>> JIGSAW PUZZLES, ANYONE?

LET'S SEE WHAT WE GOT HERE.

I NEVER FEEL AS IF I HAVE GOTTEN STARTED UNTIL I'VE GOT AT LEAST ONE PIECE.

>> ONE WORD DESCRIPTION OF STEVE.

>> DIABOLICAL.

HE IS DIABOLICAL.

>> I HAVE BEEN CALLED DIABOLICAL AND DEVIOUS AND DASTARDLY, AND I LOVE IT AND THEY REALLY CALLING ME THE NAMES.

THE MORE DIFFICULT THE PUZZLE WE CRAFT, THE WILDER WE DRIVE THEM CRAZY.

THE HAPPIER THEY ARE, THE HAPPIER WE ARE.

>> FOR MORE THAN 16 YEARS, STEVE RICHARDSON AND HIS FELLOW PUZZLE CUTTERS HAVE BEEN CHALLENGING THEIR CUSTOMERS FROM A SMALL SHOP IN NORTH WITCH, VEMPLET.

ALL BUT TWO OF THE 14 EMPLOYEES WORK AT THE JIGSAWS CUTTING PIECES FREE HAND ONE AT A TIME.

>> YOUR MISSION IS TO FIGURE OUT IN THIS RELATIVELY SMALL PUZZLE WHAT SHE WANTS.

SHE WANTS THE WORD LOVE, DOCK AND BUNKY.

SHE ALSO WANTS BATS, CATS AND MERMAIDS, A MERMAID, CUT INTO IT.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YEAR GOING TO GET THIS ALL IN THERE BECAUSE OF THE IRREGULAR EDGE.

>> IT'S OUR JOB TO DRIVE TO MAKE THEM FRUSTRATED AND FURIOUS AND MAD AT US SO WE WORK HARD MAKING THEM WORK HARD.

IT'S A VERY INTERESTING EXCHANGE HERE.

WE PUT A LOT OF ENERGY INTO THE PUZZLES.

WE THROW EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK AT THEM.

AND THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO GO ONE ON ONE WITH US AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE TO TRAP THEM.

>> GREATER IRREGULAR EDGE SHOULD WE THROW SOME EDGES AT THEM.

ARE THEY GOOD PUZZLERS?

HOW MUCH FUN CAN WE HAVE?

>> I SAY GO FOR IT.

SOCK IT TO THEM.

>> WHAT BETTER WAY THAN WITH A PUZZLE FULL OF NAMOUS NIGHTMARE PIECES OR ONE USE BE A BIT MORE MERCI FUF OR STAVE'S MOST POPULAR LINE A STANDARD CUT STYLE.

IF THESE PIECES ARE NOT ENOUGH TO DRIVE YOU BATTY EACH IS LOADED WITH TRICKS LIKE FAKE CORNERS, SILHOUETTES AND SPLIT CORNERS NOT TO MENTION DOUBLE AND TRIPLE WHAMMY PIECES.

>> IT'S NOT VERY OFTEN YOU GET CHALLENGED FOR CERTAIN INTELLECTUAL PROCESSES AND PUZZLES PROVIDE A VERY NORTH KOREA FORM OF CHALLENGE.

STEVE HAMAS TESTAVERDE THE ART OF TICKLING CERTAIN NERVE ENDINGS THAT NEVER GET TICKLED BY ANYBODY ELSE.

>> ANOTHER ASPECT OF IT IS IT'S THREE-DIMENSIONAL.

EVEN THOUGH ONE INNINGS OF A JIGSAW PUZZLE AS A TWO-DIMENSIONAL PHOTOGRAPH WITH QUIGLEY LINES DRAWN ON IT, MANY OF HIS PUZZLES HAVE A VERTICAL DIMENSION AS WELL AS A HORIZONTAL DIMENSION.

EVEN THE HORIZONTAL ONES INTRODUCE A THIRD DIMENSION BY HAVING PLACES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PUZZLE WHERE THERE AIN'T NO PIECES.

YOU DON'T PUT ANYTHING THERE.

