Being Saved By Orlando
Several years ago (3? 4?), Justin dug up the concrete driveway of the carriage house.
This left a long trench, about 6-inches deep. Soon, this filled in with weeds but they did not look bad if mowed every week.
There were also other small areas needing soil infilling, like the thin stretch of lawn parallel to Highway 50. This was fine when I purchased the house in 2014 but, since, several small seeming sinkholes developed. I assume these were the result of old tree roots rotting away, after the trees were long ago cut down. Or, maybe just weird alien activity.
For two years I kept calling the local topsoil supplier. They kept telling me they would come out. They never did.
A few months ago, after yet again twisting an ankle while mowing over one of the “sinkholes”, I called Orlando, who has a tree service/landscaping business. He came right over; I showed him what was needed and begged his help.
“Orlando! My old ankles need you!”
Then…nothing happened.
Sigh.
Today, as I pulled up to the Cross House I saw that the area adjacent to Union Street had been seemingly dug up. There was fresh soil rather than lawn.
Huh?
I thought: I guess the city replaced the water line?
Pulling into the S-curve driveway, I saw a long stretch of new soil where the trench was.
Oh. Oh! OH!!!!!!!!
I had been saved. By Orlando.
The no-longer trench. This goes all the way to the alley.
Along Union.
Along Highway 50.
I am sooooooooo happy! For, is there anything worse than an uneven lawn? Oh, the horror. The horror!
Plus, my old ankles are profoundly relieved.
Now, I will buy some grass seed and soon Orlando’s work will vanish under a cover of green.
So, while the world is going to hell, in Emporia, Kansas, something is better.
Ross happy.
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I’m going with tree root activity. It can be sudden, and significant. My childhood bungalow just sort of sank a few inches in the middle one summer. Turns out a few posts were nearly on top of an old stump they failed to deal with when they barged the house in in the 60s. My poor dad had to dig out out in the crawl space, 4′ under the soil, and hand-mix concrete for the hole.
My yard (and ankles) are also suffering a similar scenario. There is a notation on the wall of my garage that says “Tree planted in ‘16”. That is 3 years after the house was built in 1913. When I bought the house in 2010, the tree was down. In arial photos of the area shortly before that, the mighty, tall, magnificent tree stood shading my yard and the next. Similar story for the front yard. All that remains are pop up sink holes as roots disintegrate. I fill them, seed them, then step in new holes as more of the root decomposes.
Good on ya for having that taken care of. One more job off the list!
P.S. What is that white line In the grass parallel to your sidewalk?
If you look waaaay back near the beginning, you find that this is the “curb” surrounding the property. Notice that the street has a drainage system, but no heavy curb that would be there in industrial town. This little feature (about a brick high) is the Cross House “curb”. It served to mark off the property…but in a friendly way for walking traffic.
Thank you, Dodi.
The world needs more guys like Orlando! And like Ross 🙂
Dear, dear Ross. Yes. Just making something, one little thing better makes everything so much better. Small victories. They can create happiness and peace.
Hugs to you.
I just love it when something you want for a long time happens. Yea! for you Ross! I called my city services for 18 months plus about damages the city did to my sidewalk and driveway while sewer work was done on my street. One day after I had given up, all kinds of huge trucks showed up and a dozen men. They worked removing 3 squares of sidewalk, the round curb that leads into my driveway, half of my front driveway, and half of my sewer line that is under the driveway including two clean outs. Some kind of hard, white gravel was spread. Then, three weeks later, new concrete installed. I could not believe it when they showed up with sod for the edges where they had dug out my grass to place forms to pour concrete. The men doing this job were great and so very nice to me. I am thankful and thrilled!
Ross, lucky you employing smart Orlando. September is THE BEST month to show grass.
Chris ( Master gardener in Ohio)
Ross,
My friend and I were in Emporia on Saturday, looking at historic homes. We came across the Cross house and practically swooned! You are doing a marvelous job with the restoration. I can hardly wait to schedule a tour. I am a bit obsessed with your blog! So glad that someone is taking on this huge project. Thanks for all your hard work.