A couple updates

I have the trench locations marked for digging for the hook-ups. This one is for the power line.

And this one is for the water line. I will have to tunnel under the foundation for both lines.

This is a smoked brisket from today. I put it on last night and it was delicious.

One of last week's canning results. We have 6 quarts of soup and a dozen jars of green beans. There have been 2 more canning sessions since then. We're up to almost 30 jars of beans, about half of last year's total.
 

We have power

Harry was down yesterday and got a lot of the grading around the septic tank done. It looks like I will still need a bit more topsoil to finish it, though.

The power company was here this morning to put in two new poles, one for the transformer and one to re-route my line. It also raised the line a couple feet. That will make it easier when the trailer is delivered.

 They just buzzed off the small tree tops to allow the new path of my service line. I will finish taking them down after I clean up what is already on the ground. It is time for a new brush pile, I think.

A couple updates

Canning season has begun. Lisa sent over some cucumbers and I tried my hand at making pickles. We have 14 pints of kosher dill spears and slices now.

Last week the beans and onions started. We have 100 1/2 cup bags of onions in the freezer, and 12 pints of green beans put up. 

 Allen was down over the 4th of July and we got Heather's new rabbit barn put up with Jim and Matthew's help. Matthew was down for a visit and offered to help. It really looks nice.

We have water

The water company finally made it here today and got the girls' water installed.

They have a new ROUND water meter. Mine is rectangular and usually flooded. This one is in a much drier spot.

It didn't mess up the driveway TOO bad. It will need some more gravel, but it needed more anyway.

A look down inside the meter. It's all clean and shiny.
 

Trailer found and purchased

We ran across this a few weeks ago, but had to wait until we had a place to be able to move it to. With the concrete now poured and cured, I went down to Monticello to see this one. It looked as good in person as the pictures showed, so I bought it. Now on to the moving it here part. 

Concrete work is done

The concrete trucks showed up right on time this morning and we got started. Lisa came over and helped us with this concrete party. The estimates we made yesterday were off. There was supposed to be three trucks, but after the first truck dumped, it was clear that two trucks would be enough. 

We managed to cancel the third truck, as it had not loaded yet. We filled all the trenches and added some rebar to help with the strength. The drivers were very helpful and knew what they were doing.

We poured the barn slab first, screeding it off and leaving it. That will leave a rougher finish on the surface, which is what Heather wanted for inside the barn. We sunk a cattle panel in it for some reinforcement.

All the trenches were filled up to the top and rebar added and tamped down into the mix. 

The finished product should hold up just fine. It will be invisible when everything is done, though.

 With the concrete that was left after finishing everything else up, we dumped out onto the driveway and raked it out smooth. Well, it's not glass smooth. We just flattened it out the best we could. Thanks again to Lisa and Jess for the help.

foundation is dug

Our neighbor Harry came over this morning with his excavator and dug out the foundation for the girls' place.

I had marked it out at the end of last week. All the lines were still quite visible.

I went through afterwards and cleaned up all the loose dirt in the hole so that it doesn't mix in with the concrete. 

It's ready to pour now, as well as the new rabbit barn slab. Heather had put up pictures of that already. The concrete trucks are supposed to be here tomorrow to pour both. Then they will have to sit for a week or so to let the concrete cure.