All's Well that Ends Well

Workshop siding is finished

Roger and crew have finished putting the siding on my workshop. They have done a very nice job. Now it is my turn to finish drying it in by installing windows and doors. Still a lot of work to do before that can happen. I have to fill the window spring grooves in each of the 40+ window sashes that I plan to use. Also, I have to build doors for the 8'x10' main opening.

It's a gusher!

This is the first time the new well pump has been run since the drilling team finished with the well. It looks like Tim has done everything very nicely. The water ran clear almost immediately (most of the dirt probably came from the garden hose). Next steps are to install a 1600 gallon water storage tank and run about 400 feet of 1" PVC.

OK. So 2014 is going to be a busy year. Have I mentioned the solar electric project?

Well, well, well...

Water. I've been transporting it from Atlanta for years now in 5 gallon containers. Water for drinking, cooking, and dish washing. Water for bathing has been harvested from rainfall off the roof of the bath house. Not long after I became employed again, I started thinking about running water and planning on having it run from the street out to the cabin. I surveyed the route testing it to 24" depth with a soil probe to find a relatively non-rocky path. I bought the hydrants for the yard, the pipe, valves, and other fittings. I talked to a man about digging the trench. Then finally, I talked to the woman from whom I would acquire the connection to the main and the water meter. She told me I first had to have a septic tank permit from the county. I explained I was planning on dry composting toilets and agricultural disposal of grey water and that I would have no need of a septic system. She said it did not matter. I contacted the county health department and found out that step one was to get an approved surveyor to perform a perc test. This is a test to make sure that the soil under the location of the drain field would allow the effluent to disperse at an acceptable rate. I hired a surveyor from their list. He came out and spent the better part of a day digging holes, measuring flow rate, taking soil samples, and surveying the immediate area of the proposed tank and drain field site. This service cost me $500. I then sent his report to the county along with my application for the permit and a $200 check. Guess what? They decided that my soil was not good enough as is (even though the surveyor said it passed his tests)and that I was going to have to haul in more soil and start over. Those of you who know me can easily imagine how I reacted to this news. I'll leave it at that.

Now, I have a well. The driller tells me I have 25 gallons per minute flow into my well. That is ten times more water than I will ever use. It has a little iron in it but I hear that is good for you :)



I have obscured the name and number of the drilling company to protect the innocent. Needless to say, I have refrained from trying to go by the book. From here on out I'm doing things my way and I ain't askin' permission. This man did an outstanding job for me and I highly recommend him. Call me if you would like a referral.

Fourth Annual Family Campout

Actually, it should be the Fifth but the kids were unable last year and I was still out of work. So - we made it twice the fun this year!

Monotropa

These two pics are from the previous weekend. The monotropa have nearly completed their lifecycle.

Setting up camp

Heather, Hollie, Lance, and Amber arrived Thursday afternoon and immediately started setting up their tents. The snack table was laid.



Jas'n, Jamie, Haydyn, victoria, Bella, and Eian got in Friday afternoon.

Nature walk

Actually, the little salamander, an eastern newt (Notophthalmus viridescens), was found under a piece of rotted wood as Amber was clearing the path to her tent site. The next day (Friday) was beautiful so we decided on a nature walk. You never know what you will see; a stone that looks like dinosaur skin or a beautiful orange moth.

Weenie roast

After the nature walk, we roasted some weenies over the coals. Then Lance and I prepared a pork shoulder for the smoker. Carolyn soaked some beans. When we were done with the roast, we put the scraps into the beans and set them on the stove to slow cook.

Target practice

The kids really love learning to shoot.