A border of concrete cylinders edge the patio walkway area to the clothes line. It's always worried me that mom or I could trip on it because it was so high. It didn't bother mom before but now that she'll be 90 this year, it's a bit more worrisome.
I finally decided to take the matter into my own hands and started by pulling up three of the rather heavy cylinder blocks, digging out dirt and then sinking the cylinders back into the space. After an hour and getting only three cylinders in place I realized it wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be.
When Art came home from delivering his Meals on Wheels, his eyebrows went up when he saw what I'd done.
OK... He was really surprised.
And then he looked carefully and said it still wasn't low enough and the cylinders weren't quite level with each other. He also asked what I was planning to do with all the dirt I'd dug up. OK, so I didn't necessarily think this through.
So the following day, Art got out better digging tools. I asked a friend whether he was still looking for dirt to level out his yard with and got an affirmative answer. Yay!
It's all done! Mom was totally thrilled that it is so much easier to walk over the border now and our friend was also very happy to get the dirt. Win/win all around.
I finally decided to take the matter into my own hands and started by pulling up three of the rather heavy cylinder blocks, digging out dirt and then sinking the cylinders back into the space. After an hour and getting only three cylinders in place I realized it wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be.
When Art came home from delivering his Meals on Wheels, his eyebrows went up when he saw what I'd done.
OK... He was really surprised.
And then he looked carefully and said it still wasn't low enough and the cylinders weren't quite level with each other. He also asked what I was planning to do with all the dirt I'd dug up. OK, so I didn't necessarily think this through.
So the following day, Art got out better digging tools. I asked a friend whether he was still looking for dirt to level out his yard with and got an affirmative answer. Yay!
It's all done! Mom was totally thrilled that it is so much easier to walk over the border now and our friend was also very happy to get the dirt. Win/win all around.
Good job, Kay. Things we used to take for granted or ignore attract greater significance as we, or those we live with, grow older.
ReplyDeleteHe's such a handyman. When can he visit? lol
ReplyDeleteGreat job, Kay. You are so lucky to have a handy man like Art!
ReplyDeleteNice to have a handyman in the house! Falling becomes a real issue as we age so this was a good move for safety.
ReplyDeleteThat is a win win what a team!
ReplyDeleteYou have amazing projects! Good work.
ReplyDeleteYou were right to do that even though you've been stepping over them for years. It takes only one time that a foot drags and causes you to fall for those cylinders to have been a mistake at that height. Now you can rest easier.
ReplyDeleteThose engineers, I'm telling you...
ReplyDeleteBoy, that's really a good solution. Looks wonderful too.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, as usual, Kay! You and Art are such go getters, you don't take nuthin from nooooobody, not even concrete bordering cylinder whatchamacallits.
ReplyDelete...this also goes to the heart of a tremendous conflict I've always harbored, though. The bonsan in me sees the trip hazard like you do, and lumps it into the same category as making our streets safer for pedestrians and lowering speed limits and limiting booze and festooning rubber baby buggy bumpers all over everything sharper than a walking cane. BUT, the Darwinian side of me has always looked at the same issues askance. A healthy dose of danger keeps the deer quick and nimble... but those darn hairless apes are at it again with their infernal opposable thumbs :)
your loving black sheep cousin,
walt
You are too funny, Walt. Black sheep indeed. You’re my cousin who knows so much about everything. I rely on you to set me straight. And being an obonsan type, you come by it naturally since that would be our grandfather. Maybe that’s why we’re liking rocks so much. Rock gardens and such. Plus we don’t need to water it.
DeleteYou two are so darn thoughtful. Now your Mom is so much safer and you have a happy friend.
ReplyDeleteNice! I love to do those projects in the yard vs cleaning or cooking in the house. Win win for everyone is so true!
ReplyDeletewhat a good husband!
ReplyDeleteThat 's a wonderful project, with, as you say, a win/win all around. Yay! :-)
ReplyDeleteGood job
ReplyDeleteGood job on getting that done, Kay, and by that I mean starting it so that Art would have to fix it and then finish the job. :-)
ReplyDeleteI've done that before started a project only to have hubby notice and volunteer to do it better. Especially scrubbing floors or shower walls. Grea technique-works everytime...lol!
ReplyDeleteI have a cracked sidewalk that needs to be leveled. Come on to KC!
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get the cylinders? Are the corings from some project or made and purchased at a hardware store? Are they used alot in Hawaii?
Hope the storm misses the islands! Linda in Kansas