Better than ever!

OMG! I can't believe they left you to fix their mess, instead of coming back to fix it!

This is the only area where the gravel actually got dumped correctly. LOL I still have to go out and rake it all into the pot holes.

It took me an hour and a half to do the first pile with a shovel. Okay, not so bad, I had to shovel gravel. Think I could find my long shovel?? I had to use a short shovel with a D handle. LOL I had to sit part of the time because I couldn't bend over anymore!

Hubby charged the battery on the mower for me so I could use the wagon. RELIEF! NOT! It was not charged so I had to charge it again/more!

Then I got the shovel again and filled the wagon and dumped that TWICE and still had a huge pile and not enough in the frame. :( Thankfully Nolan woke up from his nap so I went in and fed him and got him dressed and decided it was Budweiser time. Grabbed myself a candy bar and got Nolan a treat and picked up some lunch meat and chips. No way was I cooking.

Thank goodness the kids were feeling helpful when they got home. Some helped with Nolan and played together and some helped me. I lucked out and found a small shovel so Nolan even got to help.

We dumped 3 more wagons full into the frame and raked them out. I still need to level it a bit more.

By the time we came in at 6pm, this is what the foundation looked like.

I decided to go ahead and fill in the small area in front of the greenhouse. I plan on putting a small deck or ramp there as it will make it easier to load and unload plants.

The rest of that gravel pile is pretty low so it will be raked out and hopefully keep some mud off our feet getting to and from the car.

This is the last photo of my day spent moving the better part of 8.3 tons of gravel. ROTFLOL

This is the back side which faces full sun. It is also the only area with super nice soil. I'm planning to put some raised beds for veggies with upright/vining veggies at the back so they will shade the greenhouse by mid to late summer.

I'm hoping to get out tomorrow, move the sand box over by the swing set and put the sand back in then I can start cleaning up this area and move the railroad ties into place for the veggie beds. There is a bunch of scrap lumber and such against the garage and it's all going away. I'm putting doors on both ends of the greenhouse and a mulch or gravel path along the garage. I'll also hopefully get hubby to extend the gutter so I can put in 2 connected rain barrels to use to water the vegetable beds. I've got a bunch of rabbit manure to back fill the beds.

If you look beyond the greenhouse frame, you can see all my naked beds. :( Oh well, I can grow plants. :)

The sky is supposed to let loose the next three days but I'm planning to get the greenhouse built any chance I can get outside long enough to put the parts together!

Anybody wanna see my "guns"? hahahaha

I lied. Nolan and I pretty much fixed the ruts by driving the mower over them a LOT. He enjoyed it!

OMG Chele, is your back completely broken in two? That is a LOT of work done in only one day, or practically one afternoon. You go girl. There is no way in He!! that I could have done that. Even giving me a week, it wouldn't have gotten done. Girl you better watch your back because they don't give you another one.

I got my MRI results today, and it ain't good news. 3 buldging discs, and 2 that are ruptured. I have an appointment with a spine specialist on next Tuesday. I sure hope that they can do something that will get me out of pain, even if they can't fix anything. So seems unless there is a miracle waiting for me somewhere, it will be a light gardening year.

Renee, I was a little concerned he'd try to bill me for the tow truck. LOL Hey, I didn't tell him to drive there. I actually told hubby to tell him to dump part of the load first then see if it was POSSIBLE to drive there. He did actually apologize for the rut. I told him that didn't bother me and I was more upset that I'd have to move all the gravel by hand!!

In the end, I paid him and the gravel ended up where it should be. I might have lost a few pounds too. :P He told me his wife wants to put flowers all the way around the house and that he was coming back in May. I told him to find out what she wanted and give me a call so I could grow it for her.

All in all, it was a good day and I lived through it.

