I'm a lumberjack and I don't care

We got the final big tree along the driveway down last Friday afternoon. It was the one which they didn't feel safe climbing, so we rented a lift, pieced out the 2 large branches and then fell it. Talk about precision, that sucker came down right smack in the middle of the driveway. No pictures, as I was actually helping this time, but here is a picture to go with this entry's title!

Also, that evening, both our Excavator and Concrete contractors came by the property to sign contracts. The only thing that came up is that depending on the soils the concrete might end up being taller on the foundation of the porch. Of course this would mean more $, but it's a wait and see situation. Worse case scenario, we end up with a bunker room under our front porch.


Saturday was a wash out, but Sunday morning we were able to get our silt fence put up.
Our original site plan had 250 feet+ of silt fence along each side of the driveway. I had contractor quote $1.50 per foot. So the original estimate was $750!  In speaking with the county and our site planner I questioned the need for it. In the end they were able to eliminate approx 175 along the east side.
A few internet searches later I was able to determine that we could purchase the silt fence at Menards for $25/100 feet and rent a trenching machine for $120/3 hours.
Add in some sweat equity and a surprise visit from Grandma to keep the kiddos occupied and our total cost was $220, a huge savings over hiring the contractor!

In other news,  I had a small victory last Friday...it started a couple weeks ago when I had found some new information from a county meeting stating that the fair market value of an acre had been revised and thus the school district impact fees were also affected. Given we had paid the impact fees back in February, in preparation for the permit submission, I contacted the district, attached the appropriate paperwork and advised that I expected a refund for my overpayment. The overpayment amount was close to $300.  A week later they contacted me to advise that payments are based on when they are paid, and therefore I would not be getting a refund. I rebutted with the information that had I paid on the day our permit was ready, then I would not even be having this discussion and that I felt I was being penalized for paying early. After that round, came another via phone and I finally received the call Friday afternoon that they would be returning my overpayment afterall. There is more to this story, having to do with the fact that the district really had no clue about the impact fees and changes to them, until I brought it to their attention. The moral of the story, $300 is no small change and my daddy taught me to fight the good fight. I made him proud.

 One last picture from our work this past weekend...found on the property. Freaky? or Freaky cool?