My anonymous farmer buddy came by today with his backhoe and did a little digging for me. It was great to see him with that tool! I watched him work and realized just how impossible the tasks I had him doing would have been for me to do with a shovel or something.
He started out right in the back, digging a test hole for a septic system replacement. That started caving in just as soon as he finished it, and by the time I last saw it before coming in for the evening, it was in pretty bad shape. I think I may need him over to re open the bottom of the hole when the inspector comes.
Next thing he dug was an short aspen stump from a tree that died and I had to cut down several months ago. I crisscrossed the top with the chainsaw so it would catch water, and it definitely began to soften up quite a bit, but it was nowhere near the damage Mr. Farmer did with his backhoe! He soon had it torn out of the ground, and I was free of that old mower hazard!
Lastly, Mr. Farmer took out the big stump from the blue spruce tree that we had removed several years ago. It had come loose in a windstorm, and the ground around the base showed cracks, so we had it cut down as it was twice as high as our two story house, and too close to risk a fall! That old stump was pretty rotten, but even with all the force of the backhoe, it would not come easily! Mr. Farmer finally dug around it and broke up some roots before pulling it out.
I have cleaned up most of the debris, and levelled out the yard for the most part where the stumps were. I need a bit more soil from the hole in the back, and I ought to be able to make the yard relatively scar free. Before long, the grass ought to grow back, but hopefully, we won’t be here to see it! Only time will tell. But at least those are a couple of jobs done so that we will have a better looking house to put on the market when the time comes.
I tried to lift the propane tank with the high-lift jack today, and as it turned out, it was easy! I think I will be able to get it up on cement blocks when they are delivered. I sent a message asking for them today. I don’t see this being too big of a problem. When it is done, I will ask for a refill on the tank, then see where our account sits with the propane company.
Next up, I ought to get the downstairs furnace fixed, and running. That should also be a plus for selling the house. We have been heating the downstairs with the wood stove for so long, I cannot even image what it would be like to have that old furnace up and running. I don’t want to heat with the furnace. It is expensive as can be. BUt I need to have it running in case we do actually sell and move.
So that is a bit of an update for today. Tomorrow it is eye exams, the county health inspector, and maybe Mr. Farmer by. I get to have lunch out with my daughters, so that will be a wonderful day for me!