Trench It!

Throughout this kitchen project, poor Danny has been called upon to do the most unpleasant, thankless jobs. Pulling up old linoleum and removing yucky fireplace tiles don't really bring honor and glory.

One of the things I really wanted in this kitchen was gas. I remember cooking with gas when I was in college, and loved it. I like gas so much better than electric, that we bought a gas cook top, dryer and water heater. Now installing gas requires hooking our house up to the main gas line which is out in the middle of the street. Therefore, a trench must be dug from the house to the street to hold the gas line.

Digging a trench the length of our unusually long front yard is yet another job Danny had to perform. For this work, Danny at least got to rent a machine to help him out. Too bad that machine puttered out and died before digging even two feet of trench.

The second machine worked out a bit better.

Check that sucker out!

Yep. That's the official name.

The process looked pretty tough. Danny got a wee bit frustrated. I wisely stayed away and chose not to take pictures of this grueling process. Here's the end result, and the trench looks great!

The Gas Company came the next day, and they declared it the best trench they had ever seen. The gas line is in, and we are all set for hookin' up!!!

Men who work so hard at home should get a special treat. They should get something like, oh say....

....a new mountain bike for their trouble!

It's the gift that keeps on giving!

After the Gas Company did their thing, we all went outside to fill in the trench. The kids had been dying to do this the entire time, so once they got the chance, everyone put their backs into it and shoveled.

Everyone grabbed a tool and pitched right in. Some people's tool was a camera.

One by one, the kids started seeing other things that held their interest more than shoveling dirt. Huggy skipped out early.

Cubby was next.

Then G tried to fill in the trench with an asparagus knife. It's not really the best tool for the job.

Then there's little J.D. He always has serious work to do. We're lucky he's on the job everyday, doing quality control on the whole project. The guy's a professional, what can I say?!

And yes, he mixed and poured the cement for this sidewalk bright and early the very next morning. We've been lucky to get such cheap labor!