What did you do today?

[Handy Don 14,023]

1 hour ago, Ed Kennell said:

All 4 grandsons are out of college and employed ... $300 to renew two existing passports.   

Worth it.

[adsm08 3,188]

Today I did something I rarely accomplish.

 

I cleared my to-do pile at work. I left with one job in my bin, and we just got the approval this morning, so it will be next week before we have parts.

 

Helps that everyone left me alone the last two days since I'm off the rest of the week.

[953 nut 59,857]

@Ed Kennell would probably like to have that bench,     can never have too many of them.           

[rjg854 12,171]

15 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

Over $300 to renew two existing passports.

That seems over the top just to renew them, so what does it cost to apply for new ones?

[8ntruck 7,813]

We met the delivery driver with the roofing stuff this morning.  Directed where to drop the new roof.  Neat trailer.  Was a 5th wheel tilt bed with retractable rollers, and an extendable deck.

 

As the driver left, I noticed that the cultivated wild black raspberry patch was offering up more berries.  I picked enough to mash with sugar for a waffle topping for breakfast.

[Ed Kennell 41,846]

2 hours ago, rjg854 said:

so what does it cost to apply for new ones?

Looks like two new passports would be over $400 depending on how quickly you needed them.

[ebinmaine 72,492]

2 hours ago, 8ntruck said:

delivery driver with the roofing stuff this morning.  Directed where to drop the new roof.  Neat trailer.  Was a 5th wheel tilt bed with retractable rollers, and an extendable deck

 

Trusses and other wood products? 

[8ntruck 7,813]

9 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

Trusses and other wood products? 

1x4s and metal roofing.  Tow vehicle was a Ram 2500.

 

Now, the neighbors up the street a bit are building a structure which will have open shop/storage space with what might be living quarters in a 2nd floor.  They had a load of roof trusses and floor trusses delivered last week.  They came in on a 40' tilting flatbed with a sliding wheel assembly.  They were able to shorten the trailer wheel base to get it around a pretty sharp jog in the road.

Edited yesterday at 01:36 AM by 8ntruck

[ebinmaine 72,492]

36 minutes ago, 8ntruck said:

1x4s and metal roofing.  Tow vehicle was a Ram 2500.

 

Now, the neighbors up the street a bit are building a structure which will have open shop/storage space with what might be living quarters in a 2nd floor.  They had a load of roof trusses and floor trusses delivered last week.  They came in on a 40' tilting flatbed with a sliding wehhe assembly.  They were able to shorten the trailer wheel base to get it around a pretty sharp jog in the road.

 

 

Them are very cool.  

I've seen a brand up here Landoll Haul all ??

The trailer axles go forward a LOT.  

[ebinmaine 72,492]

BBT has taught herself to install tile. 

This is the entry space to the Momma apartment in the basement.  

 

 

[8ntruck 7,813]

The other project for today was waiting for the septic tank pump truck.  He showed up a little after noon.  A few minutes of probing and shoveling, he had the tank cover dug out.  He picked it off and the tank was pretty much full.  Maybe 2" of air space to the top of the tank.  A lot less than expected.  I contacted the health department to see if they had a copy of the permit that was issued for the initial installation.  They found it and emailed it to me.  Seems it was installed in the early/mid '80s.  750 gallon septic tank and two 600 gallon rock filled dry wells for the 'drain field'.  Excavation will be required for an accurate analysis.

 

For now until the tank fills up, it is essentially a holding tank system.  I think I'll do some digging at the exit end of the tank to get an idea of where the exit pipe is located with respect to the top of the tank to get an idea of where the 'normal' water level should be.

[rjg854 12,171]

10 hours ago, 8ntruck said:

I think I'll do some digging at the exit end of the tank to get an idea of where the exit pipe is located with respect to the top of the tank to get an idea of where the 'normal' water level should be.

This sounds like a fun job  hopefully you'll find the problem without having to install a new system.

[Handy Don 14,023]

14 hours ago, 8ntruck said:

750 gallon septic tank and two 600 gallon rock filled dry wells for the 'drain field'. 

The tank sizing seems pretty reasonable for small dwelling. Dry wells vs. leeching fields depends a lot on soil conditions, location, and risks to groundwater wells. 

