Today would have been my mama’s 95th birthday! Happy Heavenly Birthday, Wanda Belle!
It was hotter than blue blazes yesterday and we had to work on that drain some more. I ran the snake down several times and we weren’t making any progress so I suggested using a different blade on the end. We switched to a metal end that looks like a spring. I told Mr. FixIt that we might break through with that end, then we could switch back to a cutter. I put the snake down twice and we got stopped at the same point each time. We painted a small white spot on the snake to mark how far we got down.
Each time we pulled the snake back out, there were strands of fibrous roots attached. The pipe goes underneath the forsythia and flowering quince so there’s no wonder there are lots of roots down there. Finally, we got the snake to break past the roots and the mark we painted and extended all 50’ into the drain. We changed to the smaller cutting blade and it went through twice so at least we knew we had an opening, however small.
There were several times when I could feel the snake getting caught up in the roots and every time, I calmly asked God to help me get this job done. And every time, I got further and further along. God isn’t just there to help with the big stuff. He wants to help with everything. He loves when you ask him for assistance in your everyday life. And he answers. I was sure to thank him every time I made progress.
The storm drain goes to the creek so we went down to make sure that end was open. It was covered with at least two feet of earth from the spring floods! We worked with a 100 degree heat index and soon decided this job was bigger than the both of us so we called in the troops. Our friend Harry and his son were there within the hour and ninety minutes later, they had the ditch dug out and water was flowing through. And what should come out of the pipe? A golf ball! A remnant from the days when an active dog lived here. He loved to throw golf balls down the back steps into the drain.
There are a couple of things we still need to do before this drain is winter ready. There’s a thing you can put on the end of a garden hose that goes down the drain. When you turn on the water, the gizmo fills up and compresses against the edges of the pipe, creating a seal. Then, the running water builds up pressure and blows out the stuff that’s clogging up the pipe. After it flows well, we’ll put a solution down it that kills the roots in the pipe without killing the flowering shrubs above.
At the end of the work day, we were both too tired to cook so I ordered a pizza and picked it up. We had one heck of a storm come through here. It started just as the boys were finished digging the ditch and ended about ninety minutes later after dumping an inch and a half of rain. The storm drain did its job and the pumps didn’t kick on! On the way back from town, I snapped this picture. Even though it was well in the nineties yesterday, when that storm came through, the temperature dropped rapidly and the hills were shrouded in fog. You could see the hint of fall coming.
Used to, the idea of fall saddened me because winter would be close on its heels. Nowadays though, fall means cooler temperatures and the outdoor work begins to slow down. I’m looking forward to that…less mowing, less watering and weeding the garden, more time for a little fun…like camping and bonfires and roasting marshmallows. We are ready for a little break from the frenetic summer schedule.
When you live in the country on acreage, there is always something that needs to be done. When we go to my cousin’s for Thanksgiving, the men always go out and work the fields during the day while the women cook and visit. A body needs as many hands as he can get when things need fixing. The key is, knowing when it’s time to call in the troops. We are getting to the age where we have to admit…it’s time.
❤️
“Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks.”
Matthew 7:7-8 CEV