A busy day today as our excavator, Stan, and crew returned to begin back-filling around the foundation. We’re lucky to have a ready supply of sand from a corner of our property that leads into an old sand/gravel pit—an area we’re ‘reclaiming’ into something that will more closely resemble its natural surroundings. Digging, hauling and backfilling is a lot of work, but they make it look easy and, for the most part, lots of fun running back and forth with their loaders; on the other hand, tamping the sand between loads to compact it one layer at a time, is a reminder of just how physical the work can be.

Simultaneously, Matt from STS Plumbing completed laying the drain-tile pipes that surround the cellar footings, allowing us to complete the backfill around the cellar; he also began the process of putting underground pipes in place that will support the water, sewer, and radon systems. And Jeff and Todd from Vilen Construction returned to complete their work on the Volclay waterproofing.

The icing on the cake for this day was retrieving a mammoth-sized limestone rock that Nancy’s had her eye on for the front step to the breezeway. Stan followed us down the highway to where the ditches were piled with rock out-croppings that had slid down the bluffs during the June rains—and again we were amazed by the power of his backhoe, as well as his artistry, as Stan carefully maneuvered into place, slowly working the stone out from around the surrounding rubble, then gently cradling it back to the building site. Now that’s using local materials!