[lynnmor 7,809]

On 7/23/2025 at 11:17 AM, Ed Kennell said:

Looks like two new passports would be over $400 depending on how quickly you needed them.

 

Some years ago the wife and I applied for passports, I needed mine ASAP for a job so I paid the extra, guess who got theirs first.  

[8ntruck 7,813]

The roofing crew arrived this morning about 7am.  Crew was 4 guys, who I assumed to be Amish, and a definitely non Amish guy - who was the driver and ground go fer guy.  They got right at it.  About 8:30, the 1x4 firring strips were all on.  9am when I left to take the dog for a walk, the east slope of the garage was done.  10am when dog and I got back, the front of the main house was on, and trim was starting to go up.  The was done, a day the crew was loaded up, paid and rolled out at 1:15pm.  That even included a lunch break around 10:30.

Edited 23 hours ago by 8ntruck

[adsm08 3,188]

28 minutes ago, 8ntruck said:

The roofing crew arrived this morning about 7am.  Crew was 4 guys, who I assumed to be Amish, and a definitely non Amish guy - who was the driver and ground go fer guy.  They got right at it.  About 8:30, the 1x4 firring strips were all on.  9am when I left to take the dog for a walk, the east slope of the garage was done.  10am when dog and I got back, the front of the main house was on, and trim was starting to go up.  The was done, a day the crew was loaded up, paid and rolled out at 1:15pm.  That even included a lunch break around 10:30.

 

Say what you will about them Amish fellers, but they work hard, they work fast, and they work good.

[ebinmaine 72,492]

19 minutes ago, adsm08 said:

 

Say what you will about them Amish fellers, but they work hard, they work fast, and they work good.

 

Same up here as long as one watches the pricing.  

 

Mennonite too.  Our favorite local vehicle tech facility is a family of Mennonites.  

[ebinmaine 72,492]

Trina and I got some more done on the new Horse Hauler trailer.  

A few days ago I had drilled the bores for the front D-ring attachment points.  

Earlier today she put a coat of Thompsons Water Seal on the deck. 

This evening I redrilled the wood (moisture swelling) and carriage bolted the D-ring holders in place.  Following that we reattached the front holding strip for the deck boards.  

 

The plan is to recoat the whole deck next summer. At that point I'll likely also replace the bolts to keep corrosion at bay.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[adsm08 3,188]

Wife and I took a few days off while the kids are away, since our anniversary is next week, and this morning we went fishing.

 

She asked me what I wanted to do about dinner while we were on the boat, I said "let me think about it" and five minutes later pulled up the biggest bass I've ever landed. Dinner solved.

 

Then we came home and took care of some other projects that haven't been happening but need to.

[adsm08 3,188]

23 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

BBT has taught herself to install tile. 

This is the entry space to the Momma apartment in the basement.  

 

 

 

 

Doesn't look bad for self-taught.

[Ed Kennell 41,846]

2 minutes ago, adsm08 said:

bass I've ever landed. Dinner solved.

Hope it didn't come from the Susquehanna.   The river and some streams and lakes are closed due to high bacteria levels including e-coli.

This is caused by the runoff from all the rain.

[adsm08 3,188]

6 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

Hope it didn't come from the Susquehanna.   The river and some streams and lakes are closed due to high bacteria levels including e-coli.

This is caused by the runoff from all the rain.

 

 

It did not. I won't go near the Susquehanna. Besides, I have to travel over an hour north to get out of the bass exclusion zone. And since I only have electric motors I won't go in any flowing body of water with that boat anyway.

 

Also, proper cooking will kill e coli.

Edited 21 hours ago by adsm08

[ebinmaine 72,492]

44 minutes ago, adsm08 said:

 

 

Doesn't look bad for self-taught.

 

Yepp.  Thanks.  

She done alright.  

 

Trina went and bought herself an inexpensive but effective tile cutter and some other things.

It's amazing what you can do when you have the right tools.

[8ntruck 7,813]

49 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

It's amazing what you can do when you have the right tools.

Ain't that the truth.

[Horsin'round 237]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

tile cutter

 

Early on,  I would invest in a tool for each job I took on,  rather than hire out.  Fleshed out a pretty well stocked shop this way.  Rationalized/ justified the cost that did not go to a contractor. 

 

Still do what I can,  but hitting the age where I consider hiring out more often.