in the past little while my old farmhouse

got spiffed up.

rudy and henry and levi

risked falling on (off?) the steep old roof,

but they persevered and there it is

the whole house is clothed.

moreover, two crumbly and useless chimneys disappeared,

the one useful and rather nice one remains.

two porch roofs and the garage remain.

but this morning they're back, working on them.

back after they got started with sugaring.

these three men have just recently moved here from pennsylvania.

the land is cheap and it's possible to live well here

if you like hard work.

they do.

both rudy and henry looked at my for sale place and passed on it.

on sunday two paper and book friends were here

both of them had looked at my for sale house the other time years ago

but i pulled it off the market.

and now my house looks better than it did years ago.

having three uninsured men walking around on your very steep roof

is worrying.

i can't watch-it's better if i stay away, but not too far.

i was very aware of every untoward clatter and thump.

it was the worst when they chimneys went down.

my amish workers were somewhat taken aback by my dining room.

rudy asked if they might eat inside everyday,

to warm up and get out of the wind.

there is all that "stuff" on the walls and

piling up my work areas.

unlike other "english" i have no dishwasher, tv, microwave, or dryer.

but i do have an imac (they did appreciate the weather reports).

worlds collide, i think, more often than not.

handling that can make us better people or monsters.

it's our choice.

they're working again this morning,

and i wish i could show you their faces but their religion eschews photography

which is why my photos are surreptitious.
i want to share this, as respectfully as i can.
it's very important to me.