This is what I have to deal with as soon as I can get back out......the two greenhouses that will become one. :)

Chele...I'm in the process of ordering gravel for our driveway....how much was it a ton?? (psst...can I hire you and the girls to spread it out for me??) Jo

Edited because Bonnie and I cross posted///Bonnie have you tried acupuncture? I love my chripractor/acupuncturist...he has eased a lot of pain for me. Jo

This message was edited Mar 3, 2011 6:55 PM

I'm good Bonnie. I might be sore tomorrow when Bud and Ibu wear off. LOL As I was out there working today, I thought a lot about my Great Aunt. I wished she was here to tell me to take it easy. She's the only one that ever did and said exactly what you said. It didn't slow me down but it's always nice to know someone cares. So thank you. :)

I'm sorry to hear that your news is not better. I'm surprised you got info already! I'm pretty sure they can fix those but I'm also pretty sure it means surgery. :( You might ask Marcy or Howie what they had wrong with their backs. I know both had major spinal surgery and may be of some help and information for your particular situation. I wish I was closer because I really would help you. I love working outside no matter what the job. We've really got to get you fixed up!

Hey Jo!

I called two different places. The one is always high but I check anyways. They wanted $9.50/ton. The second place I called wanted $7.70/ton if you bought on credit/had an account or $7.45/ton if you paid check or cash. I wrote a check. LOL I'm between two quarries so I have no idea why the other is higher.

You can hire us but the shipping is going to be mighty expensive...

Jo, I have been going to a regular chiropractor, and he hasn't helped the pain at all. Of course, I didn't know what all was going on then either. My regular Dr gave me a round of steroids which did help with the pain.

I certainly will pick Marcy's and Howie's brains, and see just what their problem was, and maybe at least know if they had the same thing, and surgery helped them. I know surgery helped Marcy, and I didn't know Howie before he had his surgery, so don't have anything to compare with him.

I Knew Howie before and after...he did some amazing improvement...he had his done at Johns Hopkins.

Chele, I guess it would be rather difficult for you and the children to "ride your thumb all the way out here". Jo

Chele - holy cow! I bet you're one sore girl today, you poor girl!

I guess the good thing is that you got it done when it wasn't blazing hot outside and before all this rain started. Do you need us all to send you massive amounts of FlexAll and BenGay? Hugs to you!

Did you all think I died? LOL

Got up this morning and made a grocery list and sent hubby and Nolan. I busted outside and got part of the roof frame put together. Had to run in and clean out the fridges, carry in groceries, put those away, put Nolan to sleep then I went outside and worked on the roof frame some more. You get the gist....

The roof frame is completely done and the base and uprights are in position. Gotta get those screwed down and get the roof glazing on then the rest is quick and easy.

I'm only sore when I have to bend over, squat or move. LOL Hopefully the rain tomorrow is no worse than today so I can get finished. I'm hoping I have enough of the T pins. When I ordered the extension, I ordered two bags. The rep swore I only needed one. Well, 2/3 of the way through building the roof, I ran out. Now I have to pay have to get them sent over night which means they will be here Monday. It's more for the shipping than it would have been to buy the darn bag of T pins. I'm not happy. I told them they should better educate their employees. The big bag might be enough for a 12 foot greenhouse but it's not enough for a 24' foot one! I'm going to use the ones I salvaged from the tear down and hope there is enough! Hubby will be home tomorrow and morning and Sunday night so I'll have help setting the roof on.

Gonna eat!

Chele, Honey...I guess you better bring the gravel too...I called a couple of places and one was $17.00 perton....You Pick Up....the other was $18.50 and I am a wee bit out of the delivery area so an extra cost of $25.00 per load for gas expense.

Jo

I wonder where I can get a double axel dump truck that seats 8....

Man, that is high! Don't ya'll have rocks down there??

Chele, don't you know that all they have is sand? We have all the rocks!! Now that would be a sight, a double axle dump truck for 8, that would get some looks rolling down the interstate!!

Well, I spent the better part of the day on the couch, guess the damp weather did a number on my back. All I did was 1 load of laundry and cooked supper.

