Learning to Horse Trade

Left to right, Kent, Dick, Enos and his son.

Get the deal done. 

Not really trading a horse, that it what the "old timers" called making a deal.  Off  Gramps  and  (Kent) set out to do today. We have been friends with an Amish guy since he was 22 years old.  It was 17 years ago we hired him to cut a few pines and saw lumber out of them for the barn.  Every morning and afternoon we drove to a back road near Friendship, NY,  bring him to and from our house to work.  He was amazing to watch, just a wafer thin young man that moved logs and rolled them onto his portable saw all by himself.  At noon he would come to the porch to eat his packed lunch.  Of course I always had extra baked goods, potato chips and pop for him.  He loved talking about what he had read in magazines and newspapers and was most interested in our sons military careers.  During the visit today he asked Dick and Kent, "what do you think of Donald Trump?  He added that he likes what he reads about him.  Amish do keep up on World Affairs.  Quite the guy and most enjoyable.  He knew how to operate the truck radio and had his favorite stations, his favorite country singers and music.  While he worked I kept the radio on the porch so he could catch a tune when his saw wasn't humming. 

I took my crocheting and sat in the car while the guys went in the saw mill,  Enos Mast now owns.  Guys love to talk business without a woman around, I didn't mind it was only 18 degrees out so the car and crocheting kept me quite happy.  I did have my camera ready to snap a picture or two.  Dick and Kent had a good visit and talked over ideas and plans for a small cabin they plan to build this summer.  They also caught up on family news.  Enos will be the guy to cut the lumber.   If you happen to go to the Potter Country Lumber Museum,  Enos is the one that cut the huge timbers for the frame work.  He is the only one in a wide area that can cut the large beams.  He has also sold his beams for a building in NYC.  It's not hard to figure out why, his talent and the fact he is one of the nicest men to do business with.  Very fair with his prices.  His motto, I make what I need for a good living, why would I try to out price myself.  Good business men understand what they have to be.  Honest, loyal and put out a great product.  No short cuts. 

It can get cold being a "horse trader"

This will be where our logs are milled.

As they guys came out of the shop office I was excited to see the oldest son of Enos and Sara.  A tall thin guy just like his dad was and is.  Of course the same smile too.  The first time we saw him he was 1 year old.  We were dropping Enos off from a days work at our house and this little guy stood on their porch with a dress on.  Dick said, you got a cute little girl.  Ha, Enos laughed and said, it's a boy.  Then he continued to say they keep boys in dresses until the are potty trained.  Easier to change their diapers.  Well this guy is now 18 and works just as hard as his dad.  Enos and Sara have 6 children
.
I did have time to make the tarts promised the day before.  The filling was Blueberry/Rhubarb that was made last July.  Unlike a jelly or jam it is more like a thick sauce and not as sweet.  The rhubarb gives it a refreshing slightly tart taste while the blueberries add their mild sweetness.  A nice combination and so good on hot buttermilk biscuits or Salt Rising Bread. 

All ready for a 375 degree oven.

Ready to eat,  sometimes I sprinkle with
 confectioner sugar or drizzle a bit of vanilla
glaze on.
Check out the fresh eggs, the girls
are working overtime on these
cold mornings.