12/1 - Broken

Today we got our first shipment of wood from Colo Springs, very dissapointing. It seemed as if they picked up all the cracked, warped lumber everyone else threw back and loaded it up to CB. They were there at 7 am this am, early am for that driver. Maybe it was dark outside and he just didn't notice. If only that was the case.

Mini X broke a hydraulic hose fitting before noon on the blade. Dusty called the rental company and they came out and looked at it but did not fix it today. Hopefully they fix it first thing in the am. Dusty spent the day moving the piles of dirt with the skid steer out of our foot print on top of the pile I've been working on.

As for the actual hole in the ground. Dusty's got it to grade all along the back of the garage and starting into the master. It is about 10 feet wide. Still a ways to go.

11/30 - !#&*%^$!

So I know you are wondering what those red things are......those are what happen when you stop paying attention running the skid steer in the dark. They were full, after I realized I fell into the hole (just 2 ft deep) and smashed Dusty's new tripod I noticed gas was pouring out of them and got back in to try and move off of them. That didn't work so well, a fountain of diesel shot up about 5 feet in the air. ugh, typical monday I guess. On a happier note, our firend Robb was there the whole afternoon helping Dusty run the skidsteer while he used the mini x.

11/28 - One week in

We ran both machines all today and still feels like we've barely put a dent into getting it to grade. We are guessing we've still got about another week of digging and prep work before we can pour the footers. Dusty is seriously contemplating trying to rent a full sized excavator for a couple days this week. Doesn's quite feel like we have the most appropriate equipment for the amount of materials we need to move. Can't work tomorrow, no heavy (or light) equipment on Sundays.

11/27 - Surprise

Hit water today.

Right at the bottom of the deepest part under the garage, about 10 feet below the existing ground level. Soil has a very high clay content and is pretty rocky. Not very easy to excavate. Annie helped run the skid steer this afternoon and her mom and friend drove over from Montrose to bring lunch and help move some rocks.

11/26 - Happy Thanksgiving

Finally got all of the top soil removed and piled up on the outside edge of land. Start on digging through to grade tomorrow.

11/25 - New Toy

Still scraping topsoil. Skid steer dropped off at end of day to ease in moving piles. Opening day today at the mountain.

11/24 - Big Boy Sandbox

Hole is getting bigger.We have quite a bit of top soil, as much as three-four feet in places. Our footprint is HUGE. Dusty figured out the mini x quickly and is already wishing for a bigger toy.

11/23 - Ground Breaking

Broke ground today. Woke up to four inches of snow this morning, two on the ground at the site. Mini Excavator dropped off this am, let the fun begin.

11/22 - Getting Ready

Here we go. Finished up Dusty's project at Ambush Ranch this am and then started laying out our property this afternoon.