Trench work 101

Okay, this was a failure.  But still a good learning experience.  We learned that some trenchers are just not what they are stacked up to be.  In this case I rented a ProTrac Trencher and drug our friend Tomas along for the muscle.  We started off innocently enough getting the ProTrac unloaded from the trailer and testing out the shovel blade before rigging up the trencher blade.  We should have guessed at this point that this day was not going to turn out as planned.  The shovel didn't have enough power to move any of the debris from earlier burnings or wood heaps.  Nor did it have enough to even work on leveling any ground or filling any low spots.   Nevertheless, we figured it'd be fine with the trenching chore, since that was primarily what we needed it for.

After struggling for a bit with the hydraulic hoses Tomas finally got them connected and we were on our way.   We headed over to the area where I needed the trenching.  The work started out well enough, but soon we found that things were moving a bit too slow.  It had taken roughly 45 minutes to dig a trench only 5' long.  Worse, the trench was only 24" deep, instead of the required 36".

4-15-08 Clearing on Tranquil Moon

There was really a lot of progress made on the clearing at Tranquil Moon this weekend.  Cara and I walked the path on Sunday to evaluate the area and to make plans for the next phase - the electric service, well, and move-in.  All is looking great and according to plan with some exceptions. 

A visit to VEC - the electric company - brought an incredible revelation that I was not aware of.  After getting the invoice for new service at Tranquil Moon - a total of about $1500 - I was a bit taken aback and wanted to know just what we were having to pay for.  My initial understanding was this was going to be about $600.  So when I saw a $900 increase I was very concerned.  As noted earlier, our plans had originally been to put in a pole roughly 15' away from the primary pole (the orange stake in the photo).   On this we would have our meter and circuit breaker panel.  Turns out part of the high cost of the installation was related to the contract cost of installing the transformer - $700.  A suggestion someone else gave me was to see about an underground installation from the primary pole to our service.  Now here's the WOW - they will provide up to 150' of cable free of charge to run from the primary pole to my panel AND the installation of the transformer is no longer considered a part of a new installation so therefore a contractor will not have to put it in - the cost is $0.  That's right $0!!!!  I said, DUH, you think???   So I quickly re-evaluated my plans and went with an underground installation.  The new panel will be on the toward the bottom left of this photo with the RV located to the right.  This weekend I'll rent a trencher at $175/day and put in a 36" trench for 150' to the property area.  The thing I like about this is it puts the electric service right up to our living area instead of being on the road.

Soon . . . Very soon . . .

Soon . . .very soon . . . we will be moved.  It's becoming very, very real to me now.  I can begin to visualize where this is going to be and where that will become a flower bed or garden.

 

It cannot happen too quickly to suit me!   Yesterday was one of the most fabulous days I've had recently. . . no thoughts of school, just buried up to my knees in Mother Earth!  The skid-steer and I were like one, not ripping and tearing down trees and vegetation, but cutting and styling the Mother's hair.  As wild vegetation was pulled down, there stood the magnificent old oak trees just waiting to be unveiled and brought into the sunshine. There were the soothing little meditation corners that had been unseen before the door was opened. 

I want to preserve some of the wildness because it, too, is beautiful in its own way.  The deer and creatures find the wild corners more suitable for their living, so they will have purpose and beauty also.  I look forward to sitting on the deck with my morning coffee and watching the creatures come through my world.  I plan to plant food for deer, butterflies, and birds.

The weather the goddess gave us was simply perfect!  About mid-70's, mild breeze, and lots of sunshine. 

Too breezy for burning the vegetation so it can go back to the earth and add nutrients for what is to come, but that will be another weekend.  I have my "Fire Wagon" ready to go with 300 gallons of water, a 5.5  horsepower pump, 50' of fire hose, and a fire nozzle for full stream or fog, or anywhere in between.  Jay will try to take care of a trailer this week, so we can keep the Fire Wagon dedicated to being ready for brush burning or any emergencies on the property.  My old skills are still of value . . . how long ago was it that I actually handled a fire hose? 

We've met Tony who owns the 7 acres adjacent to our little spread.  He might be ready to sell, but no one is in any hurry.  I'm afraid it's going to be over priced, but . . . He told me his property taxes were $700/year and his payments $560/month, but I think his improvements are worth more in his head than they are to the bank.  Time will tell; the goddess controls and what is supposed to be, will be.

I enjoyed working with Tomas.  I hadn't had a lot of close contact with him before, but he's really skillful with machinery and techniques for using it.  He seemed impressed by my rookie skills and showed me pointers which really helped my efficiency.  I'm glad Jay has such a friend.

Pedro, the neighbor to the other side, moved into Cuero because he bought another house and could put his painting business there.  But, due to his mother-in-law coming to live with them, he gave her that house and is now moving back next door.  Whew!  I will be working almost immediately on some "privacy fencing" between our properties.  Long term I will plant Chinese Elm hedges that grow about 40' high, but short term it will be bamboo fencing and timber.

Unfortunately, as wonderful as yesterday was, school beckons today,so I'm off for grading.  I won't be upset if I'm not asked to teach this summer . . . if Jay's good earnings continues, I'd like to be home playing in the dirt!  What will be, will be . . . 

More clearings

We asked a friend of ours for some help on the next clearing projects .  Tomas is a strong 29 year old young man with lots of stamina and perfect for doing an incredible amount of work.  Together with my wonderful wife, Cara, who has

no fear of machinery we managed to clear out a ton of back woods to prepare for the RV.  I had my doubts about my wife running the skid steer - and not because I didn't think she could do it, but because of the struggle of managing the machine - but after a few minutes we were rating her as a strong candidate for lead operator.  She really did marvelous.  Tomas, however, was indispensable for clearing out the live trees that blocked our progress in the clearing zone.  Between the two of them they really championed the clearing all the way.  All of the current pictures can be viewed by going to our Picasa Web Photo Album.

New Tranquil Moon Clearings

Hadn't been out in so long I'd almost lost site of the work that needed to be done. 

I started the other day by clearing the area around the electric pole that will eventually provide our electric service.  As it started out, the orange stake marked the spot where we would put the pole we were to drop.  I had to clear the entire area around it and the primary pole.   The shots here don't really show the area before the clearing, but it's pretty close.  As you can see from the brush I cleared out, there was a lot moved from around the pole when I finished.