Moving 2 yards of Dirt - Celebrating Craig & Jeff

 

Congrats Craig & Jeff!

Slept in until almost 8am. Was happy to see that the weather forecast changed again and now there was only a slight chance of rain throughout the day as opposed to the 80% chance forecasted as recent as Thursday. There was some high fog in the area early on but otherwise clear sailing. The temperature was a balmy 72 degrees at 8am.

The day’s plans included me going after a yard of top soil following a run and breakfast. To that end, I enjoyed coffee and internet until about 915am and then headed out for a run. By then it was very was warm and humid. Ran the usual 3 miles.

Home near 10am, I hung out with Mindy for a while and took the pug on a walk. Near 1030am I prepared the Pilot for towing dad’s trailer. Doing so meant I had to remove the Thule bike rack and install the ball and hitch. Dad left a note on the trailer sharing that he’d filled the tires with air, something that’s bit me in the ass once before. I was there and gone in less than 5 minutes.

Pulled in Ohio Mulch off Roberts Rd. near 11am where I purchased a cu. Yard of top soil. Handed my receipt to the guy operation the Bobcat loader. He motioned to the covered stall at the far back of their premise. The top soil was very pungent. Smelt nearly as strong as the mulch. In fact, the composition of the top soil was more like their leaf compost, a mixture of soil, compost and sand. You just never what you’re going to get when buying topsoil in Columbus. This stuff would be ideal for rebuilding a flower bed, not necessarily as backfill. The amount seemed far more than what I might need, but it definitely wouldn’t go to waste. I’d find use for whatever remained after the project’s completion.

At home, I somewhat hurriedly made and woofed down a sandwich before heading out in the hot sun to moved dirt. Mindy asked if I needed any help. No, not really. Soon I was ready to get busy moving the dirt. To move it efficiently, I fetched my tractor and trailer from the shed and employed the wide coal shovel for loading and dumping. I started dumping at the walks furthest reach, at the deck stairs. I unload 4 or 5 trailer loads before bothering to tamp and compress. I was extra careful with the heavy tamper not to clip the walk’s edge. The incessant tamping left me dripping with excessively warm and dripping in sweat. The temps neared 90 with 70% humidity. Ugh!

At one point I asked Mindy if she’d fetch me some ice cold water. Ahhh! Mindy left to run a few errands sometime between 12noon and 1pm. By then it was clear to me that not only would there be no leftover topsoil, but I’d almost certainly need to go after another load. The last thing I wanted to do was a subpar job and have the topline of the soil to low against the walk. Not only would that produce a safety hazard (think twisted ankle) but also aesthetically unpleasing. I prefer to leave and edge slight above the walk.

With the first yard fully dumped, I managed to create a rough backfill and feathered edge against the entire new walk, still required more to make it look ideal. After a brief break to cool off, I headed back to Ohio Mulch for load number two. There and back in less than 30 minutes. After rehydrating it was back to work. This time I started out front, backfilling and feathering it in along the driveway giving it a finished look. That was tedious but rewarding.

Next, I dumped several loads along the service walk around to the deck to bring the edge up higher as well as keeping it feathered into the existing lawn. Before adding too much more I decided to run the irrigation zone in that narrow area – all pop-ups to make sure I hadn’t buried any of the little heads. Nope. Looked good. And while it was running, I took the opportunity to flag each head just in case I’d need to raise one or two later. Once again, the tamping and compressing was the most exhaustive process. By then I was drenched head to toe in gelatinous sweat. And I suppose it due to the pungent odor of the top soil, it attracted flies that were biting my sweaty back and driving me nuts.
A couple of times the bites were so painful that I actually shouted ouch! Mindy was home and came out to slather my back in Ava Anderson bug repellent and once again top off my ice water. The Ava Anderson didn’t work worth a damn. They continued biting me right through it. In fact, I’m pretty sure that I heard one of them thank me for adding the flavor.  I finished my work around 4pm very satisfied with the look. I had one Deere trailer load of top soil leftover. I cleaned out dad’s trailer then parked the Deere trailer full of top soil in the middle back yard just in case I needed a little more to add here and there before seeding on Sunday.

I headed in for a much needed shower ahead of Craig & Jeff’s wedding reception in Powell. The reception was set to begin I think at 600pm and we agreed to pick-up nephew Joe & Rick on the way. I suggested we also drop off dad’s trailer and then stop in at the Powell Aspen Ski & Board to pick-up the kids snow boards on the way.

