Al B's House rework

[AlanB]

OK, so today's project was to get the driveway entrance wide enough to get the trucks in. So yesterday we had some 2/3 down on top of the rip rap

This morning went and picked up a 15" X 12' culvert and band. Always a joy dealing with Rural King, and got it loaded in the trailer, took it off with the tractor, then changed trailers and hauled the tractor to Church so they could use it for some dirtwork they are doing there.

Then got to visit with the dentist for an hour or so,,, Gotta love that.

Then back to the house, while Hanna was picking up Bathtub #2,,,,, and I start wrestling with this culvert. Man is that thing a bear when I am by myself with a poor mans back hoe and spud bar. Got it 99% into place, and could absolutely not get the last nut started, fortunately Hanna drove up at that point, stood on the spud bar and I was able to start the nut. So got it in and leveled actually I guess not leveled I mean. anyway got it set the way I wanted and shoveled in a bit of the crusher run, and Hanna went to pick the tractor back up.

Saw Eddie at the church and he said he would come by and look at the house. He said I need to dig two big ponds, one in front and one in back, said they will not fix my water problems, but should help. Said I needed to also probably dig a pump well and put a sump pump down next to my basement.

So we talk for a bit, and he has sold his big trailer and will deliver it Wed along with a dozer he sold...... Said he would not rent me any equipment, but I need to borrow his big track hoe and get those ponds dug, and do it now before he sells it, and get it moved in before he sells the trailer. So that puts a little more pressure on getting the driveway done, he was still not sure if his trailer will make that hook.

So, the plan is to get the big track hoe in, and probably one of his dozers and get this dirt work done. Maybe tomorrow.

So this evening, I finished up the culvert, bedded it with crusher run, moved in about 15 more tons of 2/3 that I had in reserve and rough leveled everything. Now we have to see if the big trucks can make that sweep, and if they will wipe out my water supply when they do

So, bad things, my dozer guy did not show again, he finally called Hanna and said he was out doing another job... At this point, I am about to tell him to bring me the money he owes us, and get his stuff, and his stuff is stuck till I get the cash.

So Hanna gets back from the run with tub #2 and looks a little disheartened. I said, let me guess, you broke this one handling it? she said no...... they gave her a left hand drain instead of the right hand.... Call the supply house, they are bringing the right one out Monday and exchanging it.

We burned off a bunch of the rotten construction debris wood.

Trimmed back the brush and trees beside the driveway.

Pulled some wood from flower beds in front of the house.

Ran the Tractor a BUNCH today moving gravel.

 

[AlanB]

So, this is my wellhouse, any ideas for a neat roof?

I need to fill all the blocks with mortar. Snakes really like it down there, so I need to get it filled in so they won't.

I am thinking of some small peaked roof, and pivot it on a piece of pipe or something along those lines.

It is pretty good size to try and just lift off.

 

[MrJimi]

So, this is my wellhouse, any ideas for a neat roof?

I need to fill all the blocks with mortar. Snakes really like it down there, so I need to get it filled in so they won't.

I am thinking of some small peaked roof, and pivot it on a piece of pipe or something along those lines.

It is pretty good size to try and just lift off.

How about something like a country out house theme?
You would have a door to go in and out.

or

Jim

 

[AlanB]

Cool idea Jimmi.

Dad, here is the discussion on Backhoe's.

Anyone else care to weigh in? Probably pull the trigger before Wed.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1090596#post1090596

Tried to load the big track hoe on his trailer today and it won't fit. Dang........ Makes me lean more towards just getting a backhoe and doing the job a bite at a time.

Eddie, would appreciate your insight there, as I know you are familiar with the less then new equipment.

OK, some basic house pics for mom here. 1926 is my chicken coop.

Will do another post talking about what all happened today.

It was a GREAT day

 

[AlanB]

So today, starting with the thought of taking it easy and kind of reflecting a bit and evaluating the problems, and things dropped into place a bit better. Attitude makes a big difference sometimes.

So, my buddy Mark came over and went top to bottom through my heat and air unit. All the fans came out, got cleaned and serviced, caps checked, coils cleaned etc. etc. Everything looks in fair shape, have one bad cap and need to change my pad and get the angles right. Will do the summer check when it get's a bit warmer and can get good pressure numbers on the AC.

