It will be a Theragesic night tonight

[Clipper]

I spent half the day today dragging my fat body around 20 feet on my belly and back in a crawl space 28" tall. It was interesting. Crawling like and infantry man dragging a 20 ton bottle jack, a cinderblock, and several pieces of treated 1x8 and 2x8 treated lumber.

In preparation for the new flooring in the bathroom and kitchen I wanted to insure that the floors were level and solid. It involved jacking and shoring a floor joist under the corner of the kitchen almost 3 inches inches to get the floor level and shim an adjacent block column about an inch or so. I wanted to get the floor level before we put down the floor rather than take a chance of having the flooring or sheetrock on the wall crack or buckle if I jacked it up after the new floor is installed.

I had called a company called "Home Pros" and they gave me an estimate of $1780 that included a day's labor for two men plus materials. THAT was not going to happen. I would crawl on my belly from here to Knoxville before I would pay two guys with a bottle jack, a couple of cinderblocks and some scrap treated lumber $1780.

[BHU]

Geez, I hope you got it done & the aches & pains aren't too bad. I don't envy you for that job.

[Clipper]

We got it done. Back and shoulders are sore. _ Kathy just rubbed me all up with Biofreeze on my neck, shoulders, and lower back. I guess I am just getting too old for this crap, lol. Got the job done so we can call and have the floor people come in and do the bathroom tile and laminate in the kitchen, followed by the plumber to install the vanity and hook up the new bathroom sink.

Insurance company texted me and said that they had received the report from the adjuster and would be issuing a check within 5 to 7 days.

It will be great to get back to normal and not be brushing our teeth, washing up in the kitchen sink, and having stuff piled in the bedrooms and corner of the living room that came from t he floor in the bathroom closets and out of the cabinet and drawers in the old vanity.

It is a big relief to have the jacking up and leveling project behind me. I knew it was going to be difficult crawling around in the crawl space and trying to move materials and operate the jack while laying on my belly and side in the cramped space.

[Clipper]

Wow. I was still stiff and sore when I got up this morning. I have to go bowling at 1 o'clock. Then I will REALLY be stiff and sore, LOL.

Waiting for the plumber to call back to schedule the work in the bathroom. Time to get the ball rolling.

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

I had to look up Theragesic hope it works. It might be easier to just jack up the house and pour concrete under the house to create a slab then lower the house back down.

[Clipper]

The house is 100* yrs old. I don't think it could take a complete jacking of the whole house. It is a pretty solid old house. The floor only sagged because we installed a 55 gallon hot water heater. over 400 lbs of water plus the weight of the tank. The piers in the crawl space sit on compacted clay soil and have never settled. The only reason this one settled was because some of the flood dripped down on that area. I had a box fan blowing in there ever since the flood and the ground was as dry as a bone and hard as a rock again. The added pier will make that portion of the house more solid than the rest of it and the rest of the house has survived for many years without settling. You have to see and feel how hard the compacted clay can be. I have tried to rototill for a flower bed on occasion and the tiller just bounces on top of the ground. I have to start it with a pick and shovel and make a hole for the tiller to start in then slowly bounce and chew away at it. The garden plot was always a tobacco plot in years gone by. That was fertile and ready to till up and plant when we moved here. Over the years I have had to supplement the soil with leaf mulch, sand and bagged topsoil to KEEP it loose and workable. Clay soil is nasty stuff to work with.

(Note: I insured that I will not be tempted to plant a garden again this spring. I gave a friend all of the tomato stakes and cages the other day The only thing I am planting this year is cucumbers for Kathy's pickles and I am tilling only a foot or so wide and 8 feet long so they can grow on a trellis I made last year.)

[BHU]

Well, you saved a good buck doing it yourself plus the satisfaction of DIY.

I'm not sure about doing a garden this year. If anthing I may simply do a few plantings in containers like I did a couple years ago. We shall see, but I'm leaning towards containers.

