Country Driveway Gets a Face Lift
Posted on 28. Oct, 2009 by Laura-Jane - Whimfield in House, Outdoors, Prince Edward Island, Video
We’ve done everything ourselves with our own hands.
We sold our urban condo without a realtor. We drove across Canada hauling all our junk in our own trailer (in the middle of Winter) and moved across the country. We bought a house with no advice. We replumbed the entire house. We reshingled the steep roof. We carried out buckets and buckets of old plaster. We carried in and hung over 100 sheets of drywall. We puttied. We painted. We tiled. We cleared snow. We carried a 500 pound wood-stove. We’ve done it all.
But there comes a time when you need to ask for help. And we did. When it came to our driveway, we needed help.
Oh, we tried to deal with our driveway ourselves. Cameron used our tractor to eliminate the bumps and muddiness. Our few attempts only made the driveway worse; it was bumpier, ruttier, and softer than ever.
So we asked for help. We called in the big guns. I was happy. We’ve got a lot on the go and anything that frees up Cam’s time is a good thing.
But, for Cameron, it was hard. He likes to do things himself; he likes to be in control. He wants projects done to his standards on his schedule. After much cajoling from my part, Cam agreed that we should hire a local company to improve our driveway. All Cameron could do was look on. It was hard for him.
But these guys knew what they were doing. They arrived with huge equipment and got to work. Cam looked on from the sidelines.
What would have taken him weeks with our equipment was done in a matter of hours. It was exciting to see the experts in action.
Once the project was almost complete, I was inside the house while Cameron and the crew were outside. Suddenly the screen door slammed and work-boots clomped up the stairs two at a time. It was a breathless Cameron.
“They need an extra body to drive some equipment down the road!” He said. “I’m going to be driving a huge piece of equipment down the road!!”
I paused, then said, “Did you tell them that you’ve never driven anything like that before?”
“Yes, but they didn’t seem to mind.”
I laughed, grabbed my camera, and followed him outside.
After a crash course in Heavy Equipment 101, he was driving the giant loader on our property.
Soon enough I was waving from the end of our driveway and watching a parade of yellow machines fade off into the distance, with Cameron bringing up the rear in the giant loader.
From then on Cameron relaxed, and the driveway project was a success.
This whole episode leads me to wonder, “Why couldn’t we have hired people to do everything??”
But, as Cameron points out, you’ve got to know when to do it yourself and when to ask for help. Our financial freedom has been based on Cameron’s knowledge, gung-ho, and willingness to do work himself. Without his willingness to learn and do, we couldn’t possibly be living how we’re living. That being said, there’s always a time to ask for help, and the trick is to recognize the time and not be too stubborn to act on it.
Kristen
Oct 31st, 2009
The new layout looks great, Laura-Jane! Also love the post; I’ve been wondering how the house renovations have been going. Gotta love a red dirt PEI driveway!
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
Oct 31st, 2009
Thanks Kristen! I’m excited about it. Change is good! The red dirt is neat, huh? It’s EVERYWHERE here on PEI.
Amanda
Oct 31st, 2009
Haha love the little movie! Kristen, I’m glad you pointed out the red dirt. I didn’t notice it before but of course!
Think they’ll come and do ours too?:)
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
Oct 31st, 2009
Do you have a doozie of a driveway?
Kim
Oct 31st, 2009
Ahhh, so much to look at!
And the video clip – delightful!
First I was jealous of your pile of firewood; now I’m jealous of your driveway!
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
Oct 31st, 2009
The secret is that I show the things that are jealousy-worthy, but I do not show the things that are embarrassing. For example, have you noticed how there are never any pictures of the interior of our house? Lol.
And your house made me jealous, but you know that already.
Kim, I owe you emails! I haven’t forgotten. I am just slow. :)
Bryson Guptill
Oct 31st, 2009
Delighted by your story, and your courage. It’s fascinating to see this new generation of young people coming to PEI. I moved here 13 years ago (from Ottawa). My partner moved here 20 years ago (from B.C.). We love it (and have our own nine year old Islander to show for it!).
Gary Gray
Nov 1st, 2009
Hi L-J
Well, first comment on your new layout… Woo Hoo!
