Moise had to hire an excavator with a powerful digger to break through the shale that defeated his new red soil scraper.

About 15 feet of rock where the foundation of his new home is. He would never have gotten it done without a powerful tractor and scoop with teeth. It was an impressive machine; the foundation should be dug out by the end of the day tomorrow.

Moise and his sons are taking the dirt out to recycle it for other construction work. Very little is ever thrown away by the Amish.

The Amish can’t operate tractors like this themselves, but they are permitted to hire people when it becomes clear their own machines and bodies are not strong enough. They must take a bus or train if they can when they travel.

I know Moise worked hard to try and dig out the foundation of his home himself; I saw the sweat. Some tasks are just too big; all that shale was just impenetrable without heavy machinery.

Next week, he will mix and pour the concrete into the basement himself. I suspect this house will be up by November.

Monday, I’m driving Moise to Albany to pick up his daughter, who is coming by train from Maine, where she lives.

She is the only member of his family who is not living in this area now.

She is happy in her life in Maine, and so is her family; she’s just coming to visit. He wants the two of us to greet her. I think there’s be another raising, this time a house raising. The Fall will be exciting on the Miller Farm.