THE ONE I REMEMBER MOST CLEARLY THIS ONE WHERE HE HAS A GUY SKATING ON THE ICE AND HE HAS FALLEN AND THERE'S A HOLE IN THE ICE, AND SURE ENOUGH, THERE'S A HOLE.

THERE'S NO PIECE OF THE PUZZLE THERE.

THAT HAD ME GOING FOR AT LEAST HALF AN HOUR FIGURE OUT WHERE IS THE REST OF THIS ICE?

NEVER FOUND IT.

NEVER FOUND IT.

WASN'T THERE.

>> THEY ARE ALL CREATIVELY DESIGNED AND CUT TO FIT INTO THE THEME OF THE PUZZLE.

>> OVER HERE YOU'LL SEE ONE OF THE PUZZLES WITHIN THE PUZZLES THAT WE ALWAYS INCLUDE IN A PUZZLE THIS SIZE.

NOW, THIS IS A REBUS, MEANING IT IS A PUZZLE MADE UP OF SYMBOLS, PICTURES AND NUMBERS AND WHATEVER.

SO IN THIS CASE, YOU HAVE THREE DIFFERENT SYMBOLS HERE THAT MAKE IT UP.

NOTICE THE BOX AND THE CLOWN IS NEXT TO THE BOX, TO SIGNIFY THAT THIS IS THE REBUS.

SO YOU TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THIS SAYING IS.

HERE'S THE STAR THAT WE PULLED OUT.

HERE'S THE BIRD AND HERE'S THE CAT.

IN FACT IF YOU EXPAND YOUR BRAIN A LITTLE BIT AND SAY STARBOARD TACK, STARBOARD TACK, STARBOARD TACK.

THAT'S THE PHRASE THAT WE'RE AFTER AND WHEN THE CUSTOMER GETS THAT PHRASE, HE OR SHE WRITES IT DOWN ON A SHEET OF PAPER THAT WE INCLUDE WITH EACH PUZZLE OR THEY CAN CALL US UP AND THEY CAN GUESS.

10% OF THE VALUE OF EACH PUZZLE IS AWARDED TO THE PUZZLER IN THE FORM OF PRIZE MONEY.

IF THEY CAN SOLVE THE REBUS AND OTHER PIECES WE PUT INTO THE PUZZLE.

>> ESSENTIALLY WE'RE IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS.

OUR JOB IS TO ENTERTAIN THEM WITH THE CRAZINESS OF THE JIGSAW PUZZLE.

>> DUE TO THE CONSTANTLY INCREASING DEMAND FOR EVER MORE CHALLENGING PUZZLES, STAVE CURRENTLY CRAFTS FIVE DIFFERENT GENERATIONS OF PUZZLES.

THE FIRST GENERATION CONSISTS OF ANY PRINT OR PHOTOGRAPH THAT CAN BE MOUNTED ON WOOD.

SECOND GENERATION PUZZLES ARE MADE OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS HAND PAINTED AND MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF BEING BEAUTIFUL YET MIND-BOGGLING.

>> A THIRD GENERATION PUZZLE I CREATED THIS CONCEPT PROBABLY ABOUT 12, 10 YEARS AGO.

I WANTED A PUZZLE TO GO TOGETHER IN MORE THAN ONE WAY.

MY CUSTOMER WAS GETTING TOO GOOD FOR ME.

I HAD TO GO TO ANOTHER LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY.

SO I CREATED THIS TYPE OF PUZZLE THAT CAN GO TOGETHER IN MORE THAN ONE WAY.

HERE'S AN EXAMPLE.

YOU SEE THIS LITTLE TURTLE HERE.

TAKE IT OUT OF THE DESIGN.

AND BY THE WAY THIS TYPE OF DESIGN DRIVES PEOPLE NUTS.

YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS A DOUBLE DECKER PUZZLE.

YOU SEE ALL THE IRREGULAR EDGE AND DROPOUTS.

IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DO.

THIS IS DESIGNED TO BE A PUZZLE.