Crushed limestone here is around $300 per load. Gravel is almost unheard off. It is either black loam soil or limestone rock from quarries. (Yankee Stadium has Mankato Limestone on it's face.)
Must be nice to build a greenhouse now. Our area still has 3 feet of snow where are going to put it. (Plus a da**ed skunk running around there.)

Going to an auction tomorrow. See what I can get for near nothing. Don't really need anything, but you know how it goes.

Bernie

If someone can lend me a pontoon boat, I'll gladly finish my greenhouse roof today. LOL

Apparently there was lots of rock here years ago. Some of the old homes have rock foundations. I guess there was none here or someone else got it all. :P Every time I hear Mankato, I think of Little House on the Prairie! Have fun with that skunk Bernie. Gonna trap it?

I think I forgot to tell you that there was a dead mink on the road the day I got my gravel. Nolan was so excited the truck was coming that he wanted to see it. I told him after the truck came, we'd show him the dead animal. We've kept him out of the front window by telling him the 'fish eater' would bit him in the hiney if he was sitting in the window. So he was glad it was dead. hahaha Well, my neighbor came home, got out of his truck, looked at the mink, put it in his van and went on his way. Nolan was not happy....I just hope it was the mink that was eating my fish!!

Bonnie, I really hope you get some relief soon. Being with Craig all these years and seeing what his body does to him during weather changes, especially rain, I sure feel for you!

Boy, you sure need some specialized equipment. A gravel truck that seats eight & now a pontoon boat.
Save some of that water for August when it gets a tad dry!

Bernie

I'd be happy with just a tractor. :P

I've spent most of the day trying to get kerosene soot out of the channels in my polycarb. I'm about to give up. We did get out and get the base screwed down. It's rained all day and been cool but I'm still moving along. 60% chance of snow tomorrow. yay

Snowing here. BLECH

Excuse me, Winter? I'm over you, could you leave now? I don't love you, I've never loved you. But I tried to get along with you for the sake of my hostas. But you just can't be lived with anymore. I'm sure I will see you again, but let's make those encounters brief, shall we? I need to move on. I've had a few flirtations with Spring, and I must admit, I'm intrigued. Ok, maybe more than that.....

32 degrees and windy here! yuck!!! I wanta do out and play! Lou

There were snow flurries predicted for here today. I didn't see them, but I am not going to say they didn't happen. It is downright cold here, with a brisk wind blowing. My calendar says that spring begins in just 2 weeks!! Wonder if someone will tell Mother Nature? hehe.

If anybody is interested, that dratted daylight savings time begins next saturday night. Wonder how many people will fail to set their clocks, and arrive at church at the wrong time?

We got enough snow to turn things white but it all melted a little while ago.

I'm still cleaning soot from the greenhouse panels. What a PITA!

75 degrees here this afternoon....hehehe JO

I hope you fudge melted!

We had a bit of snow this afternoon, about an inch. They say another big storm Tuesday.

Guy on Ag Day this morning said, "Just think how bad the winter would have been without Global Warming." Something to think about!

Got a call a short time ago. another party ready to sign contract for cabinets. We are definitely going to need help soon!
Gardening will start here about April 5 or so.

Bernie

Some of the things ready in the Antique shop.

Bernie, I didn't know that you were opening an Antique Shop. Looks like a good start. I have depression glass, is that pink depression on the far end of the picture? I have a good collection, but not a whole set of Pink Mayfair, or Open Rose pattern. Been collecting it for years.

Have a goodly amount of Occupied Japan. Bought some from Chele several years ago.

Bernie, do you really need ANOTHER job? I'd think you pass yourself coming and going now. Beautiful pieces and shelves! Glad you have more work coming in.

I didn't hear a thing that Jo said. Didn't see a thing either!

I hope you are enjoying those pieces Bonnie. I was so glad you wanted them. They were living in a box here and that wasn't doing them justice.

