Leap Taken. Breaking Ground. First Obstacle. UPDATED at end.

Photo copyright Aji, 2016; all rights reserved.

This is the "before" shot. The last time this plot of land will ever look like this. Two hours later, and it's already forever altered.

Photo copyright Aji, 2016; all rights reserved.

Just after 8 AM: the new load of fill. The plumbers showed up around 8:30 with their backhoe/bucket loader, and as of this moment, the new fill is already spread and graded. 

Then they broke literal ground . . . and we hit our first obstacle.

Photo copyright Aji, 2016; all rights reserved.

You see that? That's the old rotted sewer pipe from the old manufactured home that we used to have [although "have" is obviously an overstatement]. It was not buried five feet down, below the frost line. It wasn't even three feet down. Which brings me to our obstacle:

The septic tank that was put in originally? Not even three feet down, either. And no grade between the pipes and it, or it and the leach field. And so, we are going to have to replace it, and relocate it entirely in the process.  $7 grand. Fortunately, that can be done nearer to the end, but still . . . .

Photo copyright Aji, 2016; all rights reserved.

For now, though, we have new fill. The beginnings of the pad.

And sewer pipe:

Photo copyright Aji, 2016; all rights reserved.

And more fill:

Photo copyright Aji, 2016; all rights reserved.

And batter boards:

Photo copyright Aji, 2016; all rights reserved.

Still. Today is extraordinarily costly; it's putting a huge hit in what we've raised and saved so far. We're going to need to raise and save a great deal more than this, and soon. I don't even know whether it's best to raise the goal on this one, or set up a new one as soon as this one is funded. So please, share the link to our YouCaring page. Please use the page's own widgets, and spread it around everywhere. And if you're able to kick in a small amount, we're grateful for that, too. You can also let people know that if they don't like YouCaring's payment method, they can use PayPal here, or snail mail at the address here. If they prefer, they can help us defray regular expenses by purchasing something off our Amazon wish list. And most of all, what is always our first preference: Folks can buy top-quality Native silverwork and other art here. [Speaking of which, later today, I'll have Wings's latest for you at his site.]


UPDATE:  This is all going much faster than we ever could have anticipated. The plumbers are finished with the initial work today; they'll be back tomorrow to finish off this stage. Meanwhile, they're beginning frame work in the next couple of days, AND we're already at the stage where we need to order bathroom fixtures and appliances. We're slated to go do that tomorrow, so I would really, really like to try to close out this stage of the fundraiser over the next few days. Yes, I know that's about seven grand, and that's a hell of a lot. It's a hundred people giving $70 apiece. More realistically, it's 200 people giving #35 apiece. Can you help us get it in front of another 200 people?  Thanks from both of us.  



All content, including photos and text, are copyright Aji, 2016; all rights reserved. Nothing herein may used or reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the owner.