BECAUSE THIS IS A NOAH'S ARK TYPE DESIGN WE HAVE MATCHING ANIMALS HERE SO THERE'S A TURTLE UP HERE ON THE SECOND LEVEL AND A TURTLE DOWN BELOW.

NOW I'M GOING TO PEEK UNDER HERE, GET THE TURTLE DOWN BELOW HERE.

MRS.

TURTLE.

HERE WE HAVE MRS.

TURTLE.

YOU SEE THE TWO TURTLES HERE.

THIS IS THE WAY THEY SHOULD GO TOGETHER IN ORDER TO FIT INTO THE PUZZLE CORRECTLY BUT NOW LOOK WHAT HAPPENS HERE.

NOTICE I'M SPLITTING THE TURTLES HERE.

I MATCH THIS HALF OVER HERE AND THIS HALF OVER HERE.

IF YOU PUT THESE TOGETHER LIKE THIS, IT WON'T FIT INTO THE MAJOR PUZZLE BECAUSE THE ARMS WON'T FIT.

SO THE INSTINCT OF THE PUZZLER IS TO PUT THE TURTLES TOGETHER LIKE THIS BUT IN FACT FOR THE FINAL SOLUTION THEY HAVE TO GO TOGTHER THE OTHER WAY.

THIS REALLY TESTS THEIR SKILL AND PATIENCE.

>> THE FOURTH GENERATION IS DESIGNED TO DO MORE THAN JUST TEST YOUR PATIENCE.

THIS PUZZLE IS TWO-SIDED AND SOME PUZZLERS HAVE SLAVED OVER IT FOR MONTHS BEFORE DISCOVERING THE PROPER WAY TO ASSEMBLE IT.

STAVE'S MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENT IS THE CHAMP PUZZLE MADE OF 44 PIECES THAT CAN GO TOGETHER IN 64 DIFFERENT WAYS.

THE FINAL SOLUTION IS TO GET CHAMP TO BITE HIS TAIL.

IT'S THIS 5th GENERATION PUZZLE THAT HAS BROUGHT SOME OF STEVE'S MOST AVID PUZZLERS TO THEIR KNEES.

>> I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU GOT HERE.

THIS DESIGN IDEA OF YOURS IS GREAT.

>> 50% OF OUR BUSINESS TAKING EXISTING PRINT AND DOING CLEVER THINGS WITH AN EXISTING PRINT TO MILK IT A FASCINATING JIGSAW PUZZLE.

THE OTHER 50% OF OUR BUSINESS IS DESIGNING AND CRAFTING OUR OWN ORIGINAL DESIGNS.

>> IS THIS THE WHOLE DESIGN HERE?

>> YES.

IT IS.

>> SO -- >> THIS SHOULD BE ALL -- I TRIED TO DESIGN IT SO THERE WEREN'T SO MANY DOUBLE CUTS JUST TO GET THE PIECE -- TO GET IT TOGETHER.

THERE'S ONE HERE, CATHOLIC CHURCH -- >> THE COMBINATION OF STEVE'S DEVIOUS TACTICS AND THE COLORFUL CONTRIBUTIONS OF SEVERAL LOCAL ARTISTS ENABLE HEM TO DESIGN THE MOST BEAUTIFUL YET SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DO PUZZLES EVER CREATED.

>> IS THIS WHAT YOU DECIDED FOR THE DESIGN IN BETWEEN THE BUNNIES?

>> YES.

I THINK SO.

>> OKAY.

THIS WILL BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF THE -- >> WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON MAKING THE MOST EXPENSIVE, BEAUTIFUL, ELABORATE JIGSAW PUZZLES IN THE WORLD.

WE ARE PROUD.

THE MOST EXPENSIVE PUZZLE THAT WE MAKE IS OUR DOLL HOUSE PUZZLE, A FIVE-PARDON PUZZLE.

THE TOTAL COST IS A LITTLE OVER $8,000.

IT'S LISTED IN THE GUINESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS AS BEING THE MOST EXPENSIVE PUZZLE IN THE WORLD.

OUR AVERAGE, THE MOST POSSIBLE, THREE TO $400 RANGE.

I HAVE EVEN MADE AN $85 PUZZLE, A JOKE PUZZLE CALLED FIVE EASY PIECES LAST YEAR THAT BACKFIRED ON ME.

DID NOT THINK IT WAS FUNNY AND IT WAS AN IMPOSSIBLE PUZZLE.

JUST FIVE PIECES.

I HAD 30 PEOPLE THAT BOUGHT AND HI TO GIVE THEM ALL THEIR MONEY BALK BECAUSE THEY WERE SO MAD AT ME.

>> HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY THE COST?

THE SAME WAY YOU JUSTIFY THE COST OF A ROLLS ROYCE.

SAME WAY YOU JUSTIFY THE COST OF A PEAR CUT EMERALD RATHER THAN A RHINESTONE.

WHEN THE INCREMENT IN QUALITY BETWEEN THE BEST OF SOMETHING AND THE CALIBER THAT IS GENERALLY AVAILABLE IS SO GREAT AND INCREMENT IN COST IS APPROPRIATE.

THESE PUZZLES ARE PHENOMENALLY DIFFICULT AND EXQUISITE QUALITY.

THEY HAVE SO MANY DIMENSION TOSS THEM.

THAT JUSTIFIES THE PRICE.

WHETHER IT'S FAIR OR NOT, LOOK AT THE PEOPLE THAT BUY THEM.

>> EACH ORDER IS WORKED ON BY A SINGLE PUZZLE CUTTER MAKING EACH AN INDIVIDUAL AN UNIQUE WORK OF ART.

>> OUR WOOD THAT WE MAKE OUR PUZZLES OUT OF ARE FIVE PLY.

IT'S QUARTER INCH THICK SO THE FIVE PLIES OF WOOD WITH MAHOGANY ON THE BOTTOM, SAND AN POLISHED TO A FINE FURNITURE FINISH.

THE PUZZLE IS BEAUTIFUL JUST ON THE WOODSIDE.

THEN YOU HAVE THE MAHOGANY ON THE BOTTOM THEN YOU HAVE FOUR PLIES OF WOOD.

ON TOP OF THAT WE GLUE THE PRINT THAT WE'RE WORKING ON OR THE PHOTOGRAPH.

WE EITHER TAKE A RENOIR OR MONETTE AND GLUE IT DOWN OR TAKE ONE OF OUR OWN CREATIONS AND TAKE A BLACK AND WHITE VERSION OF THAT AND GLUE IT DOWN, TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH AND GLUE IT DOWN.

IF IT'S ONE OF OUR ARTISTS THAT HAS CREATED THE PUZZLE AFTER WE BLUE THE PRINT TO THE WOOD WE GIVE IT TO THE ARTIST THEN THE ARTIST PAINTS ON THE PAPER GLUED DOWN TO THE WOOD.

SHE PAINTS IN ALL THE FIGURES AND SCENES.

ALL OF OUR ARTISTS' PUZZLES ARE HAND-PAINTED.

VERY TIME-CONSUMING PROCESS.

SO THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

REALLY GORGEOUS.

THIS IS AN ANCIENT AND HONORABLE CRAFT.

WE CUT THE PUZZLE THE OLD FASHIONED WAY.

WE DON'T USE LASERS OR COMPUTERS OR STUFF LIKE THAT.

IF YOU CAN'T CUT THAT FINE A PUZZLE, YEAH, WITH A LASER YOU COULD, BUT THERE ARE DEFINITE DRAWBACKS WITH WORKING WITH A LASER.

WE HAVE MUCH MORE FLEXIBILITY THE OLD FASHIONED WAY.

>> WE'RE ALL CREATIVE.

YOU HAVE TO BE.

BUT IT'S SORT OF THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD FOR ME.

I COULDN'T THINK OF A BETTER JOB BECAUSE YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU CAN DO THEY WILL LET YOU DO.

YOU CAN DESIGN A PUZZLE, THEY WILL SELL IT FOR YOU BASICALLY.

IF YOU COME UP WITH A PUZZLE THERE ARE NO LIMITATIONS TO WHAT YOU CAN DO HERE.

WHEN I WAS A KID I HAD AN IDEA THAT THE CALENDAR IS LIKE SORT OF A CITY BLOCK, ONE MONTH PER SIDE.

THERE'S A SPRING AND SUMMER SIDE.

YOU WALK AROUND THE BLOCK AND WALK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

I SORT OF MADE IT INTO A PUZZLE.

>> OUR CUSTOMERS ARE SPECIAL.

WE TREAT THEM VERY SPECIAL AND THEY TREAT US VERY SPECIAL.

EVERY PUZZLE WE WORK ON WE WORK WITH THAT CUSTOMER.

IF THEY WANT A BIRTHDAY CAKE IN THEIR PUZZLE THEY ARE GETTING A SHAPE OF A BIRTHDAY CAKE.

OF COURSE YOU'RE GOING TO ASK WHY THEY WANT A BIRTHDAY CAKE AND YOU GET TO KNOW THAT CUSTOMER AND THINGS ABOUT THEM AND THINGS SPECIAL TO THEM.

THEY APPRECIATE THAT.

THE CUSTOMERS REALIZE WE REALLY ARE TRYING TO PLEASE THEM.

THEY APPRECIATE US.

>> NOT ONLY ARE THE PIECES CUT ONE AT A TIME, THEY ARE ALSO TAKEN APART ONE AT A TIME.

THE ONLY CLUES GIVEN TO THE CUSTOMER ARE THE NUMBER OF PIECES IN THE PUZZLE ALONG WITH A NAME THAT RELATES TO THE PUZZLE'S THEME.

THE LAST PIECE TO GO INTO EVERY BOX IS THE CLOWN SHAPED LOGO.

THE CUTTER SIGNS AND DATES THE BACK IN GOLD AS A PERMANENT RECORD OF WHEN THE PUZZLE WAS CREATED AND WHO THE CUTTER WAS.

FINALLY THOUGHTFULLY PLACED IN THE BOXES OF THE MOST DIFFICULT PUZZLES IS AN ANTIDOTE FOR FRUSTRATION.

>> USED TO GIVE OUR CUSTOMERS A REAL HAIK SO WE WOULD THROW IN THE ASPIRIN TO HELP THEM ALONG.

ALL IT HAS IS THE PRETTY GOLD CLOWNS.

THERE'S NO PICTURE OF THE PUZZLE TO HELP THEM.

THERE'S AN OBLIQUE TITLE.

50% OF OUR PUZZLES ARE GIFTS.

WHEN THE PERSON RECEIVES IT THEY WILL LOOK AT OUR BLUE AND GREEN BOX AND GOLD CLOWN AND CRAZY TITLE AND THEY DON'T W DON'T HAE ANY IDEA WHAT KIND OF PUZZLE IT IS.

THAT'S PART OF THE FUN OF IT.

YOU SPREAD THAT PUZZLE OUT ON THE TABLE AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE WORKING ON.

THERE'S A CERTAIN EXCITEMENT THAT BUILDS.

CURIOSITY.

WHAT IS THIS PICTURE?

WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE?

>> WHETHER A RECTANGULAR LIMITED EDITION PIT BULL OR IRREGULAR UH LAR 44-PIECE PUZZLE STAIRCH GUARANTEES NO TWO PUZZLES WILL EVER BE EXACTLY ALIKE.

>> ULTIMATE THING FOR ME IS TO DESIGN A PUZZLE THAT IS ESSENTIALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DO.

QUITE FRANKLY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS I MADE A COUPLE OF BREAKTHROUGHS IN DESIGN CONCEPT THAT HAS LET ME APPROACH THIS GOAL.

I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DESIGN A PUZZLE WHERE I CAN CONTROL THE LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY NOW I'M ALMOST THERE, BUT I'M SURE AFTER I REACH THAT POINT I'LL COME UP WITH A COUPLE MORE THINGS THAT I'LL BE MARCHING TOWARD.

IT'S A NEVER ENDING TYPE OF PROCESS.

I PLAN TO BE IN IT FOREVER.

>> THERE'S LOVE POEMS.

