Most weekend mornings, Tyler, our neighbor and friend, calls up to see if there is any work for him to do. After I had my surgery, he took over the stacking of five cords of wood (I was concerned that Maria would do it), the weed-whacking and mowing of the lawn. If we’re not here, he just shows up and gets to work. I do not wish to think about this summer without him, it will be some months before I can help out with any of these things, and Maria is working day and night as it is.

I did have some fun when a cord of wood he stacked fell over, I wanted to call him up and fire him (as a joke) but Maria said I had to be nice. I tried to fire him when I ran into him at the gas station, but he just laughed and asked when he could come over. I assured Maria that Tyler is neither afraid of me nor does he take me too seriously. He has agreed to be on hand for the Bedlam Farm Open House on Columbus Day Weekend (October 11-12) at Bedlam Farm to help out. Tyler reminds me of Red, he has a powerful work ethic, he is not distractable, he does not seem to need rest or breaks or much time on cell phones or Facebook.