Last week was full, fun, and exhausting!
We, (my husband and I) have been working outside, digging.
We have moved a lot of earth from the left side of this area to the right so that it will be more level. We will pour a concrete pad here which will eventually become a carport. Yippee!
As you can see from the photo below, our property has a significant slope to it. Part of our land is terraced because of it. There is a large pond across the road from our house, so, as you have probably figured out, water run-off is an issue.
You know how, many times, people will buy a piece of land and then name it? Like, The Circle H, or, The Hanging W, or something like that . Years ago, my uncle Tom and aunt Norma bought acreage in Florida and named it, “Oleo Acres” because they said it was “an inexpensive spread”. Hahaha! I love that name! Well, our property could be called, “A River Runs Through It”, because, not only do we get the run-off that is heading toward the pond, but there are underground springs which contribute to the abundance of flowing water in our yard, and yield their bounty for days and days after heavy rains.
There were two trenches that had been dug many years ago to divert the water flow. Over the years, they have gradually filled in. We re-dug each and used a Transit to make sure the drainage slope of the trenches remained correct. I forgot to take a photo of the Transit that we used, but, except for the color, it looked exactly like this one. What a marvelous invention!
We flattened the area (there was a three foot high hill) in front of our barn and moved some of the dirt to the side to divert the water that flowed toward it. The rest of the dirt was moved farther up the pasture to be used later. (See where the tracks lead?)
Yes, I know the barn looks sad. Over the years the water has washed away much of the foundation under the right side. Jacking up the barn and pouring a concrete footer to support it, is on our “To Do” list. We’ve replaced the boards on the back side and will replaced these on the front when we get it stabilized.
Digging the carport area, the ditches, and the hill in front of the barn, was my job. I love using power equipment! There were two “joysticks” that each controlled two different parts and motions of the arm of the back hoe. Last Monday, you would have had a good laugh watching me learn how to do this. I was jerky, like I was riding a mechanical bull (dinosaur) for the first time. The only difference between the bull and this thing was this didn’t spin! Haha! By Wednesday, I could dig fairly smoothly. (Yes, she can be taught!)
Pour hubby did most of the grunt work. He also used the front-end-loader to smooth out the places that I had dug. We make a good team!
By now, I’m sure you are wondering, “What does all of this have to do with the title of this post?”
Here’s what.
We rented the equipment (the tractor, the jack hammer, and the transit) for one week. We had a deadline. We had to get all of these projects finished, rain or shine. We picked this week because the weather forecast called for 20% or less chances of rain. This brings me to the first two words of the title that need explaining. Froggs and Attire. I’m sure that you noticed I wrote “Froggs” instead of “Frogs”. That is because the “attire” that I’m wearing in the digging photo above is called Frogg Toggs. Our daughter and son-in-law gave my husband and I, each, a set for Christmas. They are a rain jacket and pants made out of a fabric, not vinyl or plastic. It kept out the wind and the rain. My goodness, it was windy! It sprinkled a few days and then Friday, it actually rained for about an hour. I felt nothing. Nothing! Not the first drop. It kept us dry!
They are so well designed! They have flaps, zippers, Velcro, and pull-ties that keep wind and water OUT! And, they are roomy to fit comfortably OVER your clothes and jacket.
What does this have to do with quilting? These “tools” were responsible for keeping us dry.
Dry clothes means less laundry. Less laundry means more time for fun stuff, like quilting. See?
You’ve probably figured out why I mentioned Scrubbing Bubbles. Yes, I mean the bathroom cleaner by that name. But, I’m not talking about using it to clean the bathroom. This “tip” is for using it to clean your dishwasher.
“My what?”, you say?
Yes, your dishwasher. Our oldest daughter told me about it.
After a while, a dishwasher can get some” ick” that accumulates in the bottom of it. She simply sprays the area with the Scrubbing Bubbles, lets it sit for two to three hours, and then just wipes it up with paper towels. Easy!
Less time spent cleaning means more time for fun stuff, like quilting. Win, win!
This week, hubby and I are getting back to a more normal routine. (We’re recuperating from last week’s heavy work! Haha.) I didn’t get to my sewing room or the to the computer once last week!
So many projects that I want to get done this year! I’ve got new patterns coming soon, and another Quilt Along as well.
Hey, while you’re here, head on up to the top, right side of this page, enter your email address and hit “Subscribe”. That way, my posts will come right to your Inbox.
And, there is still time to enter the “Giveaway”. Head over to my UFO’s and Orphaned Blocks post for the details!
There is also, a Lookout Mountain Group Page on Facebook. We’d love to have you join in the fun! Share what projects you are working on and see what others are doing!
Today is a very good day! Just because. 🙂
I hope yours is too!
Happy creating!
Diane
Boy Diane, we could have used you and your hubby in our previous yard! We had terrible water problems there too, until we finally brought in experts to regrade the slope. Good luck and I hope you have it all figured out now…love the clothes btw!
Thanks! That Transit was amazing! I’ll let you know how well we did after the next big rain. Haha!