6.6.2014

We got our water quality testing back and we were thrilled with the results.  Remember that this test was just after we installed the pump and brought water up.  The well had been dug almost a year ago and had sat stagnant since then.  And the sample was going through a garden hose.  So all that considered, there were no nitrates (something we had a slight issue with in Ohio because of all the farms that had once been there and fertilizer runoff), nothing bad noted at all - everything was well within specs.  It was just barely at the moderately hard level.  So all good news.  We'll have it tested again at different points but it was a great first test!

Today was our next concrete pour for the meter pedestal.  First, Jim had to run out to the barn again.  I don't know how he keeps track of things or knows where all his tools are, but he does.  Then he had to build a kind of complicated form for this pour.

So working out of the back of the truck, he got busy getting the form made in addition to getting everything ready for pouring concrete.

He covered the inside of the forms in plastic to make a nicer finish on the outside (even though it will be eventually covered in brick).

Assembling time!

The form was heavy and needed to go down over our 3 pieces of rebar set in the base - so we put it in the bucket of the Bobcat and Jim brought it over to the base.

 

And then he stood in the bucket and lifted it up and over the rebar.

 

Then he got it all leveled and made all kinds of bracing to make sure it held when we put concrete in.

 

Then it was back to making concrete in the Pumpkin!  This job took 6 bags of concrete to finish.

This was a harder pour for me - that shovel of concrete is heavy and you have to lift it up and into the form.

 

But Jim makes it look very easy.

 

Vibrating the concrete again.

Finishing touches...

and it's all done!

When we built the house in Ohio, it was tradition to "sign" each concrete pour.  We had to continue the tradition!