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Today we backfilled the sewer line, mixed concrete and poured it over the dirt and gravel backfill. Below, are the
That was the first step - putting some of the dirt and gravel we'd dug out back in the hole to cover the pipe and protect it from the concrete.
Second step, mixing the concrete. This is back-breaking, dirty, sweaty work. On top of that, breathing concrete dust is not pleasant. I mixed two bags while MrBug took a much-needed rest; he did the other six and a half necessary to fill the hole.
This is MrBug making a "concrete smoothie".
If you look closely in the photo, above, you can see the towel MrBug used to stuff in the gap between the floor and the wall, last night. We left it in there until the last bag of concrete was poured into the hole and then MrBug pulled it out and troweled concrete into the gap. All I could imagine was a mischief of mice, gathered back there, lamenting the loss of their thoroughfare as the trowel slowly but surely blocked off their passage.
MrBug explained to me how the foundation/block walls were built in old houses like these but I can't remember, exactly, how it works. All I know is he said there's room (about 2" worth, I think) for mice to scuttle along behind the block wall and, now, a mound of concrete is pushed back in there and blocking their path. Makes me all the happier to own a cat! Thankfully, in all the years we've lived here, I've never seen a mouse inside our home until last night.
After getting cleaned up late this afternoon, MrBug took Savagefuzzball out to an empty parking lot and began teaching her the fundamentals of driving. She's taking driver's ed at school, this semester, and will be behind the wheel in about a month. Rather than send her to the teacher with no clue, whatsoever, we thought it would help if she had a feel for what's what (and where). They just came back a bit ago and MrBug gave our baby a glowing report. She picked up very quickly. :)
By this time tomorrow, I should be gainfully employed. I'm excited and apprehensive, all at once; it's been years since I was in the work force. The nice thing is the hours are flexible and I don't have to dress up. My kind of work!
That was the first step - putting some of the dirt and gravel we'd dug out back in the hole to cover the pipe and protect it from the concrete.
Second step, mixing the concrete. This is back-breaking, dirty, sweaty work. On top of that, breathing concrete dust is not pleasant. I mixed two bags while MrBug took a much-needed rest; he did the other six and a half necessary to fill the hole.
This is MrBug making a "concrete smoothie".
If you look closely in the photo, above, you can see the towel MrBug used to stuff in the gap between the floor and the wall, last night. We left it in there until the last bag of concrete was poured into the hole and then MrBug pulled it out and troweled concrete into the gap. All I could imagine was a mischief of mice, gathered back there, lamenting the loss of their thoroughfare as the trowel slowly but surely blocked off their passage.
MrBug explained to me how the foundation/block walls were built in old houses like these but I can't remember, exactly, how it works. All I know is he said there's room (about 2" worth, I think) for mice to scuttle along behind the block wall and, now, a mound of concrete is pushed back in there and blocking their path. Makes me all the happier to own a cat! Thankfully, in all the years we've lived here, I've never seen a mouse inside our home until last night.
After getting cleaned up late this afternoon, MrBug took Savagefuzzball out to an empty parking lot and began teaching her the fundamentals of driving. She's taking driver's ed at school, this semester, and will be behind the wheel in about a month. Rather than send her to the teacher with no clue, whatsoever, we thought it would help if she had a feel for what's what (and where). They just came back a bit ago and MrBug gave our baby a glowing report. She picked up very quickly. :)
By this time tomorrow, I should be gainfully employed. I'm excited and apprehensive, all at once; it's been years since I was in the work force. The nice thing is the hours are flexible and I don't have to dress up. My kind of work!