After a shower, I packed a cooler with some good beers just in case I didn’t care for the standard fare at the reception. Hey, it’s tough being a beer snob. Left near 500pm, dropping the trailer off at dad’s. He came out to greet us, having just headed in himself to cool off a little. It was some of our hottest weather of the summer to be sure. While there, Mindy confirmed that he was still planning to spend the later portion of the evening at our house tending to Jacob, who would be home alone while we were at the reception. Bella was spending the night with Makayla, who was having a combined birthday party with sister, Lillian. Yep, heading over around dark, or 9pm.

We stopped for gas just before getting on the freeway. Arrived at Rick & Joe’s near 520pm. While there we picked up the two black camp chairs we left when we were there for Joe’s b-day party back the last week of June. Next stop, ASBCO. Made good time heading further up I-71N to Polaris/Gemini exit. Buddy Scott met me at the door of ASBCO. Jokingly told me they were closed. Huh? Joe and Rick came in with us. Joe has a buddy from the Rusty Bucket that also works at ASBCO. He visited with his friend while we picked up our boards. Took a little bit, and while waiting we chatted with Scott. Didn’t get to talk with him at all at the big sale a couple weeks back. I asked how the April Bachelor ski trip went. Shared that it was amazing.

Both boards look awesome. The kids will love them. Now 550pm, we headed further east on Powell Rd for Old State Rd where we headed north until we intersected Orange Rd. The reception was being held at one of Craig & Jeff’s friends’ homes in a subdivision located on the eastside of Alum Creek State Park between Cheshire Rd and the damn, but closer to Cheshire Rd. We were briefly uncertain of our next turn once we were on Bale Kenyon Rd. but quickly recovered after Rick wisely programmed our destination into his GPS. Arrived at 605pm.

I opted to leave the cooler in the Pilot thinking I would come for it if the need arose. I took my camera backpack along (70D and S120). Nice house. Most homes in that area go for about 500K. The reception was for the most part, and outdoor event. The host had an incredible outdoor living area for such an event which thankfully offered plenty of shade and plenty of amenities. Though a little warm, the weather was very cooperative – clear skies and little threat of rain.

As advertised, the reception was somewhat low key, but definitely not low budget. Top shelf liquor and quality food, and as I understand it, all of it prepared by the host, who would give City Barbeque and even Barley’s a run for their money when it comes to their smoked brisket. Instead of beer, I decided to go with whisky and Coke (Crown & Coke), though I did have one rum and Coke to start. Before dinner was served, and like many others, I was sporting a pretty good buzz. But since Mindy was putting away the Crown & Coke’s too, I knew I’d better stop and resort to drinking water.

As darkness set in, the DJ and dance floor became center stage. And as I expected, the dance floor was overtaken by the Thompson clan. Me, I took dozens of photos with the 70D. Opted for auto program mode, that way I wouldn’t have to over think settings for the varied lighting.

By all accounts, a very nice time had by all. We ended up there until 11pm or so. I was a little concerned that dad was at our house with Jacob. We offered to host an after party. And initially Lindey and Josh and Rick & Joe were coming over. Josh was stopping home to pick-up his guitar first. We planned to jam!
Last minute, Rick & Joe opted out, and instead asked that we drop them at home since they needed to be up early Sunday AM. Probably a wise call. By the time we dropped them home it was nearing midnight. Truth be told, I was sleepy. Wasn’t sure how long I might last at home.

Sure enough, Josh & Lindey were already at our house when we finally pulled up. Josh shared that dad bolted as soon as he confirmed we were on our way. Mindy had been drinking whisky since 7pm or so. Needless to say, she was sporting one heck of a buzz. When she headed upstairs to change out of her dress, I half expected she wouldn’t return.

Mindy finally returned downstairs in her robe. Oh boy! Josh doesn’t care for IPA, but that’s about all I had. He tried one but complained that it tasted like grass.  He opted instead for Jack Daniels, straight up. Soon niece Lindey took to the sofa while Josh and I played guitars. Josh is pretty daggone good (he’d be real good if he took the time to play more often). He taught me a few cool riffs and a few new chords. We had a pretty cool thing going for a while. And at one point we had Mindy keeping beat on the drum box too. Had a blast! Mindy headed to bed I’m guessing around 2am. Josh and I kept at it beyond 3am. By then Lindey was awake and asserted to be sober, and by all accounts she was. She hadn’t had any alcohol for several hours. She drove the two of them home.

Once the two of them were gone, I took a few minutes to pick-up the kitchen both from us and also dad and Jacob then headed for bed myself. By then it was nearing 4am!!!