the bad news raging all around us; we talked about ways to insulate ourselves from anger and division. It was another excellent and powerful meeting, and it triggered a great deal of thought in me when I got home and did my meditation. I had to figure out my place in this angry world, not for the residents, but for me.
Why I love The Mansion Work: "Miss No Opportunity For A Small Sacrifice..."
St. Teresa is one of my favorite Christian writers. She was an advocate of the Small Way, small acts of great kindness shaping my efforts to do good. “Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word, always doing the smallest thing right and doing it all for love,” she wrote. Kelly Patrick is an aide at the Mansion, and she has had a complicated and challenging life that could turn anyone bitter or angry.
Me And My Ukelele Come To The Mansion
Last week, the residents in my Mansion Meditation Class told me they’d love to see the progress I was making with my ukelele class. I told them I was working hard to prepare for Christmas, but this morning I thought, “what the hell?” If I’m showing the world the progress I’m making, why not show the Mansion residents what an older man can do when he sets his mind to it? So I brought the ukelele and Zinnia with me. These are my friends, and some of them are my admirers.
Donkeys At Their Feeder. The Calm Time
The animals have shifted – sad for them – from fresh green grass to drier hay for the winter. They miss grazing and love the smell and feel of fresh grass. Now, they are eager for their hay. When we bring the hay out, there is a mad scramble for it; after a while, the sheep go into the barn or nibble at whatever green thing they can find. Then, what I call quiet time. The donkeys are alone at their feeder, Lulu on one side and Fanny on the other. It is always a peaceful and grounding thing to see.
The Last Lonely Skein For Sale. Go Out There And Be Something Beautiful
I’m writing this to say farewell (shortly, I imagine) to the last yarn skein Maria has to sell. It marks the end of a very successful time for Maria, but she needs to make and sell things constantly to keep the love she loves so much. When this skein goes, this very lovely chapter will end, and she can work on the next. For selfish as well as loving reasons, I hope this is today. The yarn is personal for both of us; this skein comes from our sheep Socks.
Still Life: Amish Cart, Dawn
It was just after dawn, and I heard the clip-clops coming down the road. My Amish neighbors were up early, as usual, and I took this picture of them coming down the road in front of our farmhouse. I love seeing these carts go by; they add a dimension of beauty, history, and peace to our daily lives. They are the epitome of iconic and sweet addition to our landscape. They couldn’t survive or exist in a big city, only the country.
Biddy, The Queen Of The Sheep. And Fate, Who Will Not Herd Her Or Come Too Close
Biddy is the queen of the Bedlam Farm sheep. There is no timidity in here; she takes no guff from anyone, looks me straight in the eye dares me to take her picture. Behind her is Fate, our herding dog from a champion herding lin Wales, the only border collie I know who loves sheep too much to herd them. Fate is a great dog, a wonderful dog for Maria. Biddy pays her no mind at all, and if the photo suggests that Fate is herding her, don’t be taken in.
"For Crying Out Loud, This Man Is More Than 70 Years Old And He's Learning The Ukelele!"
I was planning to talk with a Dog Support client, and she told me she didn’t know how to use Paypal, Venmo, or Zoom. She was awfully nice and said she would try to find another way to pay me for my consultation about her new dog. And she preferred to talk on the phone. A few minutes later, I got a Paypal e-mail saying I had received a $50 payment. When I looked, I was surprised to see her name.
The Magic Halloween Art Factory At Bishop Gibbons Went Into Overdrive. See What You Have Done
This Halloween season, Sue Silverstein opened the gates of her amazing Bishop Gibbons High School Magical Art Factory to all the students in the school. Those who sent and are still those boxes of metal, fabric, and discarded jewelry can hardly imagine how much joy, confidence, and creativity you are bringing to the students at Bishop Gibbons High School in Schenectady, New York. And thank you, the boxes come almost every day from all over the country.
Hey, Mr. Hopper: Bathroom Light In The Afternoon. Thanks.
Artist and photographer Edward Hopper inspired me much more than any photographer. He showed me that that is art is often the path to unique photographs. Every afternoon, I notice how the afternoon light creates its art in our bathroom on the ground floor. Hopper inspired me to pay attention to the light and not allow it just to be more background images that we are so used to us never quite actually see them.
