Did you know that a truckload of fill dirt costs about $85? Neither did I. I also didn't know that Honnus was going to have to put about nine truckloads into our house the other day. Had I known, I would have saved all the dirt I've been dumping out of my vacuum cleaner's canister. I think I would have had enough.All this dirt is dumped into the garage, so that they can later pour a slab over it. The bracings are to help stabilize the blocks, in case the dirt settles and puts too much pressure on them. I think I need some of these on my thighs, because the fat is putting too much pressure on my pants.
Here is Honnus, doing more magic. His job now is to hurry up and get all that dirt nice and level, so the rest of the crew can finish blocking up the back of the garage. They ended up about 39 blocks short. That's when I found out what our builder does besides organize these folks: he goes and gets the rest of the blocks.
The builder asks me, "How large do you want the access door to be under the house?"My response: "Well, how big is the plumber? He's the one who has to fit under there."
After consultation with another close friend, we made a LARGE access spot - just in case I want to "store stuff" under there. Yeah, right. I see a spider haven in the making - but I guess it's best to have one, in case I go crazier and Roger needs a place to hide me. Those little metal tabs have something to do with the brick that will be put on later.
Part of the crew raked the ground to even things out under the house (just in case I might change my mind and want to go in there someday). I liked the spaces they left for the vents - and since this whole thing was starting to look like a fort, I imagined placing little cannons in there, just for fun.
When they were done for the day, something about it looked kinda pretty.
I just now realized that I forgot to show you my freezer.
The little tractor-thingy supposedly costs tens-of-thousands of dollars...amazing. They mix the sand and concrete stuff with water in a mixer to get the goop that holds the blocks together. Can you tell I'm learning all the technical terms in the process?
The rectangular thing is our back patio. Let me tell you, the guys on site work HARD to make this happen in two days. I will share photos in the next day or so of the rest of their progress. Here is the head mason dude. He was a little shy, and Jackie had to coax him out of the truck a bit so I could take his photo. He has no idea how famous he will soon be:
Especially after you take a good hard look at his logo. I KNOW my foundation is solid, folks!
Now quit wasting your time here, and go check out all the Fun Monday participants!
This photo was taken by a family friend who has started her own photography business in town, and we were among her first subjects. She did a fantastic job.
The Offspring is still up to her own photography tricks, and photoshopped this self-portrait in the last few months. Sounds like Liberal Arts colleges will be in our future.
Okay, so that was another "easy" out - so my REAL best friend? Well, my Poo Woo, of course!
We met Poo Woo as a sad little pup, when he was locked into our neighbor's backyard, all but neglected. Every morning, The Offspring would run to him, offer him treats thru the fence, and pet him best she could thru the chain-links. He would press his little body against those links, so she could access as much of him as possible. He still does it out of habit:
