Oops, There Goes 96'

The Mighty Oak Tree is What is Keeping Our Truck "96" from Rolling on it's Roof

Still getting in lots of hours with little sign of slowing down.  This time last year I was getting ready to go to work at Ladera in St. Lucia what a trip that was the teeth marks from the flip saw still look pretty fresh on my leg.  Might as well share the big story first.  Ryan flipped over one of the dump trucks, he was not hurt having jumped out before it went over.

The Wrecker Could Not Move the Truck Until We Shoveled Off Some of the Sand

The problem started at the gravel pit where he drove off over loaded with nearly 7 ton of sand, the trucks should never carry more than 4 ton.  The overloading effects handling, he was backing down a driveway and got to close to the soft edge and you can see the result.  I could not help but hug him because I he was shaking and I was happy he was not hurt, that was not exactly the reaction he expected.  Our ace mechanic Gary had the truck back on the road within 24 hours, looks a little better to me since Gary put some spray paint on the bumps,oops.

Rock & Sand Make Another Beautiful Wall by Ryan Bartell

Several projects completed this month and starting a few including maybe some work in Fort Wayne, the driving is such a waste but one is a promise and the other is just gonna be fun.  It took a lot of talking to convince this customer to start all over with the foundation planting on the south side of their home.  It had been done twice before repeating the same planting.  They still want it trimmed tight but we have a brand new pallet of plants now.

Now That's a Big Barberry, Ouch Lots of Prickers

We finished up this pond for a fellow who lives in Chicago, the pond is on his mom's property which is a rural haven for this busy guy from the city.  He plans to plant it with natives and hopes to attract lot's of wildlife, shouldn't be a problem.  I gobbled handfuls of blackberries when I went to help out on this project, the apples are getting ripe so I will have to make excuses to visit soon.

This is a house on Clear Lake that we just began, we did a big tear out and now the old concrete sidewalks, patio, stoop and four stairs are gone and we are preparing for pavers.

On the drawing board this project on Coldwater Lake will have to pass a special zoning meeting to get approval before any dirt is moved.  The sight is challenging to say the least and there are some issues with the property lines as well.  But we have some great ideas.

Reeling in the Years

Tyler copping a snooze during lunch, minutes before he was a stone shoveling machine

This past week was really fun.  It is Bruce's 64th birthday August 5, and we have been on a birthday roll. Seemed to me 64 should be celebrated heartily in the tradition of the Beatles classic "will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm 64?"  64 seemed really old to me when I heard that song, now it is just another number and I am grateful to see Bruce reach it healthy and wanting to have some fun. 

We started on Tuesday by going to dinner at  a well known Japanese steak house in Fort Wayne and seeing the band Steely Dan at the Embassy Theatre what a great show, with good company.  Friday found us on a secret mission, secret from Bruce as we headed out the door with another couple destination unknown for the birthday boy.  A great meal at Schuyler's in Marshall, MI and a quick trip to Firekeeper's in Battlecreek where we saw The Steve Miller Band perform.

Ryan working on a pond out in the country

Finally last night we had a small party with friends and family, lots of really good chow of which I ate way to much.  Had chocolate pie, boysenberry cheesecake, egg casserole and fruit and that was just leftovers for breakfast.  Good times.

Work is jammed Bruce has a deadline to install a foot of mulch at the playground of one of the schools and it needs to be finished by next week.  Takes lots of equipment to dig out the earth and lots of manpower.

Lone Tree Point on lake James offered its usual
 challenges when we installed 15 ton of river wash on a hill and terraces.  Doug built a shoot and we shoveled it down, turned out it was more effective to drag it down in weed fabric.  Oh well got to do a little engineering every once in a while.  We still
 did good on the job the men worked really hard.

Went specimen shopping for me the other day at a couple of nurseries.  The purpose was to show a customer potential plant material for selection.  It was easier to review the presentation when each plant was sitting right in front of us on the table.

 We installed this dry creek bed and simple planting for a new customer in Angola last week.   She really liked the finished product and it is very easy care.