Fingers crossed

We are awaiting the arrival of the mini excavator that will attempt to do what the 12-ton boom truck can't... make it's way through our soggy yard to the well.  That's the plan.  A three-man team (one running the excavator, and the other two hand pulling the pipe/pump) will attempt to pull our pump up today.  It is a pretty risky way to go about it, but it's the best option we've got at the moment.  The excavator can't pull the pipe in the full section lengths; it can only lift eleven feet at a time.  So... the work will get done somewhat inchworm style.  Pull eleven feet, clamp it, reattach at the base of the eleven feet, pull again - whereas the boom truck can pull full lengths.  However, if that monster tried to make it to the well, it would become a lawn ornament until July when the ground finally dries out.  The chancy part of it all with the excavator is that if the clamp fails, the pipe and pump will fall back down the shaft, permanently damaging the well beyond repair and we will have to drill a new well.

So, my fingers are crossed for some good luck today!

On another note... Steve's week off for clean-fest 2011 was a total success!  Our attic, which was completely impassable only ten days ago, now only has a few bins of books, fabric, photos and art work tucked neatly to one side.  All the stuff left behind by our home's previous owners is gone.  All of the left-overs from the rental remodel have been donated for someone else's future project.  Our shop is all cleaned up and accessible.  And to boot, we got some outside projects done too!  The raspberries are weeded, pruned, fed and mulched.  One wood pile was moved and neatly stacked; two muddy, soggy paths sanded and pebbled; a new garden bed built around the maple; and many, many wheelbarrow loads of compost moved.  Not too shabby....  (Sorry for the lack of photos, but it will not stop raining!)

Oh boy, the well team just got started!  Have a great Monday!  And, I'll try to get some photos snapped despite the rain.  Many updates soon to follow!