(no subject)

[featherynscale]

The Dingo Relocation project got off to an excellent start this weekend, thanks to everybody who came out and dug holes, pounded nails, set posts, mixed concrete, etc. Saturday, we had a veritable army of folks: zylch, saffronhare and her three kids, diermuid and his three kids, archway, kaymyth, popefelix and ruisseau, and ysathora and uberreiniger. I spent most of the day managing the care and feeding of the horde. Sunday we had a much smaller crowd: zylch, ysathora and uberreiniger returned, and matchgirl42 came out as well. We got all the post holes dug (with significant assistance from the power auger that saffronhare rented for us), and about half of the posts set. It rained Sunday night and Monday morning, so we weren't able to finish the posts, but it's supposed to dry out the end of this week, so hopefully we'll be able to finish the posts by Saturday. We also finished the reclamation of boards from the old fence, and built a ton of fence panels. zylch came back on Monday to inspect the water level along the post-hole row, and we built a ton more panels, until we ran out of boards. Another supply run in the works, I'm afraid. This project has become much more expensive than I thought it would be.

It's also a lot more involved and difficult than I thought it would be. As it turns out, there's at least one small spring on our property, and the water table at the house is higher than it should be. That means that some of the post-holes are filled with water, and will need a lot more concrete than we'd planned. That also gives some insight as to why there is frequently water in the basement. I think the next outdoor project at our house is going to involve planting some very thirsty plants along the sides of the house, and possibly along the fence line.

As usual, some things got left behind in the construction process. So far, I've got diermuid's sweatshirt (which I'm going to wash), popefelix's hammer, and matchgirl42's bag of tools. Additionally, I think I have half of zylch's worldly possessions, but I know she's coming back to work on it more. :)

We still hope to have the fence completed by 6/14, in time for Dingo Relocation Day, but it might be tough. Any local folks who want to donate a few hours' labor to the benefit of doggies are welcome to drop me a line and set up a time to come out. Also, if anybody's got a truck and is able to help us pick up additional lumber and concrete, that would be good too. :)

Comments

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

I'll be able to put in some more time over the weekend again, and possibly sponsor the purchase of some materials. We'll talk more soon, okay?

[matchgirl42.livejournal.com]

As I said in my email, as well as (I'm sure) I said on Sunday, I'm happy to come out again, as long as I can get a ride. Maybe this Saturday? Not sure if I can do a two-day, considering how sore I was yesterday, but we'll see. And I'll get my tools then. :)

And you know I was thinking the same thing yesterday - hey, this is why they're getting water in their basement! Aha! So yeah...

For thirsty plants, pretty much any flowering plant should do. High maintenance - roses that need pruning. Low maintenance - wild roses, and azaleas. (My aunt has had an azalea bush/tree against her house for, like, forever, and when I was a kid before we moved away from her property I remember seeing her have to water it every single day.) If you wanted to get really productive you could try to plant some bayberry, because you can boil the berries to produce a wax you can make candles out of. Not sure how they would do in this clime, though. Or you could try some cherry trees, and grow your own cherries! Hee.

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

It's possible I could give you a ride this weekend, at least one way on one day. I'll check in with you as the weekend approaches, okay?

[matchgirl42.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a plan. :)

[matchgirl42.livejournal.com]

And thank you!!!

(Damn I miss the ability to edit my comments.)

[uberreiniger.livejournal.com]

'Twas good exercise. Thanks for all the tasty food.

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your help!

[diermuid.livejournal.com]

I'm supposed to get the Maxi-Van bag again this week. The criminal said that the head gasket is about to blow, I'm thinking she hasn't been adding oil to the slurpy beast. That will help with hauling... if it just needs oil.

Posts are a priority due to liability of the baby-Jessica swallowing holes. If the snake falls in one, that could be horribly exciting. You can rent a pump to suck them out (they're under 10 pounds) OR, rent the Dingo walk-behind with a trencher and put in some French drains. I need to do that myself.

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

zylch's assessment on the watery holes was that we just ought to concrete the poles in all the way down.

[diermuid.livejournal.com]

Perhaps... when I used to do radio towers with my dad, he would plop all sorts of detritus in there with the concrete to fill out the space... bricks, rocks, gravel, tire hunks, snitches, etc. Anything that won't decay before the wood.

[diermuid.livejournal.com]

Another thing - are we sure it is a spring, and not just the way the water table runs when it's been raining a lot? That will make a difference. Underground springs and streams will MUCK a fencepost up because they cause voids. I was doing a split-rail fence with my dad once, and didn't listen when he told me to be very gentle when putting a post in a hole where I had started to dig into a void... I was trying to pack it down even with the other posts and ::whoomp::, the whole post fell right into the ground and dissapeared. As this was about the time of the original Tremors movie, I was freaked RIGHT the hell out. 8-)