Once Mark got going I heard a diesel fire up in the front yard and it was the melody of Joey removing a large stump at the corner of the drive. He got a new unit that is different then the one we used to operate. This tows behind a truck, it is one bad dude. 56hp or so Cat diesel. Reminded me very much as something that the empire had in the star wars movies. Man did it eat up this stump. Stump was about 3' to 4' diameter, I am guessing 20 to 30 minutes, there were wood chunks EVERYWHERE! Man does that thing go.

He also hit another small one I had up near the house.

So Joey brought his climbing gear to take out a couple of the trees that I need gone, but after looking at them again, he wants to bring in the bucket truck and bring it down a chunk at a time. My propane tank and house is pretty much under it. So hopefully in the next week or two he will be in the neighborhood and can swing by and drop a couple down.

So while Mark is working that, I am studying my plumbing problems. Trying to decide on what the best approach is to remedy my toilet flange being too high in the air. Actually the bell of the CI pipe. So I realize that I want to go ahead and take it down, contemplate removing all the drain side and re-doing with PVC but that will be a fair amount of work. Finally get a picture in my mind I can live with. I will cut the CI about 3" above the lower bell, drop a piece of 3" PVC with a Fernco 4/3 adapter in there 1056-43. I think the 3" PVC will drop through the 4" CI, and drop it past the Fernco all the way to just above the sweep. That way the Fernco is almost redundant. So after all the CI pipe discussions, and how to cut it, and already having put the floor on top of it, and checking the local rental yards and they did not have a CI snapper tool, I was dreading the thought. Well, my 19.2 Craftsman sawzall was sitting there with a heavy steel cutting Bosh blade, I thought what the heck, see if it will scratch it.... 5 minutes later... done deal.

I am a happy boy.

So we go out for a nice relaxing lunch and apparently Hanna's conversation with Rodney had the desired effect as there was a dozer and a big skid steer moving dirt in the yard when we got home.

So they got the driveway cleared and they also got the area where I want to put the mowing equipment and the mulch piles at cleared out and ready.

Some days it goes my way sometimes it is easy to forget how well things sometimes go when other days they all seem to be going to pot.

So here are some more pics.

 

[AlanB]

So here are the dozer and SS.

Oh, and 1952 is what you do after your buddy the arborist who has all his climbing gear in his truck and offers to take off any branches that you need done, and you do not have enough foresight to imagine the dozer and SS will show up that day, and they do so you will be having rock trucks coming in the morning...................... yeah, stupid hurts...

So, if you decide to stand in the bed of your Z71 and cut a 6" Oak limb with a hand pole saw.... as it breaks, the oak limb may bite hold of your pole saw and shove it's handle backwards harder then a 260 lb man can hold,,,, into the rear window of your truck, and the aluminum cap on your pole saw may just take a big divot out of the window seal, but for the life of you, you may not be able to figure out why you are not standing in a pile of shattered glass...

Did I mention today was a good day and God let me slide on my stupidity this afternoon..... It was beer thirty at that point... As Dave said, sometimes you just realize when you have had enough.

 

[woodlot]

So, this is my wellhouse, any ideas for a neat roof?

Is this the well for your potable water? First thing I'd do is get the jug of chemicals off the ledge. Then I'd move the barrell of fuel to the oposite side of the house! Then I'd start worring about a roof.

 

[AlanB]

Nahhh, adds flavor (that was a joke by the way)

Inop well house at this point, but don't want to take it out either. Understand the water is not good for drinking, we are on city water.

 

[AlanB]

The bathtub saga continues, they bring the right one today, Hanna is looking it over, and see's a spot in the bottom (luckily while the guys are still there) Turns out it is an inclusion in the fiberglass and is a hole.....

They are bringing tub #4 tomorrow hopefully.

Gravel is now going down on the drive.

 

[rox]

Alan,
You and Hana are amazing. I am wondering how many bathtubs it will take until you decide to go get one yourself. It's so funny actually when you think about it, I mean you gotta laugh, or else you would cry. I enjoy hearing about the hard work Hana is doing, good for her.