[Clipper]

I bowled but was sore. Now I am even more sore. We went out to dinner with friends and when I got up after sitting for an extended period I could hardly ambulate. Home now, in my chair and smelling like Theragesic. again.

[Clipper]

Mar 5, 2024 16:43:27 GMT -5 BHU said:

Well, you saved a good buck doing it yourself plus the satisfaction of DIY.

I'm not sure about doing a garden this year. If anything I may simply do a few plantings in containers like I did a couple years ago. We shall see, but I'm leaning towards containers.

The containers or a raised bed are the way to go. There is less chance of weeds taking it over and least if you do have to weed a little bit you won't have to kneel or stay bent over for an extended period to do it.

I told Kathy that at least the cucumbers don't take a lot of space when planted to climb the trellis. We didn't have much luck with the peppers growing in buckets last year so I told Kathy we will buy a case of bell peppers when they come in season so that we can cut up and freeze enough to use in cooking. We bought a case last year and still have a few packages left. The same goes for tomatoes. We have a great produce market a couple of miles up the road and their prices are quite reasonable. Kathy is no longer able to endure that time consuming, and tedious canning that she did for years. If she decides to make her aunt's chili sauce and can it, we won't have tomatoes ripening on all the kitchen window sills and on the picnic table in anticipation of the event.

Gardening used to be fun and relaxing. To be quite blunt, I have just lost interest and the last few years it has just been a tedious and time consuming task. As I have aged the last few years taking care of the lawn and flowers fulfills all the desire to work outdoors. Taking care of the vegetable garden became overwhelming and I had to hire the lad next door to do some hands and knees weeding for me. It was so darned hot here last summer that I limited my time out in the sun.

Just one more example of "welcome to the golden years."

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

We have several container gardens. They are all waste high and each one is 7 feet long and 2 feet wide. Those things are a blessing to us older folk since now no more bending over or kneeling to pick veggies or flowers. You guys should build yourself some.

[Clipper]

With the number of pot heads on the rise with the laws making it legal to smoke or possess I might consider planting a cash crop of weed when if it becomes legal to grow and sell. Maybe do a deal like they do with strawberries. Advertise "pick your own." Kathy likes to bake so maybe we could have a sideline business selling marijuana brownies. A profitable crop would re-ignite my interest in gardening when I found myself having to have a security guard with me when I made a deposit. lol.

[BHU]

Mar 6, 2024 9:16:53 GMT -5 Clipper said:

Mar 5, 2024 16:43:27 GMT -5 BHU said:

Well, you saved a good buck doing it yourself plus the satisfaction of DIY.

I'm not sure about doing a garden this year. If anything I may simply do a few plantings in containers like I did a couple years ago. We shall see, but I'm leaning towards containers.

The containers or a raised bed are the way to go. There is less chance of weeds taking it over and least if you do have to weed a little bit you won't have to kneel or stay bent over for an extended period to do it.

I told Kathy that at least the cucumbers don't take a lot of space when planted to climb the trellis. We didn't have much luck with the peppers growing in buckets last year so I told Kathy we will buy a case of bell peppers when they come in season so that we can cut up and freeze enough to use in cooking. We bought a case last year and still have a few packages left. The same goes for tomatoes. We have a great produce market a couple of miles up the road and their prices are quite reasonable. Kathy is no longer able to endure that time consuming, and tedious canning that she did for years. If she decides to make her aunt's chili sauce and can it, we won't have tomatoes ripening on all the kitchen window sills and on the picnic table in anticipation of the event.

Gardening used to be fun and relaxing. To be quite blunt, I have just lost interest and the last few years it has just been a tedious and time consuming task. As I have aged the last few years taking care of the lawn and flowers fulfills all the desire to work outdoors. Taking care of the vegetable garden became overwhelming and I had to hire the lad next door to do some hands and knees weeding for me. It was so darned hot here last summer that I limited my time out in the sun.

Just one more example of "welcome to the golden years."

