Dec. 12 Preparing the slab

So, yesterday (Sunday) was a beautiful day and Tony says you never schedule a day to cut the grass.  If it's a good day do it, because December is the wettest month here.  It averages about 4 inches of rain, and we've seen a little bit of that and now know why we won't need a sprinkler system.  In spite of the rain, the temperature is warm and any time you wish to get away from it, just drive down the hill 15 minutes to the beach and you'll get all the sun you want.

Yesterday, Milton and Agnes Crivello (Marilyn's parents) stopped by from Hilo to check out the work.  Milton worked for the water department for years and has appointed himself as my unofficial inspector to make sure everything is done properly - especially water drainage which is his field of expertise.  It's important not to have puddles of water on your grass like a couple of our neighbors.  It attracts ducks believe it or not, and becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes.  So our acreage, while landscaped with grass, has high and low spots.  They had to bring in more gravel than expected to raise up where we want the house so water will drain away from the slab and into the dry wells that we dig.  Milton checked it out and said the builders were doing good.  Well - Milton is related to half the island and has a network of people.  Even our builder, Monty Miranda, is somehow related to him.  They know each other and Milton told me (in half pigeon) to tell Monty that Milton is my inspector and he "gonna check on the building to make sure it done right."  Nice to have friends in high places.

Our curved driveway leading to the house and garage. Notice
by the excavator there's a little turn out.

They brought in a lot of gravel to raise up where the slab will go.

You can see from this angle, they brought it up over 12 inches.
After the slab is finished, they will slope it gradually with the extra dirt.
They still have to dig our septic field. Slow but sure.