{SQT} Nebraska Abroad and Water at Home

1-4. Nebraska

We spent four lovely days in Nebraska visiting my grandparents, which you can read all about . . .

• http://luke2-14.blogspot.com/2018/07/nebraska-friday.html
• http://luke2-14.blogspot.com/2018/07/nebraska-saturday.html
• http://luke2-14.blogspot.com/2018/07/nebraska-sunday.html
• http://luke2-14.blogspot.com/2018/07/nebraska-monday.html

5. Water Problems Part I

We arrived home to the two master bathroom sinks overflowing with water and the floor soaked . . . but, nearly by a plumbing miracle, the flooring not damaged. Chris scooped out the water by buckets, and it filled back up again. The water had not been running while we were gone and was not running now, so the water was coming from elsewhere in the pipeline. It's too complicated for me to explain, but my husband read up online, discovered that the clog had to be above the master sinks, up at a vent in the attic, so he climbed up there and got it cleared, saving us mucho dinero in plumbing fees. Thanks, hon!

Overflowing sink full of sediment

6. Water Problems Part II

Meanwhile, we've had a water problem on one side of our home since before we bought this home ten years ago. Water accumulates on one side of the house, where it is often a sodden, muddy mess, and it is threatening water damage to the foundation. Thus, we did one of those boring, adult tasks and hired out to have a French drain put in (with decorative river rock on top), as well as all this special piping running underground, beneath our driveway and various sidewalks, from every downspout of the house so that the water would run away from the house and down to the road. It's an expensive project and not glamorous, like an interior home renovation, but it surely protects the home!

Chris made a 2-minute time lapse video of the all-day river rock project on one side of the home, and the workers were here for a couple more days working at all the other downspouts.



There has been rain all week, so the drainage got to be tested right away!

Mary reading on the front porch during a rain storm

7. Needed More Downtime

So busy! I had not respected that we would come home and need some days of quiet and respite. I note to self that I need to clear the calendar after a trip.

I made sure the children were catching up on their shortened sleep, but I was burning the candle at both ends keeping us all up with our activities, which made me more of a hot mess than I describe in this blog.

We arrived home at dinner, only the next day immediately to have music lessons, the huge pick-up for the monthly housecleaners, and in the days to follow, the girls' sewing lessons, a play date, an extra music lesson, a 6:30 a.m. Mama's Get-Together with a Friend, art class, and a weekend full of special Fraternus events, a youth orchestra potluck, and a going-away party.


For more 7 Quick Takes Friday, check out This Ain't the Lyceum.