A Big Mess

A couple weeks ago, we experienced one of the disadvantages of homeownership - a big, expensive home repair! The old clay sewer pipe that went out from the house (about 20 feet under the side yard to where it hooked up with the city sewer line) failed. Whether it was crushed by tree roots or just collapsed from old age, we'll never know. What we did know, however, was that it needed to be fixed - fast!

We ended up having to wait a couple days until the job could get done. Thankfully, Tim & Judy were willing to accommodate us during that time! I took this picture of Caroline during our first night there. She's enjoying one of Grandad's special treats that he makes just for the girls: milkshakes!

Ta da - the finished result inside the house! (I wish I had taken a picture of the gigantic hole they dug in the side yard, but - alas! - I just didn't.) They had to jackhammer up some of the floor in the basement, and they came back last Friday to pour the concrete and clean up the rest of the mess. You can't really see it in the picture, but the girls did write their names & the year in the wet cement for posterity. Thank goodness that's over!