Ice rink still a mud pit

Today, Jenn started calling around to find prices on sand and gravel - by far the largest investment we will have to make in this endeavor.  I guess I didn't realize how much of an investment it would be.  After calling 3 different places in our area, we were able to arrive at the ultra-low price of $1,200.00 for both sand and gravel delivered.  We are lucky in that we live in an area that is heavily populated with sand and gravel mines thanks to our being in a huge glacial river basin.  This price, although not unexpected, IS - a bit high.  We quickly began to think of alternative things to do with our mud pit.  1) Let it become overrun with weeds.  No.  2) Make a patio using pavers.  Not bad, but pavers will be expensive and take a lot of work as well; besides, what the heck would we do with a 20'x40' patio enclosed by 4x4s?  i don't know either.  Our deck is plenty big enough for a family dining table and for the BBQ grill.  The only advantage to a patio would be later evening sun, but then again we would be eating in full view of the entire neighborhood.  So I'm thinking "no" on that one too.  

Today we went to lunch at the Valley Hotel in Palmer.  About a year ago we had gone there on a Monday, and I had ordered Chicken soup with my meal.  Jenn had remembered that they serve Chicken soup on Mondays all this time, and has been looking forward to the day that she too could have some of that Chicken soup for herself.  Well today was supposed to be the day.  We sat at our booth and when the waitress came, Jenn calmly asked what the soup of the day was.  Cream of Broccoli.  The waitress told us that they switched Chicken soup to Sundays a few months ago, so bummer.  It was a nice day to be there anyways, and Jenn said she liked the Broccoli soup OK.  

After lunch, we stopped by an equipment rental place to check out Bobcat rental prices.  I will need a Bobcat to dig out about 2 1/2 feet of dirt from the rink to get the proper depth of sand and gravel for drainage.  The four-wheeled Bobcat will cost $190 for the day, and the slightly larger tracked Bobcat will cost $225 for the day.  This is just for the machine, not delivered.  Since we don't have a trailer, we would have to rent that, too, for a price of $75 for the day.  I think the best option would be to go with the bigger, tracked Bobcat.  This will help me dig and get done quicker, as well as offer the advantage of saving the lawn by distributing the weight of the tractor more evenly.  So, unless I can find a trailer, or perhaps a competitor has significantly lower prices, we are now in for $1,500.00.

On a side note, it was another big day here at the house.  The Christmas lights finally came down!  No I'm sure that most would scoff at the notion that somebody would be lazy enough to keep their light up all the way into May.  Well scoff not, because it would be dangerous to be walking around on the roof with snow on it, or trying to place the ladder in an icy driveway or lawn.  Besides, these lights were put up TWO Christmases ago!

While I was up there taking down the lights, I noticed that the gutters were nearly completely full of stuff and growing moss.  When I investigated further, I found that they were filled solidly with dirt!  In order to wrap your brain around how a gutter could fill solidly with dirt, one must remember the winter storms that frequent the valley.  After a windstorm, it is not uncommon to see the whole yard turn completely brown with windblown river silt, mountain debris, and volcanic ash.  All you have to do is picture the whole roof covered with this stuff, and then melting eventually into the gutters.  Presto! - solid dirt gutters.  Needless to say the taking down of the Christmas lights turned into a long drawn out gutter-cleaning session.  Good times!  I got all the way around the house and am happy to say that I now have the cleanest gutters in the neighborhood!

Tomorrow, we will mull further the Volleyball court and how much dough we will be willing to put out to make this thing happen.