Yesterday was a family day and we sure had fun hanging out with Tiffany, Scott, and our three granddaughters.
In the morning we all had some errands to run. Scott, Hailey and I went into Show Low to pick up some metal for a project Scott and I will be working on today. When we were done there we met Terry, Tiffany, Gracie, and Destiny at C-A-L Ranch, a store that was not here when we lived in Show Low. It’s a combination of Tractor Supply, Ace Hardware, and Cabela’s. They carry everything from western clothing and saddles to sporting goods to chain saws and nuts and bolts. I was surprised at the large selection of guns and ammunition they had in stock at very reasonable prices.
Back at the ranch, well mini-ranch anyway, Scott and I decided to see if we could locate their septic tank, in preparation for the full hookup RV site he is installing for us. We currently have 50 amp electric and water, but if we stay for any length of time a dump would be good to have. But since the older woman they purchased the property from only had a general idea of where the septic tank was, we had to find it. They’d gotten a Knoxville TN Septic Tank Pumping service to empty it when it was full so they never got round to finding its location. We just had no idea how to accomplish that. First Scott moved some dirt around with the tractor hoping to uncover the tank, but that didn’t work. But at least we found out where it wasn’t.
He even dug around with a shovel, while granddaughter Destiny and I supervised. I would have helped dig, but I’m Grandpa and rank has privileges.
I thought that probing with a piece of rebar might do the trick, but even though the ground was soft, it wasn’t that soft, so that didn’t work out too well. So I just stood there holding the rebar for a while. If this writing gig doesn’t work out, maybe I can get a job holding a pole for a surveyor. Or maybe even pole dancing? No, probably not.
Then Scott decided to see if he could use the bucket of the tractor to drive the rebar down, so I held it upright to get it started. Do you remember my blog from a few days ago, What Could Possibly Go Wrong? I sure hope Scott has a good sense of humor, or else a bad memory about all of the bad things I say about him.
As it turns out, you can bend rebar pretty easily if you do it right.
We ran out of energy or rebar, I’m not sure which, but we mutually decided that since we weren’t accomplishing anything, taking a tour of their 10 acre property would be more beneficial. It’s long and deep, ending at the bottom of a ridge, and Scott has already put in a 100 yard shooting range for me. I think he’s a keeper.
When we got back, Hailey was busy washing Pixie. That little girl sure loves her horse!
Later on Terry made a great dinner of potato chip crusted chicken, mashed potatoes, streamed broccoli and a fresh salad. Then the girls colored Easter eggs, since they will be with their dad on Easter Sunday. That’s Destiny on the left, Hailey center, and Gracie on the right.
We watched TV for a while, and Scott promptly fell asleep on the sofa. Kids these days don’t have any stamina.
We didn’t find the septic tank, but overall it was a great day full of family fun. We’re really enjoying our time with Tiffany, Scott and the kids.
Today is your last chance to enter this week’s Free Drawing for an audiobook version of Birdsongs by my friend Jason Deas. It’s the first book in Jason’s excellent Benny James mystery series, a fast-paced tale centered on former FBI agent Benny James, who hoped to retire to a slower paced lifestyle on a houseboat but finds himself drawn into a murder investigation. All you have to do is click on the Free Drawing link and enter your name in the comments section at the bottom of that page (not this one). Only one entry per person per drawing please, and you must enter with your real name. To prevent spam or multiple entries, the names of cartoon or movie characters are automatically deleted. The winner will be drawn this evening.
Thought For The Day – If they ever find my body dead on a jogging trail, be sure to tell the cops I was murdered somewhere else and my body was dumped there.
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Nick Russell
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Look/figure out where the sewer line comes out of the house. The septic tank should be straight out from there.
Probably only be about 20-30 ft. away from the house.
Nick,
I built a “Hydraulic Probe” (that’s my name for it) when I wanted to find my sewer line clean out to install a dump for my RV. I bought a 5 ft piece of 1/2 inch PVC pipe and a hose adapter and glued them together. I added a cutoff valve to the end of my hose, then the probe and turned on the water. The smaller diameter the pipe, the better it will work, but it does need to be stiff enough to push. The water pressure does most of the work. It worked well for me. Good Luck.
Bob
Sweetie…you’re gonna need a bigger pole. Sorry….just saying.
Nick, where is that C-A-L Store located? Did you happen to notice if they have any 22LR ammo. I’ve been looking all over the valley for it, but unless you buy a weapon from them they won’t sell it to you or won’t admit to even having any.
haha….You guys are so funny….Rich said that if you have a metal detector, it will find the metal hook on the hatch….Thats what they do up here in Illinois….but , all in all looks like your having some great family time…..He also said that if you follow the exit of the pipe from the house , it should be about 20 to 30 feet out….Happy Hunting..
Nick like Ed said and if there is a 3 or 4 inch clean out, it should be sticking out of the ground by the house a few inches with a rubber cap on it. That will be the marker on most sewer line setups wear your sewer line runs from to the septic. You also don’t have to tie into the septic tank but any where outside the house on the sewer line will work as long as it has a 1/4″ per foot drop on the pipe!… If Scott has a 50′ sewer auger put it in the pipe and let it turn you will be able to hear where the pipe is pretty well.
Dave Walker
Nick, Google says check with your County Health Department. They should have a record of where it is.
The hydraulic probe is great idea, mine is 5 foot piece of 1/4″ galvinized adapted to pistol type nozzle w/ hose threads. Great for punching holes for post holes, finding stuff underground, washing off sidewalks & horses etc… around the ole farmette