Two months ago, the 19-acre hill and pasture across the road from us went on sale, and we both braced ourselves for a developer putting a McMansion up there for the view, which we enjoy from our side of the street.

I got moving when I heard this news and rushed over to Moise Miller’s house and told him about it as soon as the for sale sign went up. I knew he was looking for land to help feel his horses, and a few days later, his family bought it.

Moise says he hopes to use it to farm hay for his horses and graze them there in the Spring. How lucky we are. We expect his son John to build a house on the property and move in when he has more children. You cannot have better neighbors than Amish people. They are hard-working, quiet, courteous, and respectful of their neighbors.

They have no electricity, so there will never be a loud or noisy party.

Moise is spearheading a much larger community of Amish families.

All the better for our town.

It was a warm summer today, but the Miller family didn’t seem to notice. Moise, his sons, and grandchildren hopped onto a giant hay-gathering wagon with four big working horses attached and the family dog Tina running behind the wagon.

Tina, my pal, and the family dog came along, running down the road behind the wagon. She saw me and started running towards me, but I held my hand up and she stopped. I didn’t want her near the road.

They went back and forth all day; their specially built wagon collected the hay and heaved it to the top of the wagon. Moise and his sons shovel it into a level pile.

Then, they return it to their farm, dump it near the barn, and return for more. Moise is alone now; I’ve never seen anybody work as hard as he and his family.

A farmer used to hay that field with a giant tractor; it took him a few long days. Moise and his sons will polish it off by sunset. They pay no attention to the weather and never seem to tire.

When they work like this, everyone is invited to come, including the grandkids. I knew few people who would bring their toddlers along to ride in hay like that on a hot day. Good for them; these kids do not grow up in fear but joy. The kids were laughing all the way, and the dog was behind them.

The Millers are careful with their horses. The four big working animals had no trouble pulling that wagon up and down the hill.

We waved and shouted back and forth and invited him to come over and fill his water pitchers from our house or the kitchen water if he chose. Our creek in the back is the same one that provides us water and his family up the road.

He shouted that he was getting low on water, and Maria and I  brought some fresh jugs to hold him until he was ready to come and use the hose and refill the cooler I got him two years ago. Knowing Mose, he’ll be there all night.

We feared developer tractors coming soon to poison the quiet air, but we have these beautiful horses to look at all day. It turned out well for us.  The Amish never sell to developers; they take wonderful care of the land they live on.

It’s great to see Moise and his family across the street; we loved looking out of our windows and seeing this beautiful sign all day and for most of yesterday. We have the best neighbors you could have.

And We intend to be the best neighbors for them.