new roofs to climb

an hour before evening service on sunday i looked out my window and the fact that the porch roof was RIGHT there finally registered. so i merely inquired if...

'dad could you build a deck outside my window?'

'no, rachel, i can't build a deck outside your window.'

so i started figuring out how to get out there anyway. my window is an ancient and ridiculous one, incorporating about eight different layers of glass. i managed to heave it open to the screen, but no amount of panting and shoving could get the screen out.

'i could always cut it and duct tape it later...'

'no, rachel, you are not going to cut your screen out.'

so maybe we were going at this the wrong way. joanna decided to try from the outside. she pushed the garbage bin up to the house and put a large metal spool on top of that, and then hoisted herself up to the roof. meanwhile, inside the house mom was taking apart the window methodically, pane by pane. but even without the many layers the screen still wouldn't come out. luke's friend climbed up on the roof same way joanna did. 'look, i can take the screen out no problem,' he boasted. 'we break into houses all the time.' which dubious statement i chose to ignore and handed him the pliers. exactly one minute later he handed me the screen.

this is dad's face on learning my window was completely dismantled:
this is joanna trying out the shed roof in the delighted freedom that comes when you've conquered something new. like roof climbing. luke just wishes he was taller so he could as well.
and finally, luke's friend resting proudly on the roof after his labors. now i know who to call when i want to break in. not that i would call...
but it is nice to know right outside my window is a little retreat looking out at the fields and the trees and the birds and even the occasional fox. a cup of tea and a journal good. if only dad would build that deck so i wouldn't live in fear of rolling off one day...