Haven't posted in a while. We are not done yet. Well, we are done with the pool but everything else is adding up. In software development I've heard a saying, "the last 10% is 90%". Totally applies here too.
The yard was a mess after the backhoe of course, especially since we had wetness pretty much during the entire build process on our property. We also are working on doing river rock on the right and back sides of our pool with stepping stones (like we had in our original designs but on the opposite side). We can't put concrete there due to septic setback requirements, but rock should be good. We went with the large 4" rocks so as to reduce likelihood of ending up in the pool.
A couple weekends ago, we rented a bobcat (down south Austin by you, ummmgoood). It was a lot of fun to drive. My pregnant wife got a little tired moving around the materials. We brought in 27 yards of "yard mix" (compost and top soil) and 3 yards of the river rock. I initially only order 9 yards of dirt and thought that would be plenty, but it did not go very far. 2 dump trucks later and up to $1500 in materials later, I feel we blew the budget on landscaping but we still have to put in trees. At least the bobcat was fun.
Right before I did that, I fixed the three valves and surrounding piping on our sprinkler system that the back hoe had run over. It was a ton of work (full day), but was better than the $800 I was quoted for somebody to replace those 3 valves. Now that we fixed those and got dirt in there, I have to fix the rest of the sprinklers coming off the valves. That will be a fun phase 2 there (I will be hiring a day laborer to help me dig).
I want to fix the sprinklers so I can plant grass. We're working on the river rock so that we can then put up a fence. We also need to finish covering some of the electrical trench (the area in the hill where I could not get the bobcat in). Preparing for final inspections.
I think the last steps of building the pool will take longer than the actual pool took, but at least it's in the 70s right now. Turned the heat pump on with the solar blanket and we are now swimming regularly - yipee.
she takes it very serious and is doing a good job. yay for child labor. 