Haven't seen our Big Strappin' Girl again, which is too bad, because I think she needed the work and we have some work now.
Getting people to do farm work, though is hard. We work right along side everyone, so it's not like we're asking them to things we don't do ourselves. It's just that farm work is hard and it's hot and not everyone enjoys it, plus the pay is lousy, for us included.
I'm not sure how we get hooked up with so many interesting people, but LaRoy seems to like us and we like him, plus he's a hard worker. He's a little weird, but then, so are we...
Here's a Lee Roy story (the name of our helper, who, by the way, pronounces his name La-roy, all one word said fast). Haven't asked him for UFO details yet, but hope I can soon.
Yesterday (Friday) morning La-Roy was working on building the new raised beds. We had some farm visitors (friends of my 91 year old mother) who drove out from town 35 miles away to look at the farm, get some veggies and visit with mother.
The friends are both in their 80's, a husband and wife and the wife is deaf. Very, very hard of hearing and won't wear her hearing aid. The woman's name is Doris and her husband is Marty.
On our tour, I drove by the new raised beds we're building and Marty wanted to see them up close so we went over to the beds to take a closer look.
I was explaining about raised beds and LaRoy stopped what he was doing, walked over, clear across the field, introduced himself as our helper and shook their hands. I have no idea why he did that, but we're pretty laid back here and I was happy to see everyone being friendly, so I just let everyone introduce themselves and let La-Roy tell about the beds we're building. He did a pretty good job, too (he may be an organic gardener, yet) and Marty was asking questions and I could tell Doris didn't understand a thing anyone was saying, bless her heart.
So we finished talking about the raised beds and Doris said to LaRoy:
Doris: "I'm glad I got to meet you. Are you related to Millie? (my mother).
LaRoy: (nodding his head vigorously) "Yes, Ma'am, we're all related. Everybody on this farm is related. Ever-body on earth is related, thanks to six degrees of separation. That's a fact, you know, six degrees of separation, plus we all got the same DNA."
Mothers Friend, Doris: "Well that's nice... I'm sorry about your separation. Millie told me you and your girlfriend had split up, but maybe you all will get back together again..."
Mother's Friend's Husband, Marty, shouting: "Doris, that's not what he said....."
Doris: "What did he say?"
Marty: "I don't know what he said, but it wasn't that."
Me (talking very loudly): Miss Doris, I think you have LaRoy confused with my nephew, Henry. He's the one who separated from his girlfriend. This is LaRoy, the man who's helping us build these beds. Henry and his girlfriend aren't separated any more, they got back together, so we're happy about that.
Miss Doris: "Well, if you're happy about them being separated it's probably for the best. Young man, you're nice looking so don't worry, you'll find someone else before long."
LeRoy: "Thank you, Ma'am, but I'm all done with women. The last woman I had made me realize you can't trust 'em, she was the most no good....
Me: "I hate to interrupt, LaRoy but I want to show these folks the rest of the farm before it gets too hot.....
Marty: "Come on, Doris."
Doris: "It was nice to meet you, Henry. You Grandmother Millie is so proud of you..."
Marty: "That's not Henry, Doris, it's Le-Roy, their farm helper."
Doris: "Yes, Millie said Henry's a real good farm helper and she's hoping he and his girlfriend will get back together soon. His girlfriend's a dentist and Millie said she could maybe get me a discount on dental work.
We drove back to the house and went inside to get some tea so Doris and Marty could visit with Mother.
Doris: "I finally got to meet Henry, Millie. He's such a nice looking young man..."
Mother: "You met Henry? He came back from Savannah? He and his girlfriend were supposed to stay in Savannah all weekend...."
Doris: "Is her name Savannah? Is that the dentist? Well I'm confused...did they or didn't they break up?
At that point, I went to pack up some fresh veggies for Doris and Marty and to take some cold sweet tea to La-Roy. Never a dull moment.....