The cookie jar
Pocket Creek Pastel - I might have shown this one earlier, but this
is a better photo of it
Another day with the builder and his crew here. I got up a little earlier than usual and made a batch of oatmeal raisin cookies and had coffee ready when they got here about nine. They came in and finished up every other thing that was on our list. Even painted three walls where there were very large paint touch up marks that were a slightly different shade than the wall in general. We could have lived with most of this stuff and could have called it minor. Howeve I can’t believe what a relief it is to have those mostly minor things taken care of. I didn’t realize how much it was bothering me to buy a new house and not have so many things properly done. Also was worried that he might be some kind of ogre/grouch and wouldn’t want to take care of most of it, and I would have to deal with him, but he was very nice and they did everything.
There are only a couple of things left that Joe is going to take care of and actually they are more major. It looks like the septic tank has settled somewhat since it was put in, low enough that snow melt water was covering the cleanout by quite a bit. Worrywort me I'm hoping the tank settling - if it did - won't affect the way it drains. Joe's been worried water was running into the tank, which wouldn't be good, but it probably wasn't. Dave the builder bought a lid and they did put that on - as it had no lid there at the above ground access - there is a lid further down on the tank itself. Joe will decide how to handle this depression and level out the yard there. Perhaps at the same time we might get some gravel hauled in for the back yard, and a bit of landscaping done.
Joe also has his plumber friend coming over and lined up a backhoe to dig the trench to put the waterline deeper - continuing it's 7' deep course - where it comes under the foundation and supplies water from the well to the house. The line should not have been raised out in the yard, but under the house after it comes in to the crawlspace. That is right where the water froze up last winter. That will be done in about a week. These two things are quite major and will be more expense. But it will be done right. The builder did a lot of things on this house like they do in California where he is from. Big mistake. That mentality is also what caused our furnace trouble.
They left about 3:30 after visiting with Joe. They were all impressed that he had been an outfitter etc etc. and they all are into hunting and outdoors things. They will take a sightseeing trip back to California. I went to the store after they left and got the car washed. It was awful with the mud, couldn't even see out the back window. Put away groceries and made us chicken fried steak for dinner.
I was pretty tired. But before I went to bed I called Beverly to thank her and Brent for the book of LDS scriptures and a microfiber bag to hold it they sent me for mother's day. It came by Fed Ex yesterday afternoon. It's a maroon leather bound book in large type (so I can read it) with King James Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price all in one volume. Very vey nice. Sounds like things are going pretty well there. She was doing her usual thing of trying to get Clayton to do his homework. And Brent had gone after work to help build a pavilion at one of the churches where they have an outdoor park for gatherings. He will do the roof.
