Monday, April 20, 2009

Is There Ever A Day Off?

Yesterday was not a day off, worked my olde, decrepit ass off scratching away moss and well entrenced root systems of numerous weed-type plants from The Courtyard...our backyard when in lovely Lignieres in lovelier France. The surface under the moss is packed broken limestone, very white and pretty in it's limestoney way. Initially we had planned to unleash a couple of tones or more of Loire River rock as we did at the little house. It solved a plethora of problems in that space and I felt it would be likewise here. That went on the backburner some time ago as the Gedimat in town folded up shop, closed, gone, kaput. So be it then and on to other projects we went. Upon arrival this time in Lignieres our friends A&R had deftly removed a large patch of the moss, weeds, top soil and exposed the true courtyard of hell knows how long ago. So the path forward became abundantly clear, clean it all off and it'll be fine as a walking surface, play area for the drunken parties and for Marsha, the landscape designer to contemplate thoroughly. It does look better after yesterday's further efforts, I was proceeding at a snails pace until some unknown force struck me yesterday and I went at it with real energy. Now it is about 60% done, sweep-able in enough square feet to be a real chore now. More today.
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We will have D of D&S take a look at the wall at the little house to sort out what we must do to put it right. I know the walls of the waddle and dab construction style has to remain moist but this one has decided to get wet and stay that way considerably longer than it should. Upstairs I can see no such issue, good roof, dry walls in the corner. I was suspicious of the wall that adjoins ours inside the hidden garage next door but they had left the door open and I peeked inside with my trusty flashlight and saw no such watery signs therein. I also suspected the roof gutter overflowing but now doubt that after climbing up and taking a long look at the gutter system and seeing it's normal level in the water stain well below the lip. I used a sewer auger to delve into the gutter drain to the street too and though I went in about 7 meters, found nothing of substance to impede the flow. So I've asked D to come take a look and solve the mystery for us construction-challenged types.