The old farmers say that every season on a farm leads to another season. Actually, I say that, the old farmers don’t. I love the patterns and rhythms of the farm. We start preparing for winter here the minute Spring arrives. Ed Watkins (right) and Chris are beginning to cut and load firewood into our woodshed behind the house.

We went through six cords of firewood this winter, our February heating oil bill was $75. But in fairness, this was mostly due to the warm and unusual winter. Our two wood stoves were one of the best investments we have ever made.

Up here, firewood ranges from $170 a cord to $250, depending on when you buy it and who from.

I enjoy it when Ed and Chris come by, they are hard workers and honest and genuinely nice. They care about people. Ed ribs me because whenever there’s a decision to be made about wood or any kind of construction, I go running for Maria. She makes the decisions.

He calls her the “old lady.” He always asks where the “old lady” is, he always remarks on how nice she is. “Is she from down South?,” he sometimes asks me, “cause she’s awfully nice.” He said some people get ticked off he  refers to women as “the old lady,” but he is country, through and through, and I do not mind at all.

I’ve started calling her the “old lady,” and she just laughs. I told Ed I couldn’t repeat what she calls me. So we already have a cord of wood in the barn, more coming throughout the summer. I trust Ed and I like  him and Chris, his brother is just as nice as he is. I asked him how he drives to New Hampshire where we are going Monday for a day.

“I’ve been with the old lady,” he says, “Jon, get yourself one of those little machines you can type into.” I showed him my Iphone. “There you go,” he said. We’ll start order first cut hay in a month or so. By August, we are ready for winter.