In The Trenches

This week's project (and last week's) has been focused on installing the sprinkler system.  Last week we had a skid steer with a trencher attached come dig all the trench lines.  That was a comedy of errors in itself, given crazy weather that included 75 MPH wind gusts, hail the size of quarters, and flash floods. At one point the poor tractor guy gave up on the day as he had been sitting in his truck, waiting for the lightening to pass.  Apparently Big Open Field + Metal Tractor + Lightning = Bad Idea.

The trenches were finally finished, but the flash floods that came the next day washed dirt/mud back into a lot of the trenches.  Plus there were some areas that were too tight to get the trencher where it needed to go.  Enter hand-trenching.  Lots and lots of it.  Actually, I worked so hard that I sprained my wrist - not from any one impact, but from digging over and over and over.  I've been on the injured list for the past three days, which just means even more digging for Brian and Biniam.

Good news is, the trenching is now about 96% done, and a lot of the pipe is already in the trenches.  Next is (and don't quote me on this) installing the sprinkler heads and a valve box or something.  Brian's goal is to have the water turned on by Saturday.  We will see!

This shows about one sixth of the yard, and the trenches only get closer together in the front yard.

Also, you can get a little sneak peek of some of our trees here.  The one closest to Brian is a Linden, then there is a Sycamore way in the distance near the playground, and even further out along the fence are seven Hackberries, which will provide wind-protection and privacy - bye bye blue trailer!

Looking straight out the back door, you can see that the blue house behind us is disappearing as all the foliage comes in.  And if you look really, really close, you can see our ten fruit trees planted along that fence.

Such a handsome, hard-worker!