Finally got all the panels for the top section of the roof clean. Hope to get those on tomorrow. Of course I have not looked at the weather. Once those are on, we can set the roof on the base and I can do the rest from the ground. I'm really irked that I'm so far behind. I had hoped to have it up the first of March. The new bag of T pins should be here tomorrow. Despite the set backs, it's getting there. I'll sleep like a rock tonight...soon actually!

I stared with this "Hobby" back in the 1980's. Did a lot of shows until they failed because of E-bay. Sold a couple things on E-bay. Stopped before I went broke doing that. I love auctions. That is where I bought most things. Also do estate sales. I go late on the last day & barter. Boy is that fun. One time I got 367 pieces of depression glass for $375.00.
My passion is Hand Painted Plates. I have way to many! Otherwise a nice general line. Anything old that I can make a buck on maybe.
The shop is about 1000 Sq Ft. Don't think it will be enough room for everything I have.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1152279/

You can follow along here.
Bernie

Lucky for you, you have the know how to expand that shop or put in more shelves or cabinets. LOL

I'll look at your link in a bit. I'm bustin' buns outside to get my roof put together...if my fingers will move. They are kind of ticked off at the moment. ;)

AWWW Shucks...here is the down side of living here backed up to BLM land that runs 3 miles on each side of the San
Pedro river...the Border Patrol is flying over head today and about 3 cars of them have gone past my house (which goes nowhere),,,this time of the year the illegals are on the move to PHOENIX. Jo

Hey Jo, send a half a dozen up here. We have lots of work for them.

I hope you have a lot of HOT SALSA....Jo

You guys are so bad! I do make salsa but I'd be happy to have help and learn some authentic recipes. :)

75% of the greenhouse is up. Thought I was going to have to wait on hubby to raise the roof but the girls actually helped me! Thank goodness I don't raise wimpy girls! All I have left to do is the lower roof and that should move quickly if I can get out there tomorrow.

Tomorrow is Nolan's 2nd birthday. So hard to believe! I'm trying to decide if I want to go get him some chicks tomorrow afternoon. He still goes on and on about his chickens being gone. :( Guess I better get my work done quickly so I can have Nolie day. LOL

Hey, if the kid loves chickens get him a chick or two. Surely they don't eat any more than a cat or a dog. Just don't spring for 65! LOL!

My first pet was Lucy the collie and the second pet was Princess the Jersey calf. From then on out every heifer that hit the ground was my own personal plaything. The chickens are pretty cheap entertainment in the long run and there's a lot for a kid to learn by having some farm animals. Maybe you need to get some meat goats and a milk goat or two. 5 acres would be about perfect.....

I'm not falling for that one twice! That is what we did last time. We wanted some silkies and some brown egg layers and some blue egg layers and a mix....60 something chickens later! I was thinking about maybe 6-enough to get a few eggs and make them worth taking care of and we still have the chicken tractors so we are good to go. I gave my big waterer away though. :( The smaller ones are easier to carry. LOL

We also have rabbits. We talked about getting some goats but never got around to affording the fences. The field is fenced on three sides, probably a few sections that need fixed. The problem is the kids wanted all the animals but got bored with them and the work when they weren't cute babies anymore.

Nolan is about to get his own little barn house (shed) and if I can figure out how to do it, he's getting a little petting zoo with it.

Oh, Chele, you are going to make him one happy little farm boy. He's got to have some bibbed overalls, and some 5 buckle overshoes, a John Deere cap. Then he is all set to go. I think when you start them out with animals, and insist on them actually doing the feeding, it instills responsibility, and they will be better for it.

I got all the tax stuff together today. Now DH can call the accountant and get an appointment to have it filed. If we didn't have the farm and rental property, I can do a simple tax return, but I really don't want to learn anymore than I know right now. I can just see all the relatives coming to me to get taxes filed for FREE. Nuhuh, not happening.