Boys and Toys

For some reason, it seems like guys have a fascination with all things mechanical, machinery in particular.  Starting at 7 am on Monday of this week we had our share of big trucks up at the house.  I've got to say, even I love to watch them do their work as proven by the fact that I set the alarm to be sure I did not miss the rustic room concrete pour.  I ended up following the cement mixer up the road and took several pictures of it dumping 6 yards through the window of our back room.  Steve and a new helper, James, quickly screed the concrete while Oliver signaled the driver when to stop and start the pour.  This was only half of the load.   Later in the day, at 3 pm, the mixer returned and poured approximately another 6 yards.  The leftover was poured in the dug-out area near the front door to fill it in a little before we lay down some crush and run gravel and then finally create a stamped concrete sidewalk and patio.  My parents and Joel were both in attendance for the second pour!  Note the digger in the foreground as the cement mixer sets up.  That was dropped off in anticipation of the septic tank installation which I have been told is on hold for the moment.  Apparently the town of Westernville let the water guy go, and our application is sitting on a desk somewhere until the position is filled again...

Meanwhile Spike has been working on our west side stoop steps (say that three times fast!) and they look gorgeous.  Steve also asked Spike to rebuild the stone foundation on the west wall of the rustic room once the wall was taken down.  Again, very nice!

So I just returned from my daily house check-in, and I have to report that yet another truck visited the property.  Joel has been working on filling in the gully on the west side of the house with discarded supports, bricks, stone, and small tress that he has been chain sawing (another machine!) down.  To cover it all up and create a usable green space, Steve arranged for 18 yards of dirt fill to be dumped on top. Joel has his work cut out for him now!

I was so happy to see that Steve and Oliver were able to install the floor joists in the rustic room today and also lay down a sub floor.  This room is really coming together!