>> SHE JUST BOUGHT THAT OLD HOUSE.

SHE JUST DID MOVE IN.

WELL, NOW I MAY HAVE BEEN IN LOVE BEFORE, BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER WHEN.

SHE BOUGHT THAT LITTLE JAMES PLACE AND SHE PAINTED IT BLUE, AND FOR ME DOWN THE ROAD THAT WAS A DREAM COMING TRUE.

SHE COMES FROM DOWN COUNTRY, LEAST THAT'S ACCORDING TO BEATRICE PAGE.

SHE'S A NICE LADY, DONNY, AND SHE'S YOUNG, ABOUT YOUR AGE, SO I GET ALL RED AND EMBARRASSED AND I SAYS, WELL, HOLD ON NOW, THIS IS A WOMAN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

HECK, IT AIN'T LIKE I'M BUYIN A COW BUT MY HEART WAS POUNDING AND MY HEART WAS THUMP UNION AND IF I WAS THAT KIND A FELLA I WOULD HAVE BEEN CHOKING AND 1KWRU67ING.

I RIGHT OFF START THINKING ABOUT GETTING ACQUAINTED BUT I NO MORE THAN STARTED THINKING THAN I JUST ABOUT FAINTED.

OH, SURE, IT MIGHT SOUND EASY TO YOU FOLKS BUT IF YOU'RE TERRIBLE SHY, GETTING TO KNOW SOMEONE SPECIAL MEANS THAT YOU WAVE DRIVING BY.

I CLIMBED IN MY PICKUP AND TRIED NOT TO NOTICE THE TERROR.

WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO WOMEN THERE JUST AIN'T NO ROOM FOR ERROR.

I PULLED INTO HER YARD, IT TOOK ABOUT ALL THE COURAGE I HAD.

SUDDENLY BEING A LITTLE BIT LONELY YOU KNOW IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM ALL THAT BAD.

BUT THERE WAS NO BACKING DOWN AND THERE WAS NO TURNING AWAY AND I JUST PRAYED DEAR GOD THAT I WOULD THINK OF SOMETHING TO SAY.

WELL, IT WAS LOVE WHEN I SEEN HER, IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

IT WAS JUST LIKE THEM DUMB SONGS, YOU KNOW, SO I KNEW IT HAD TO BE RIGHT.

I GOT KINDS OF DIZZY IN MY GUT.

IT WAS AITKIN.

I HAD TO KEEP MY HANDS IN MY POCKETS JUST TO KEEP THEM FROM SHAKIN'.

WE TALKED ABOUT FIVE MINUTES BEFORE I HAD HEARD ONE DAMN WORD.

I ADOPT KNOW WHAT I LOOKED LIKE BUT MY GOD I FELT LIKE A NERD!

SHE ASKED ME IF I KNEW WHO HAD A TRACTOR ROUND HERE.

SHE WANTED A GARDEN OUTBACK AND SHE WOULD LIKE TO GET IT STARTED THIS YEAR.

AND DID I KNOW SOMEONE WHO MIGHT DO THAT SORT OF THING?

HAS.

WELL.

NOW THERE WAS A QUESTION THAT MADE MY HEART SING.

I MAY NOT BE A TALKER AND I MAY SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE A JERK, BUT IF THERE'S ONE THING I CAN DO BY GOD I CAN WORK!

SO I SAYS, WELL, YOU BET I KNOW SOMEONE, THAT SOMEONE IS ME.

I'LL PLOW UP YOUR GARDEN.

HECK, I'LL PLOW IT FOR FREE!

SO THAT IS HOW IT STARTED, YOU KNOW, I COME BY WITH MY PLOW.

SHE SURPRISED THE HELL RIGHT OUT OF ME, SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO LEADERSHIP HOW SO WE GET ON THAT TRACTOR AND WE PLOWED IT TOGETHER.

IT STARTED IN RAINING BUT WHO THE HELL CARES ABOUT THE WEATHER?

I HAVE SPENT MY LIFE ON A TRACTOR, YOU KNOW, AND THE THRILL HAS BEEN WANING BUT WITH HER UP THERE WITH ME YOU WON'T HEAR ME COMPLAINING.

