Fixing the sprinkler

As you know, I found a sprinkler pipe in the ground when I was digging a hole day before yesterday. And in the process, I managed to cut it with the spade.

It was off on the side of the hole just barely visible, after I scooped all the dirt out. So I turned on the water to that zone, and instantly we had a fountain out of a dirt hole. Ohhh, not good.

With the new baby arriving yesterday and rain off and on all day, I covered the hole and put it off for another day. But in the afternoon, I shopped for repair parts.

First I went to Lowe’s. They had a section of irrigation parts in the plumbing aisle. The smallest piece of 1 inch poly pipe was a 100 foot roll. They didn’t have the straight inside nipple to connect one pipe to the next. This is a basic component. I walked around and found an associate and inquired about the pipe in smaller lengths.

They had to get the gal in charge of that aisle, and I sat and waited for a period of time until she showed up. She led me over to the white CPVC pipe and told me to use it as a repair. For the inside nipple, she led me to the plastic parts designed for clear plastic tubing like fish aquarium tubing. Offering me a 5/8ths fitting for the one inch pipe. She didn’t have a clue how any of the stuff in her aisle was used, or what it was for.

This is fairly typical of my experience in Lowe’s. They have a lot of stuff, and if you are knowledgeable enough to pick out what you need then that’s great. But they will always be missing critical parts that seem the most basic. Not just out of it, which I would understand, but rather they don’t carry them at all.

Next it was to Home Depot. Farther away, but more of a lumber yard, rather than a home do it your self place. (My opinion) I went to the irrigation aisle and the associate walked right over to me and asked to help me. I said that I had a split in my poly, and that I had dug it up yesterday before the rain.

He walked over to a bin, and handed me a 2 foot section of 1 inch poly irrigation pipe and the 2 inside nipples to attach it to the existing pipe. He wanted to know if I had the shears to cut the pipe, and I replied that I would use my tree pruning shears. Well,,,,,, that will work, but not exactly what they were intended for.

He never asked me what size the pipe was or what parts I wanted, he knew exactly how it was plumbed without my explanation. They had bins with various lengths of the pipe pre cut in several sizes. And they had the pipe connectors in 100 count boxes for contractors, as well as sold singly.

Total cost for the pipe was $1.47 and each nipple was .47. The encounter took longer to type out here than it did at the store.

So today I spent the morning digging out the hole larger around the pipe. Without messing up the plastic tubing! The dirt is full of gravel from when they built the house, and it digs like concrete. The pipe is in and the grass is back in place. I haven’t turned on the sprinkler yet though.

If it leaks underground, what the heck, its an irrigation system right?

Retired Rod

Our New Granddaughter

Today we were blessed with our fifth grand child.  Abigail Lynn Ivers.  She came to this world a few minutes after noon, and weighed in at eight pounds.

We went up to the room about 4PM to meet her for the first time. 

We had this picture sent via blackberry within minutes after her birth.  When we showed it to her sister Claire here on the computer, Claire reached out and kissed the screen.  I was quite touched by that.

Her parents, Chris and Melissa, had a chocolate birthday pie, that they were awarding pieces to each guest.  Mel’s parents were there and Abby was being snuggled by each of us in turn.  I got quite a long turn to hold her, but the wife finally declared it was her turn again.

Tonight our other son, Ben and his family were going up to the room to meet Abby, so we slipped away, and went to Cracker Barrel.

So now I am full of country cookin, and quite sleepy.  But we are so blessed with Abby’s arrival and all 5 of our grandkids.

Retired Rod

Just a little hole

I was digging and made a hole in a sprinkler pipe!!!  Ouch.  It leaks a bunch, so today, its after midnight, I get to go find some plumbing parts to fix it.

Or fess up to the sprinkler folks and hire them to come and tell me how dumb I am.  And then charge the sh/t outta me.  I’ll try my way first.

Maybe I should go on strike on the ‘Honey Do’ list.   Would have been way easier to have Loyce put the hole in the pipe and then harass her.  Just kidding dear!  Its only my ego.  And my wallet, LOL.

We had another, in the 90’s day here and I sissied out and stayed in the A/C paying bills for most of the day.  We didn’t have that many bills but that’s my excuse.

Tonight we have the grand daughter again, so maybe one of these days our family will be one larger!!!!!!!

Retired Rod

Two cars and the truck

One of those days when all you do is work.  Yuk!  I didn’t do all that much, but I am slow at it.

I decided to change oil in Loyce’s Ford SUV, and that took a couple of hours.  Its not near as fast when you have to crawl on the garage floor on your back to get to the drain plugs and the filters.

And the oil has to be bottled back up to take back over to Wal Mart where they dispose of it.

But as if I hadn’t had enough of being oily, I started on the Camry.  It has a small 4 cylinder engine, but still it is so low to the ground that this fat boy had it up on a ten foot jack, just to slide under it.  Well maybe an 18 inch jack.

So the day was getting long, when I decided that the truck too, needed its oil changed.  I was riding the scoot over and getting the oil and filters, so as not to get the cars too hot.  I do not like hot oil down my sleeve. 

Finally I jugged up all the waste oil and took it over to the back door of Wal Mart.  If they catch you, you have to sign the used oil book inside, and I am always all gooky by the time I take the jugs over. So I sneak and dump the stuff off.  The guys out in the drive have work to do and don’t give a darn.  The lady inside would have a fit, but she generally doesn’t know about it.

Your  signature has your address and a guarantee that you didn’t bring oil with contaminates like antifreeze.   I sure hope my oil doesn’t have bad stuff in it, but how can I guarantee that it doesn’t?  One of the vehicles could have a problem, and I may not know it.

I am glad that I do not have to work in a garage on a daily basis.  With the problems I have with my health, I think it would kill me.

Retired Rod