Living In A World Of Dogs. We Get The Dogs We Need
Dog people are different from other people. Dog love is different from other love. Dogs give themselves to us in a way that no human being really can. They live to love, eat and get some attention. They become absorbed into our lives in a way that even children can’t. I saw this morning when I sat in the living room chair to meditate and heal from a wicked panic attack that struck in the night. First, the dogs clearly understood that I was upset, and all three gathered around me.
Sweet Zinnia Gives Fate No Dignity: Two Dog Support Cases Today
Zinnia annoys Fate almost every day when she interrupts Fate’s stare at the sheep with some licks on the nose. Zinnia licks every creature she goes near with a lick on the nose – Minnie the Barn Cat (Flo, embarrassed, hisses her away), Lulu and Fanny, some of the sheep, Bud and Fate, even when her dignity is rattled a bit. Fate snarls at Zinnia when she does this, but Zinnia does not process rejection or hostility; she kisses Fate anyway. Border collies do not care to be smooched while working.
The Last Garden: Moving The Dahlia's Into The Basement
Maria and I had a soft and peaceful day. I got up and wrote on the blog, practiced my Ukelele, was happy to get rid of my surgical boot and had two Dog Support Zooms. Maria dug up her Dahlia garden, the last of our gardens with blooming flowers (some Mums are popping up in hers). She put the Dahlia into unique bags marking color and size for Spring planting. It looks like my debit card has been threatened with hacking and shut down for the second time in a month. Things could be worse.
Circle Of Life: Farewell To Alladin As He Leaves Us To Rejoin His Ukrainian Family In New York City
There was a long line of people waiting to say goodbye to our friend Aladdin on his last day at our Farmer’s Market, where he has been a valued fixture for several years. Aladdin is from Egypt, and his wife Natasha is from Ukraine. When the war broke out, their children and grandchildren became refugees fleeing the country for their lives. The children and a granddaughter made it to Poland with nothing but clothes on their backs and a suitcase.
Talking To Animals. The Conversation Continues
I’ve written a lot about talking to animals, but when I saw Maria talk to the donkeys, it took the idea to a completely different level. Maria has been talking to the animals since she came into my life, and her relationship with the donkeys has become ever more beautiful and touching, as has my connection with them. Animals don’t have our words or vocabulary, but their need for attention and understanding is just as great as ours. I never tire of seeing Maria talk with Lulu and Fanny.
Creative Silence: Imagine It This Morning. Staying Sane In A World Gone Mad
In one of my favorite essays, Thomas Merton asked his readers to imagine a person or group of people who, alone or together in a quiet place with no radion (Iphone, Internet, Texting), no background music, simply sitting for an hour and a half in silence. In my imagination, the people do not speak or pray aloud. They have no devices, books, or papers in their hands. They are not busy doing anything or anxious to do what they think they need to do at that moment.
Life's Shadows: Walking To The Rear Pasture WIth Maria And A Donkey
My foot wound is healed, and I can walk in regular shoes again, but I’m taking a walking stick with me on hills and soft ground. I don’t want any more trouble until I’ve gotten used to walking again. On this beautiful fall day, I walked with two incredible women – Maria and Lulu, the donkey who trotted alongside us as we headed to the back pasture with a chair for me to sit on. Maria loves sitting on the ground. I loved this shadow.
Dog Support This Weekend. My Next Case. This Is The Smart And Correct (And Impressive) Way To Get A New Dog
I received a Dog Support request for help this afternoon from someone who is intelligent and thoughtful and is doing her new dog the greatest of services by asking for help before she has to untrain a dog rather than mess him up and take the trouble to train him. She got the dog 48 hours ago, a lively Spaniel, and she is showing some behaviors that are left untended, which could cause some problems for her and the family, the issues we often hear people complain about.
Gnat Rescue. Yes, Gnat Rescue. Every Day. Life With Maria
My sister asked me once what life with Maria was like. I said I didn’t have words. It was and is fantastic, a journey like no other. Maria is alive and relates to living things, from donkeys to birds to spiders; my whole idea of nature is evolving. She rehomes spiders rather than stomp them, talks to owls, listens to ravens, and exchanges emotions with donkeys. I’m rehoming spiders myself now, it’s easy, and they don’t deserve to die just for doing their work.
