Jul 5 - ramping up & down

A large part of my day was taken up with pouring a concrete ramp.  Emma helped (yes, she really did !) by operating the hose.  I'd positioned the cement mixer at the top of the ramp and had already put in the forms, so I was ready to roll ...

Well, not quite.  I needed some portland cement.  Halle Brooks called to say that he was coming with my four cords of wood, so I had to wait for him.  I then went into town and picked up the cement, was back at the house and starting to make concrete after an early lunch.

This is really a two-person job, like many similar activities.  I was having a hard time keeping up with the pours.  I probably should have positioned a board to move the concrete to the bottom of the ramp first and then worked my way up, but instead had started at the top.  I've got about 4" of concrete at the top, perhaps 6" in places, and about 2" at the bottom.  It will have to do.  It looks pretty stark now but will soften as grass grows at the sides.

As it hardened, we got Emma's hand print and name inscribed for posterity.  This morning we walked on it and Sandy took pictures of the proud workers :).

Also this a.m., the crowd left.  We were sorry to see them go.  It's always fun having the kids here, whatever their ages :).  Sandy now has the new washer/dryer hard at work.  Sara had given them a workout yesterday, washing most of their stuff (I think) before the trip.  They are on their way to David's as I write this and will stay there overnight before leaving tomorrow a.m. for Reading PA.

It was a day at the beach for the crowd yesterday with the kayaks at work.  Jeffrey, Emma and Abby swam off the Davies' dock.   I was sorely tempted, after working in the sun with the horse flies ... but didn't.

Onward !