I thought of doing a raised bed a couple years ago, but decided against the idea. By the time I buy the lumber & the soil mix to fill it, i decided it wasen't worth the trouble. Plus I'd have to run the garden hose out back to water it, which is a hassle.

I bought enough Italia, cunbanelle & longbhots last Fall at a great price enough to last me all winter & there's still some in the freezer. But- this year I don't know if the farm I bought them from will still be there this year.  

[Atticus Pizzaballa]

BHU you could possibly buy a kit or ready made online

Clipper they buy large bags of soil mix and fill the containers to each above ground planter. No weeds.We also have planters in the back for flowers and spices like fresh basil and dill. Next to each of the entrance and exit doors are larplanters that residents can claim and fill with plants of there choice. I have one and fill with bachelor buttons and Gerbera Daisies.....

[Clipper]

Mar 6, 2024 16:15:16 GMT -5 BHU said:

Mar 6, 2024 9:16:53 GMT -5 Clipper said:

The containers or a raised bed are the way to go. There is less chance of weeds taking it over and least if you do have to weed a little bit you won't have to kneel or stay bent over for an extended period to do it.

I told Kathy that at least the cucumbers don't take a lot of space when planted to climb the trellis. We didn't have much luck with the peppers growing in buckets last year so I told Kathy we will buy a case of bell peppers when they come in season so that we can cut up and freeze enough to use in cooking. We bought a case last year and still have a few packages left. The same goes for tomatoes. We have a great produce market a couple of miles up the road and their prices are quite reasonable. Kathy is no longer able to endure that time consuming, and tedious canning that she did for years. If she decides to make her aunt's chili sauce and can it, we won't have tomatoes ripening on all the kitchen window sills and on the picnic table in anticipation of the event.

Gardening used to be fun and relaxing. To be quite blunt, I have just lost interest and the last few years it has just been a tedious and time consuming task. As I have aged the last few years taking care of the lawn and flowers fulfills all the desire to work outdoors. Taking care of the vegetable garden became overwhelming and I had to hire the lad next door to do some hands and knees weeding for me. It was so darned hot here last summer that I limited my time out in the sun.

Just one more example of "welcome to the golden years."

I thought of doing a raised bed a couple years ago, but decided against the idea. By the time I buy the lumber & the soil mix to fill it, i decided it wasen't worth the trouble. Plus I'd have to run the garden hose out back to water it, which is a hassle.

I bought enough Italia, cunbanelle & longbhots last Fall at a great price enough to last me all winter & there's still some in the freezer. But- this year I don't know if the farm I bought them from will still be there this year.  

Where did you buy them? Wagner Farms in Verona probably will no longer be in business. He committed suicide in his workshop several months ago. I don't know if there are any family members left to run the farm. I think it was only he and his mother that lived on the farm in recent years. I could be wrong. It is a shame. He used to grow a lot of extra and donate it to charity every season.

[BHU]

Mar 6, 2024 17:35:18 GMT -5 Clipper said:

Mar 6, 2024 16:15:16 GMT -5 BHU said:

I thought of doing a raised bed a couple years ago, but decided against the idea. By the time I buy the lumber & the soil mix to fill it, i decided it wasen't worth the trouble. Plus I'd have to run the garden hose out back to water it, which is a hassle.

I bought enough Italia, cunbanelle & longbhots last Fall at a great price enough to last me all winter & there's still some in the freezer. But- this year I don't know if the farm I bought them from will still be there this year.  

Where did you buy them? Wagner Farms in Verona probably will no longer be in business. He committed suicide in his workshop several months ago. I don't know if there are any family members left to run the farm. I think it was only he and his mother that lived on the farm in recent years. I could be wrong. It is a shame. He used to grow a lot of extra and donate it to charity every season.

I bought them from Juliano's. Ron's Mother was posting messages on FB a few weeks ago saying that they still had items for sale in their store. What will happen in the future with the farm I don't know. It's a shame.