God Bless You, Sister Lucy
The feeling inside of me sometimes that I call God is very much inside of me today. It’s a mix of joy, glow and meaning. I was reading a book sent. It was mailed to me by a woman I have never met or spoken with – Sister Lucy, a nun in the Catholic Church. She sent me a book that I had read some years ago but had lost and forgotten. Re-reading it – it’s the “New Seeds Of Contemplation” by the Trappist Thomas Merton, I remember how important it was to me.
The Little King At Rest
From November to May or June, Bud moves his throne from the sofas or dog beds, one of the two wood stoves usually running in the farmhouse – in the dining room or living room. He only goes outside when he needs to go; Boston Terrifers are not built for hanging outside in the cold. But loves his stove fires, and we love seeing him so happy and comfortable.
Small Towns! Return To The Cambridge Diner: A Surprise Was Waiting For Me
Restaurants come and go in our small town (the Bog, one of our favorite places, closed down two weeks ago, and the pandemic knocked off the Round House Cafe), but The Cambridge Diner has been widespread and continuous since the 1930s. Cambridge is a small town; there are only two restaurants left, the Diner and a new Mexica restaurant that replaced the Round House on the ground floor of Hubbard Hall, our arts center. We have some great new food carts in town, but the Queen of Cambridge dining.
"Woke:"The Wake-Me-Squad Returns - Bedlam Farm
Maria hasn’t sicked the wake-up-squad on me for a while, but today I dawdled in bed even though we had many things to do. So she sicked the dogs on me. They were gentle today; Zinnia showered me with kisses, Bud crawled up next to me, and Fate jumped on and off the bed excitedly. Don’t tell Governor DeSantis, but I was “woke” by these dogs and got up quickly. I will, of course, get even.
Mums In The Bedroom
My flowers in the garden bed are all gone, but some mums we transported to the bedroom are in great shape, opening, and happy in the morning light. They are a sweet thing to look at first thing in the morning.
Americana: The White Wicker In The Barn
Whenever I see a neat farm, I know it’s not a farmer’s barn; it’s the barn of people with money who like to visit their farms on weekends. This wicker and rocker are in our barn, and we are not farmers; we are writers and artists who use the real farm for inspiration and our love of animals. We write about the farm; it’s woven into my writing and Maria’s art. I saw the light on this wicker chair and went and got my Leica. The colors were iconic and evocative.
Farm Journal: Friday, October 28, 2022: A Good Day At Bedlam Farm. Lots Of Art Sold. My Foot Is Fine. Dog Support Is Getting Finalized.
It was a good day for us at Bedlam Farm. Artists have roller-coaster lives, good times, and hard times, but Maria is on a roll right now, selling quilts, yarn, Heron Posters, potholders, magnets, posters, and dryer balls. I doubt it will calm down too much before Christmas. She’s been shipping stuff all week and is eager to back to creating as well as shipping art. She has worked so hard and wonderfully; she deserves every minute.
Poet Ian McRae's Big Night. Godspeed To Him
Our shearer and young emerging poet Ian McRae took a big step on behalf of his poetry last night by attending the Cambridge Poetry Club’s monthly meeting at the Battenkill Bookstore (host of many of my book readings). Ian looked like a ghost, pale, paralyzed, and almost in shock. But when the moment came, he rose to it and read this new poem of his; it’s called “Doom Music,” and it’s a poem for our times. “finger tremble on electric variac of doom: what is not to be for damnation.
The Little Spokesdog
When I open my bathroom doors after the shower, Bud, Zinnia, and Fate are waiting patiently in line. When Bud sees me, he gives what could be interpreted as a joyous bark of greeting. I think that’s not the case. He is making his demand in a vibrant, tail-wiggling burst of noises – barks. He is telling me he and his cronies want some treats right now. He is the Little King. And he gets them. He is the new spokesdog, the smallest dog with the biggest mouth.
Soul Photos: Sould Of An Imperious Hen, Soul Of A Dog, Soul Of A Dog Lover
Like an old captain of the Royal Navy, I make it a point to know where the sun is at any given moment. Light is the photographer’s nourishment, fuel, and inspiration, all rolled into one. I take photos in the early morning and mid to late afternoon when the sun and the light are both light and indirect. The light led me to three soul photos this afternoon, and I’m putting them together here. I think they speak for themselves, as many images do. Come and see.