Looks really nice (awesome) and the links down below are a cool unique feature. (thanks for the one to HIP)
I hope your driveway project works out well. (lets the water run away in Spring, Summer and Fall, and the snow blow over in Winter)
Congrats, Cam you looked pretty comfy in the cab of that loader.
Kristen, that red dirt is where we grow our world famous potatoes. We put a tiny bit of it in every bag.
Hi Kim (waving)
Smiles :o)
Gary
Gary Gray
Nov 1st, 2009
P.S I forgot to say that I really liked your video L-J. Cams voice over and the big machinery sounds were neat as well. The video really adds warmth to your post.
Smiles :o)
GG
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
Nov 1st, 2009
Thanks for your feedback, Gary. I’m very glad that you like the new look. Happy to give the link to HIP. It’s fun to see your gravatar picture here, too. Hope you’re great!
ira
Nov 1st, 2009
step 1 is (re)building your own house
step 2 is building your own road!
wow! “stoer….”
(what will be step 3 : )
warmth, Ira
Freda
Nov 1st, 2009
LOVE IT!! LOVE IT!! Cam is just a little boy at heart with all the farm toys and big equipment.
You are very lucky to have Cam so willing to tackle everything and also willing to admit when the project is too much. Will be wonderful to have the new driveway.
Melissa
Nov 1st, 2009
Hi Laura-Jane!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the new layout! So glad to hear you are enjoying a new driveway. I should note that I am super jealous that Cameron got to drive that giant loader! Hope you are enjoying Fall and all the beauty it has to offer!
Melissa
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
Nov 1st, 2009
The funny thing is that I was not jealous at all. I was thinking, “Thank goodness I don’t have to drive that thing.” :)
Kristen
Nov 1st, 2009
Ah, Gary, trust me, like all Canadians, I know the virtues of the red dirt ;) I visited PEI this past summer actually, and I miss the red dirt roads! I do have a bottle of the red sand at least.
Steven Fisher
Nov 2nd, 2009
It’s tough to get a sense of scale, but that looks like a VERY wide driveway. That intended to help with the winter weather?
As a Fraser Valley guy, I don’t understand the PEI weather thing. :)
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
Nov 3rd, 2009
It is a very wide driveway, I think. Me being an ex-Vancouver Island gal, I don’t really know what’s normal or not either. :)
Andy Collier
Nov 2nd, 2009
I remember the first time I drove a piece of heavy equipment. I was working for a contractor as a foremans assistant (go-for)and they needed a front end loader driven across Charlottetown from one job site to another, I was never so nervous in all my life!
On that job I also drove a bobcat for the first time and a standard pick-up, a sky-jack and used a jackhammer…
You definitely need to know when to call in the pros! We are hoping to get a small piece of equipment for maintaining our driveway in the future though, ours isn’t as long as your though!
Gina
Nov 2nd, 2009
As a relative new reader to Whimfield I have to say ‘pure delight’…not just the driveway but all of it. Makes my heart smile to read the entries…I am smiling now as I type. Thank you for that.
Bet Cameron would have wanted video footage posted of him driving the ‘huge piece of equipment’ down the highway. :)
Thanks for the smiles
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
Nov 3rd, 2009
Welcome, Gina! The funny thing about Cameron is that he rolls his eyes at me and my documenting things. I have a video of him driving the thing, but he just rolls his eyes and wanders off when I mention posting it here. I still can’t tell whether that means he wants me to or not?
Kim
Nov 3rd, 2009
LJ-my email to you bounced back twice – is it me, or is it you? :)
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
Nov 3rd, 2009
It was ME!! Thanks for letting me know, Kim. All should be well now. I think my email has been hooped for the last 48 hrs or so, so if anyone got a bounce please resend. Thanks Kim!!
warren
Nov 9th, 2009
I almost always do stuff myself too. I always figure that in most cases, I won’t screw stuff up so bad that an expert can’t fix it if I get in totally over my head…saves a ton of money!
I am so envious of Cam’s getting to run the loader…I bet he won’t even need a Christmas present this year!
Jessica
Nov 19th, 2009
Hi,
We came across your blog, and we really love it!
We are hoping to move across Canada to lovelly PEI this winter, and would love to ask you some questions about the island!
Cheers,
Jessica n’ David
tony
Dec 13th, 2010
Great site stay warm this winter bye.
Love the blaze king stove!
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
Dec 14th, 2010
You too, Tony! :)