The clouds parted and the rain paused just long enough to fit in a whole day of Friends Farm Fair Fun(d)raising on October 17. Westerly Friends Meeting sends warm appreciation for the community outpouring that resulted in $2400 to bring us current in our annual contributions to the VPT mortgage.

That's the Fun(d)raising report. Now about the Fun: Charlie started us off with Tai Chi, and Poets shared their work around the fire and on the stage, including Emmett, Jake, Colleen, Rhonda, and Abel. Peg also read from her brand new book about farming in SE New England: "An Acre Plus: Invitation to a Growing Life." Pat and Karen introduced the crowd to 350.org and an early showing of the film "The Age of Stupid," taking a group photo with Karen's banner to be added to the 13,000 from around the world posted on the 350 website and in Times Square for the International Day of Climate Action on October 24. In admirable solidarity with our climate concerns, Peter rode his bike in from Rhode Island. Penny brought Ahimsa graphics, Rick and Joanne brought WRL, and Sara offered "afghans for Afghans" along with AFSC notes on Afghanistan. Sheila rounded up an array of donations for our Silent Auction, and many people brought their penny jars to fill the "Pennies for Peace" pole created by Jim and May. Others "adopted" clapboards needing paint, trees and garden rows, and summer campers. HCW and local artists displayed paintings, sculptures, drawings, and crafts.

Meanwhile Kathy led another team of Westerly Quakers in cutting up veggies donated for our "whirled Ps" Stone Soup in the cauldron provided by Mary and DJ. When the word came down around noon--"Soup's On!"--everyone wanted the recipe, and all we knew was that (almost) every ingredient began with a "P"! Along with the hot soup on a chilly day, everyone enjoyed the donations of bread and cookies, while Abel and Amber surprised us all with a cider press for do-it-yourself beverages. Friends also offered Equal Exchange coffee and hot chocolate, along with a variety of teas and chocolate bars.

All this and entertainment too!? Mystic Paper Beasts stole the show, roaming about the farm and collecting little beast-wannabes in a Pied Piper-like parade that kept us all smiling. At the stage next to Rachel Corrie (the Swann house), families and friends set up chairs and gathered on the grass to sing along with the Rrrraging Grrrrannies of Grrreater Westerly, Anne even raising a fist and a grin at the outrageous lyrics to old songs. A New Quaker Blues band, founded just for the Fair, featured Kit on his father's stand-up bass, Munro on a makeshift drumset, Jeff on guitar, Padraic on harmonica, and Allana and Sarah on vocals. Finally, to complete a whole day of highlights, Ben Parent and the Rivergods treated us to a free performance that would be repeated the next night at the O'Neill Theater in New London! Then, just when we were beginning to pack things up, Fabiano appeared with a special performance by his amazing Brazilian Capoeira group. The day ended just as the first raindrops started to fall, accentuating the feeling that our little window of clear, cold autumn weather had indeed been a gift from Jack Palin's Native American grandmother in the sky!