El Rancho S-OH-S Part 14 by KimB

Episode Counting Rocks

Between a Rock and ...  Water?

One of the interesting aspects of having unimproved land is that it is UNIMPROVED. Meaning: there isn't anything there that hasn't been there since the dirt was invented. There maybe the occasional leftover of some prior attempt at making nature better but for the most part It Is What It Is and You Get What's There or Not.

A long time friend gave me a wonderful gift last holiday season, something totally unexpected and the surprise just about knocked me over when I opened it up. The gift was funding for a project on the lot. A small project, something easily accomplished. Something to make the lot a fun destination. Something to help the us enjoy the lot during the hot summers after COVID-19 lock downs end and going up the mountain can be a more frequent occurrence.

I spent a good amount of time mulling over which of the many projects would be a good target. The majority of projects are Big Number Projects. They require a large amount of investment and can become complicated quickly, requiring additional funding. Everyone who has attempted to do such development has found out quickly that the amounts needed can expand faster than Harry Potter's Aunt Marge.

I decided that a small concrete patio sitting area would fit the budget and the needs. Something not too large, but usable. Designed with the potential to do more later but would be more than sufficient for having a nice picnic on the mountain, enjoying the view, the trees, the smell of sages and watching the birds, hawks and wild turkeys as they make surprise appearances swooping across the sky, stalking through the grasses or, as Chaucer put it, smale foweles maken melodye.

After playing more than a decade of a video game that has detailed simulated crafting as a primary activity, you learn that what in the USA is called interchangeably Concrete or Cement, is really 2 separate items: Cement is the powder base, to which you add gravel and then it becomes Concrete, ready to use by adding water.

You can remember which one is which because:

CONCRETE has an R in it for ROCKS and READY TO USE.

One of the unexpected aspects is that small projects do not mean easy projects. Since the budget is small, you also have to find someone who will do small projects too. While finding a good contractor for big projects is sometimes a challenge; finding one for small projects can be equally challenging. Fortunately my contacts on the mountain, all know each other and a referral was made to someone who didn't mind doing smaller jobs.

We met (socially distanced and masked) and given the limited budget, we spent a good while reviewing possibilities. We settled on a perfect location, and suggestions were made about the layout of, what is in fact, a very small patio and some items that could be included for the next project.

Act 1 Scene 14 Rocks and Water
sound effect: birds chirping

Moi	Are you planning on using concrete?
Stone	Yes it's the fastest way to get the patio.
Moi	How do you plan to make the concrete?
Stone	I will rent one of the concrete mixers and buy bags of premixed concrete.
Moi	The bags with the gravel already in it?
Stone	Yes
Moi	You know there is no electricity here?
Stone	No problem, I will bring a generator to run the mixer.
Moi	You know there is no water either?

End Act 1 Scene 14 Rocks and Water
sound effect: smale foweles maken melodye

Picnic Patio