WE CAN PLOW UP YOUR GARDEN.

WE COULD PLOW UP YOUR LAWN.

WE COULD GO PLOW FOR THE NEIGHBORS.

HECK, WE COULD PLOW 'TIL DAWN.

WELL, SHE STARTED IN LAUGHING, SHE GOT ME LAUGHING TOO.

MUST HAVE BEEN QUITE A SIGHT ON THAT TRACTOR US TWO.

WELL, I KEPT STOPPING BY, YOU KNOW, AND SHE NEVER SEEMED MUCH TO MIND IT.

I KEPT LOOKING FOR A BAD SIGN, YOU KNOW, BUT I NEVER DID FIND IT.

SHE'S A REAL, REAL GOOD WOMAN.

I NEVER MET NO ONE LIKE HER.

SHE READS BOOKS AND EITHER GOOD FOOD.

SHE'S A RUNNER AND BIKER.

BUT I'M JUST A FARMER, YOU KNOW, I AIN'T BEEN NOWHERE SHE'S BEEN, I AIN'T EVEN BEEN OUT OF STATE SINCE I CAN'T MEMBER WHEN.

SURE, I KNOW A LOT ABOUT COWS AND A LOT ABOUT SEASONS, I KNOW A LOT OF WHAT HAPPENS BUT NOT MUCH ABOUT THE REASONS.

I KNOW I AIN'T STUPID, AND I KNOW I GOT A BIG HEART.

THAT DON'T MAKE ME A HERO, BUT I SUPPOSE IT'S A START.

I GUESS I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT SHE LIKES ME.

IT DOES SEEM THAT WAY.

A REAL FUNNY THING HAPPENED I THINK IT WAS JUST YESTERDAY.

SHE SAID THERE WAS SLUGS IN HER WOOD PILE AND SLUGS IN HER STONE WALL, AND SHE DIDN'T LIKE THEM DAMN SLUGS, SHE DIDN'T LIKE THEM AT ALL.

WELL, SHE LAUGHED WHEN I SAID IT, SHE LAUGHED 'TIL SHE GOT BLUE.

I SAID NOW WHENEVER I SEE A SLUG I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT YOU.

SHE LIKED TO WALK JUST WALK AROUND.

JUST FOR THE HELL OF IT.

I COULDN'T REALLY SEE MUCH POINT, BUT I GOT USED TO IT.

SHE WOULD LOOK AT TREES.

SHE WOULD LOOK AT HILLS, SHE WOULD TALK ABOUT THE VIEW.

I SAYS, GOSH, I AIN'T NEVER REALLY DONE THIS MUCH, BUT I DON'T MIND DOING IT WITH YOU.

WELL, SHE SMILED AT ME.

SHE TOOK MY HAND, THEN WE KEPT ON WALKING.

MY HAND WAS SWEATIN, MY THROAT WAS DRY.

THAT WILL TEACH ME TO START UP TALKIN!

I COULDN'T DECIDE IF I SHOULD GRIN OR SHOULD I RUN AND HIDE!

BUT DAMN IT SURE WAS AWFUL NICE HAVING HER THERE BY MY SIDE.

OH, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN TELL YOU CAUSE I AIN'T HAD MUCH PRACTICE SAYIN', BUT I LIKE YOU MORE THAN A FULL BOAT TANK OR BLUE SKIES WHEN WE'RE HAYIN.

I HAVE LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE, I SAYS, I SEEN ABOUT ALL A MAN CAN SEE, BUT THIS YEAR HERE IT SURE DOES SEEM A WHOLE LOT PRETTIER TO ME.

I SAYS, YOU GIVE ME AN AWFUL LOT AND GOSH, I HOPE YOU GET SOMETHING TOO.

WELL, SHE SMILED AND WINGED AND KISSED MY CHEEK AND SHE SAYS,UP, I DO.

>> FOR MORE CLASSIC PROGRAMS, VIVERMONTPBS.ORG/FROMTHEARCHIVE.