Ed Bullock delivered the last cord of wood for 2023 this morning; his son Garrett came along to help. I’ll miss him. He is one of the big men in trucks we depend on to keep the farm going in every season. He works hard and with heavy equipment that often breaks down, but he gets it done.

He is honest and reliable, and the wood he cuts is first-rate.  I’ve come to like and respect these good men who work so hard and do so much for us.

He’s a good man and good to talk with. He says I can order wood next year as early as March, which gives Maria a little more time to stack it, not that she’s complaining.

With the wood, all of our preparations for the winter are complete.  We have enough wood for our two stoves, enough oil for a backup if needed, fresh and nutritious hay for the animals, a repaired roof, a compact toilet being assembled, a generator that works beautifully, and a big dehumidifier on the way to deal with moisture in the basement.

It’s my job to prepare the farm for winter, and I take it seriously. I start working on it in the early Spring and finish up around now. We are ready for just about anything that comes. I say that with hesitation…Thanks, Ed, for a winter’s worth of good wood. Thanks, Tarzana, for insisting on stacking it.

She is doing a great job, and I didn’t even suggest hiring someone to help

This is the lightest load of the summer, a snap for you.