Rocks. Lots of them.

I got the rocks I needed for the drainage delivered.  Gravel has gotten expensive; crushed stone is now over 25 dollars a ton.  When I built my driveway a couple years ago, it was less than 10.  

 

I also picked up the stuff for the drainage.  Without thinking I took the CR-V since it is my daily driver.  The pipe fit, barely.

 

Some interesting views while I was out picking up the pipe. 

 

I have finally given up on Factor.  I have gotten 6 boxes now, and all 6 have been screwed up.

1. The first Fedex did not honor the “this side up” and put mine on its side, causing things to roll around and sections in the tray to mingle that weren’t supposed to.  This is because they don’t seal the compartments in the trays they use, only the outside.
2. The first shipment had one torn ice pack, the second they all exploded. Everything inside the box was completely covered in the gel goo.  I had to wash each tray before putting it in the fridge.
3. The third shipment Fedex simply forgot to put it on a truck and thus it arrived a day late and since both days were 90+, most of the food was not salvageable.
4. The fourth shipment also arrived a day late.  Thankfully this one wasn’t spoiled.
5. The fifth shipment arrived on time.  And every meal that had broccoli in it, the broccoli was brown and tasted really bad.
6. The sixth shipment was also a day late. This time according to the tracking, Fedex never got the package until Wednesday.

I briefly looked at alternatives, and I think I might try Clean Eatz. They freeze everything and don't depend on overnight shipping. Their website isn't as friendly or polished as Factors, but they are also a lot cheaper (Factor is one of the most expensive ones). They don't have a lot of the specialty stuff Factor had (no keto menu for example), but they also aren't a subscription which is nice, you buy them as you need them, as opposed to Factor where I have a bunch in the freezer because I am on the 8 meal plan but only need 7, or maybe 5 if I go away for a weekend. I was intending on using the surplus meals when I traveled, but with Clean Eatz, I just buy a bulk box before I leave and I am good to go. 

 

That said, my little freezer is full of meals, so I don't need to make a decision right away.  

 

Dad came up for a few days to pick up the excavator and spend a few days up north.  I gave him a toy to play with.  

 

I finally had enough of everything to finish laying the pipe. 

 

With dad on the the tractor now able to help though, filling in the trench was a cake walk though, no 5 gallons at a time, it was a loader bucket at a time, and I could spread while he was fetching the next one.  The drainage came together quickly.  I still need to decide how to deal with the downspout, but that is a problem for future Allen.

 

The catch pan thing I bought was a failure.  That far up, the trench was not deep enough for it.

 

The weed whacker Dad brought up was having some minor carb issues, so I also tried my new el cheapo.  It worked better than expected on the knotweed.  It seems ridiculous to put a circular saw blade on a cheapo weed whacker, but it worked good.

 

Dad didn't like how dirty my windows were, so he decided to wash them.  This was only the second time they have been washed, so they really did need it.  The first time was when I peeled the factory stickers off.

 

We also tried the cheese I smoked.  It was ready.  The mozzarella needed a little more time, but had lots of potential.  The Monterey Jack was my favorite.  The cheddar surprisingly was third, but I think it would have been better with Hickory instead of Applewood.  The pepperoni was a nice tease, it smelled smoky, and the skin had a nice smoky flavor, but none of the meat inside got any smoke, presumably because of the skin.  Next time I will have to put slits in it or something.   

 

Early Saturday my water filter was set to backflush, which was a good test for the drainage.  For those with good memories, one of the main drivers for me to do add it to the laundry drain was because of how badly it flooded the back yard.  It wasn't nearly as wet this time (technically we are in a drought, though my lot is not brown, only the sandy areas in Keene), but outside of some splashing on the pipe, the drain performed admirably.  

 

It took a while for the water to reach the far end of the pipe, so the perf pipe is perf'ing (no, that isn't a word).  

 

Dad also brought up his big saw and went to cut the large chunks of pine in the front up into discs so I can more easily use it for fill.  

 

Strangely, each morning the saw started fine and ran good, but the first time he shut it off for sharpening or fuel or whatever, it wouldn't restart.

 

Dad brought up a lawn tractor for me to play with.  My Troy Bilt is on its last legs and runs like poo, and Jay had a spare one he wanted out of his garage.  It is an antique Craftsman GT (from before they used numbers).  With its large 50" deck and beefiness, it mowed the front in under an hour.  At least until I hit a log and broke a wire for the PTO.  Saturday we jacked it up and pulled off the PTO, and noticed that the wires were no longer attached.  Oops, my bad.  At least it is an easy fix.  

 

Saturday was a bit slower, after running harder the prior couple of days working on the drainage and other stuff.  We loaded up the excavator.  It is off for its next adventure in KY.  I don't have any more projects this year that require it.  

 

Dad took off for KY on Sunday.  I didn't do much after he left.  I took my bike out on the rail trail for the first time in a loooong time.  Then I napped.  The only real progress I did was doing the final grading on the back yard.  I did do a little more planning on my fall trip too.

 

I am working remote today, so when I get into the office tomorrow, I will see if I can find a connector for the PTO for the tractor.  Worst case, I will just put spade connectors on it.  Today is shopping day though, so it won't be until tomorrow that I get to work on that.  I want to put that mower to work.  I am going to try to mow the knotweed with it so I don't have to use a weed whacker for it.  Plus there is the far back yard, which has not yet been mowed this year that it should have fun with.  It mows nicer and faster than my Troy Bilt, so I am not expecting any issues.

 

Next up I need to figure out what project is next for the year, though my project time is dwindling.  I am headed to a baby shower this coming weekend, and out to Aunts and Uncles probably the weekend after to help Uncle get his trailer moved out and get the area cleaned up.  Plus my big trip this fall, and I wanted to take the CR-V out before that.