It is a joy to see these hard-working men and women put a house together mostly with their own hands and strong backs. They get up before dawn and start hammering the frames and pouring the concrete. It is grueling, physical, challenging work.

Any mistakes and the foundation of their new home can be ruined. I come by to check on things every afternoon if I’m around. If I can, I bring 10 or 12 Mountain Dews.

Every afternoon, the girls in the kitchen put together cookies and cake and coffee and bring it out to the workers, three of whom are their sisters; the Amish love black coffee and will drink it all day.

They love Mountain Dew even more. It gives them energy; I can see it; I just can’t drink it.

When I show up, I always hear Moise cheer, “Hey, Johnie Boy.” Sometimes it comes from deep within the construction. He knows.

If he sees Mountain Dew, he says, “oh, thank you; you’ll spoil me.” Not likely.

Moise is never happier than when he is digging, measuring, hammering, or pouring concrete. Around four, they break and gather around a table to talk about what they need to do.

That is his calling, his mission. He is buying farms for his children and building barns and houses for them and himself. One day, he prays, they will all be here.

Somehow, he knows every property for sale, might be for sale, or should be for sale. I don’t know how he does it.

Moise suggested at the coffee break, they get up early and finish pouring the concrete for the foundation. This was met with some chucking and eye-rolling; even his sons doubted that his would happen.

Everyone offers me some coffee and cake or cookies, but I stay out of their circle.

I suspect I make some of them uncomfortable. I usually go and cuddle with Tina.

Moise’s joy and enthusiasm for work are infectious, and he gulped down his Mountain Dew in about four seconds and was energized.

His new boots are completely covered in mud, a sign they are loved. The family works hard to make me feel welcome, but I guess I have a shy streak in there somewhere. It’s not always easy to make me feel comfortable, and I don’t wish to intrude on their break.

John’s  (Moise’s older son )wife, Fanny (not the other Fanny), wants to talk to me about getting winter mittens for her toddlers. She can’t find any in our town, and she’s worried about their fingers getting cold in the winter.

I hope she doesn’t want them to be all black.

I figured out what the chips are that Lena and Fanny like so much. They are potato chips with sour cream and onion. They asked me if I’d ever had some, and I said no, I wouldn’t want to subject them to the sight of an instant heart attack from Grandpops.

I’ll be there tomorrow afternoon. If the sun is intense, I’ll come with some Mountain Dew and potato chips with onions and sour cream. Moise is already talking about the woodwork inside of the house.