Video: Update Two: My Ukelele Playing. It Isn't Pretty, But It Is Progress. Apologies To All
As promised, part two of my promise to share my Ukelele process, if one would call it that. I’ve never sung a song to people I wasn’t living with and rarely did it with them. It’s not pretty, but believe it or not, it is progress—my apologies to Paul Simon for mangling one of his most famous early songs. If I can do this, I can do almost anything.
Ian McRae, A New Young Poet Has His Coming Out Tonight, Right In My Town. It Took Long Enough
Tonight is a night to celebrate for me. Ian McRae, our sharer, friend, and favorite poet, is coming to our town to read from his poetry for the first time at the Cambridge Poetry Group, which meets on the last Thursday of every month at Battenkill Books, our very wonderful local bookstore. This is a two or three-year project, Ian and I have been talking (and often arguing) with one another for a long time.
"Wild Aster" Shawl From Suzy Fatzinger: Now For Sale On Maria's Etsy Page
Maria got two of Suzy Fatzinger’s much-loved shawls yesterday and sold them both by nightfall. Here is one more that she received this morning. This shawl is now up on Maria’s Etsy Page and is for sale. Suzy loves to make her shawls (this one has wool from our sheep, Liam), but doesn’t like to sell them herself. Maria loves to sell the work of other artists and herself, but she is awfully choosy about it. This is the first time this year. Maria loves selling Suzy’s shawls.
Yellow For The Soul. The Leaves Say Goodbye
The people who study such things say that the color yellow brightens the spirit and lifts the soul. I can’t speak for anyone else, but this is true of me. I think yellow and red are my two favorite colors. I imagine everyone has their own. Feel free to share yours. Like flowers, the leaves can teach us how to say goodbye.
What I Learned When I Learned To Be Alone
The physical solution, exterior silence, and genuine reflection and recollection are all morally necessary for anyone who wants to lead a spiritual or contemplative life. “Like everything else in creation,” writes Thomas Merton,” they are nothing more than a means to an end, and if we don’t understand the end we will make the wrong use of the means.
Dog Support: A Radical Philosophy I'm Believing In More And More: Let Dogs Be Dogs
I’ve been holding my Dog Support sessions for over two weeks, and the trial period is over. I’m in. This is one of the things I should be doing. I’m meeting the most wonderful people, helping the neediest dogs, and sharpening my notions, experiences, and beliefs. Prudence, above, is beginning to overcome her fear of people and walking around her kennel to check things out. She was a few hours away from being put to sleep. Dog training is a morass of different philosophies, experiences, and approaches.
Photo Journal, October 26, 2022. Come Along On My Daily Walk-A-Round. Amish Cart, Maria With Dryer Balls, Lulu Nuzzling Robin
I’m fortunate to live on my farm. Whenever I get bored, frustrated, frightened, or sad, I grab one of my cameras and set out on a circuit – I walk by Maria’s studio, I walk by the pasture gate, and I visit the donkeys and go out into the pasture Everywhere I look, I see something beautiful and exciting. I check on the sheep; I look out at the landscape. Today I scored on all levels, and I want to share the experience with you, as is my custom.
The Story Of Maria's Sold Out Dryer Balls, In Her Own Words
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Thanks For Supporting The Mansion Christmas Wish List. It's Sold Out. If You Want To Help, Think Paint and Clay and Toiletries.
I thank everyone who helped sell out yesterday’s Amazon Mansion Christmas Morning Wish List. We will be brightening the Christmas decorations and presents for the residents who have no families to visit or homes to go to. I’ll be there with Maria and hope to offer my first ukulele performance. I am forever grateful to the Army Of Good for its generosity and love. Thank you, thank you. Our Wish List success streak has been going on for several years now.
Farm Journal: Wednesday, October 26, 2022 Dog Support Is A Go. Ukelele Lessons Continue
My morning began wonderfully with an hour-long conversation with my blog readers, a valuable Zoom Community that meets on Wednesday mornings. I’m not accepting new members just now, we have what we need, and I hope to keep it going. If it opens up again, I’ll post the link information, and thanks. I have two Dog Support issues today, one is a rescue dog who doesn’t want to go outside, and the other is a dog lover trying to figure out how to deal with terminal cancer in her very beloved dog.
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