Good morning!!!!

[dave1949]

good morning all. Dave, good luck today with your Mom. May all outcomes be positive.

Weather outcome is not good today for what is planned...replacing the pavers in my front walkway and repitching the whole area away from the house. Since my helper noshowed me yesterday (I think he like Maynard Krebs must pipe up every once in a while "WORK?") Two fireman coming today to do the work; I'm still hurting from pulling all the pavers out yesterday by myself. And now the forecast is for severe thunderstorms starting after lunch with .8 inches of rain.
Don't think the top layer of sand is going to get set today, will get the rest done and wait until things dry up. I bought the plastic bottom liners from Lowes to make this somewhat idiot proof.

Need to make a run out in a little bit to pick up some more water and sports drinks for the workers. Then I intend to do nothing more than drive the tractor and supervise today. They will need to dig out the sand in there already, likely will get them to just shovel into the FEL and I'll go make yet another pile somewhere. Even though the plastic liners allegedly avoid the use of underlayment, we are doing it the old fashioned way, go all the way down, underlay, roll/tamp, light coat of sand, tamp again, lay liners, lay pavers, etc. Maybe those liners will let them get enough done before the heavens open up. That area will then be quite the little swimming pool. Plastic liners are full of drain holes so it should all drain and be fine by morning. Then tomorrow we can finish it off.

I'll have a lot of material left. Preserved all the old pavers and piled them behind the barn, and will lay them somewhere in the barn to form a floor, a bit of recycling. Pics to follow.

Maybe renting a plate compactor would be good. If you make enough passes even the smaller ones will compact a lot and more evenly than a hand tamper. Good luck with the weather and thank you for the well wishes.

 

[txdon]

Good morning! A cool 68˚ with a North wind and it will only get into the mid 70s.
Chance of rain again for the 13 day in a row. We had 1/2" yesterday - total for the month 7.5".

I have not watered My watermelon patch in two weeks but the daily rains have kept the sand saturated, like a wet sponge, and 80% of the plants have drowned. I'm so used to the drought that I saw no reason to plant them on mounds - mistake. There's no rush to put up my new solar panel and pump on the spring pond for irrigation.

Drew the tamper and bull float were my prep tools of choice on the sand for the pavers. Don't forget the rubber hammers.

 

[farmer2009]

51 this morning and headed to 63 today. Getting close to the record cool highs the last couple of days. I'm not going to argue if spring wants to hang out till fall. Forecasts say I'm dreaming upper 80's and humid next week.

Off to see chickens this morning then finish some weedeating that the hired help didn't get done with. I really wish I could find someone who could do the weedeating in double my time. It takes me about 4 hours. The last two I have hired needed 12 and 13 hours to finish.

Dave hope your mom has a speedy recovery.

Drew have seen some use PVC pipe to control the depth and help keep the slopes right. Lay out two pipes then screed off of them. Then fill in for the pipes. Some pictures would be nice.

 

[daugen]

thanks guys. My 280 pound fireman is bringing his tamper plus I'm going to run my 1200 pound water roller over it.
I have a long aluminum bar, looks like a big rule without markings and I think that will keep a nice flat surface. Good ideas on the rollers. Off to the barn plus I'll grab the rubber hammers.

 

[KevT]

Dave, I truly wish the best for your Mom. We had to put my MIL in the Nursing Home after she broke her leg. The bone healed fine, but she wont weight bear and we both work.

 

[ronjhall]

thanks guys. My 280 pound fireman is bringing his tamper plus I'm going to run my 1200 pound water roller over it.
I have a long aluminum bar, looks like a big rule without markings and I think that will keep a nice flat surface. Good ideas on the rollers. Off to the barn plus I'll grab the rubber hammers.

It's not weight that makes a good place for the pavers. It's vibrations from the Plate Compactor. Makes a big difference in how long pavers stay in place. Also much easier on the body.

 

[davesl708]

Good morning everyone. Hope you have fair weather and warm temps. 51F degrees this morning after a little shower overnight. This will be only the fifth day this month we have had decent sunshine and no rain. Will only get to maybe 67F degrees today. Has been well below average temps here all month.

 

[deerseeker001]

51 and sunny, warming to 70 Today which is a big improvement in the Weather.I will be working in the yard Today.

 

[dave1949]

Dave, I truly wish the best for your Mom. We had to put my MIL in the Nursing Home after she broke her leg. The bone healed fine, but she wont weight bear and we both work.

Thanks Kev. We keep our fingers crossed. We thought about what if she had broken a leg or hip, that would be a lot worse and maybe something like your MIL that there is never a complete comeback from. Seems to go that way often enough especially if there are other medical issues--and there usually are for elderly folks.

I mowed the yard this morning for the first time this year. The robins appreciate the shorter grass and Sharon told me it was time to mow. :laughing: It must be summer.

 

[txdon]

Taking a quick break from Mowing in the mist. It is an incredible 64˚ - now I know how it feels up North in the summer. This is great, I don't even mind stopping every 20 minutes to clean out the underneath of the mower.