2009_07_05aWe were seriously considering “popping” down to Big Bear for a July 4th, but just couldn’t face the sixteen hour round trip. In the end, it was just as well because our concrete guy called on Friday and asked if he could have 60 yards of dirt. After much deliberation we agreed.

When the dump truck and bobcat showed up, we found that the driver was supposed to load his own truck but he’d never driven a bobcat. Ch.t offered to do the loading for him, which turned out to be a big help. So the dirt slowly dissappeared and our plan to work on the forms turned into a surprise earth moving day. Brian’s bobcat is a real gem – it has AIR CONDITIONING and a fully ENCLOSED cab. I had to pry Ch.t out of there with a crowbar. All the thing needs is a cooler for Ch.t’s Mountain Dew and it would be perfect.

As the day went on, we learned that the folks taking the dirt would like more than 60 yards if we were willing to give it. After much brain twisting and discussion of what we were going to do landscaping/grading-wise, we agreed to a total of 100 yards. Having put up that top form board, we can finally measure grade around the house and it appears that there isn’t much that needs to be added.

Five loads were taken Friday and another five on Saturday. Sat afternoon, we got back in the basement and formed up the south end of the house. We stopped around 5:30pm, cleaned up and went to watch fireworks. Sunday we made flan (yum!) from the henny’s eggs and formed up 17-ft of wall on the west side of the house. We’re starting to get a system down for the forming and we’re getting much more efficient, much to my relief.

So we got 42 feet of wall formed, got rid of ANOTHER 100 yards of dirt – and as a bonus – got to clear out an area for a new chicken yard, and clear out all our parking areas. Now if we just had someone in an RV to park there. Hmmm… wonder were we could find someone like that?