You know we’ve been really busy lately, harvesting both crops and seed, but then David had lined up a huge JLG lift from work to help get the metal roofing and trim on the cabin. Brother Bill was coming on Saturday night, and we were all starting work first thing Sunday morning with David’s friend, Ian, coming to help too. We were worried as the weather forecast was for lots of rain. Not a good option for being up on a 40-foot high roof peak! David had expected the lift to be delivered via semi on Friday, around noon. But at 7 AM the driver called, getting him out of bed to drive down our mile-long bumpy driveway to meet him as he was going to drive the rig in instead of having the semi bring it in. David called me and I followed him out so I could get some pictures. That rig is huge! And boy did it ever save a lot of work, worry, and danger as the boom extends up to 60 feet and works hundreds of angles, making everything easier and safer.

Here’s David, bringing in the JLG lift at 7 AM through fall colors.
The lift was an immense help in getting the roofing up.

Then the rain came. And stayed. Until Saturday night when Bill showed up with his truck camper. Luckily, on Sunday morning, the clouds broke, and it was actually nice although cold, most of the day. Will, Ian, David, and Bill handled the sheets with David and Ian riding in the lift, taking the sheets up where David screwed them into place. Yes, everyone working up high wore safety harness with retractable tethers so there would be no falling off the roof. Hmmm, been there; done that.

I was pretty much a gopher and cook, making lunches and dinner for the crew. Fortunately, everything went well through the whole weekend. Today the roof is all on, including the ridge cap, drip edges, and wood fascia. David still has to get the wood siding on the sides of the dormers, including the drip edges and flashing done before tomorrow night when he’ll drive the JLG back out to the road to meet the semi driver Friday morning. Hopefully, that’ll go okay, in between rains.

David, finishing screwing down the roofing.

Bill left on Monday afternoon as he had work Tuesday morning, then my friend, Dara, came Tuesday to help me get a bit more caught up, canning tomato sauce, cleaning the kitchen, and cutting up apples to can while I canned them. We also shelled corn and beans while we visited. She even stayed overnight so we could continue today. We sure got a lot done. I always wished I had a twin and she sure filled the spot nicely! Thank you Dara!

Did you ever see such a big Laurentian rutabaga?

I still have potatoes, carrots, and rutabagas in the ground and went out to pick one big rutabaga I’d seen. Wow was I surprised! It had grown huge. I’m talking about ten pounds’ worth! It will fill several pint jars. And there are still many more in the row. Awesome! — Jackie

20 COMMENTS

  2. Jackie you never cease to tell us new things! Largest rutabaga I’ve ever seen!!! ? Can you store garden seeds in the freezer? Will they last longer? Or ? Ruin them

  3. Hi Jackie! This is Marc – Hilby family out in Spokane area. Thats great you got that metal roof on. Nice rutsbaga! Thanks for your blogs, you are neat people and I am learning from you. We have done some more canning using your book. Thanks again and God bless you!

    • And back at you Marco! I’m so glad you’re using my book to further your canning. That’s one skill that sure comes in handy, especially with COVID around.

  4. Wow. David’s “cabin” looks like a palace to me. Our cabin is one story, 900 sq. feet, dirt floor, no windows, no indoor plumbling, no insulation (have lived in it for 10 years!). So wonderful what he is building. And that machine was awesome looking! Wish my guy did not have to be gone all week driving truck……. Awesome what all you and your family have done there.

    • We’ve lived in everything too; my first homestead had all the windows broken out of it and dead rats floating in the water in the basement! Every one I’ve fixed up and moved on up a notch. By keeping on fixing, you can sure improve your homestead with little money.

  5. I am so glad David is building close to you. I have watched him grow up and it is a great site to see. Your garden has done really well this year in spite of everything that’s happened. I love seeing things from your garden and David’s progress. Shouldn’t you write a book about that?

  7. Glad that things are moving along so well with David’s place! I sure understand your rocket feeling. Seems to never end! That is one huge rutabaga.

    • Yep and I canned it and it’s friends today with more tomorrow. I’m really happy with all those full jars!

  8. Thank you for the update on David’s cabin and glad to see it is getting weatherproofed. Such a talented group of people and we, your readers, are so fortunate that you share snippets with us. I wish I lived closer as I would love to help with harvesting and canning. Looking forward to my seed purchase this year. Several things I tried last year did well despite the terrible weather we had in PA.

    • I’m so glad your garden did well. It seems like all over the country folks were saddled with awful weather.

  9. So glad to see the roof on David’s house. It sure is coming along great and it’s good to see the men in your life working together. What would we do without friends like Darla. It’s so great that she came to help. I just took out the last of my garden and already planning for next year. I wasn’t the only one having garden issues down here in Oklahoma. Other people did but we will continue to garden for the love of it.

    • Yep, I can’t imagine NOT gardening! It brings so many blessings despite the challenges. And boy do we value our friends and family! Who needs money when you have them?

  10. I am constantly in awe over the incredible capabilities your men have in running complicated machinery and constructing everything from cabins to solar panels. And you in the garden and kitchen working magic What a wonderful team you all make together. You are richly blessed.

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