Heres an impressive property in a superb location and with three acres of grounds that include a swimming pool and pool house.

Braithwaite was built in the 1930s and is located in a quiet country lane in the village of Crook, between Windermere and Kendal.

It is full of charming original details, such as the oak front door with fanlight, polished wood floor and oak staircase in the reception hall, a feature Lakeland slate fireplace and galleried landing.

The spacious layout includes a playroom filled with light from with two west facing windows, a large picture window and part-glazed door to the front of the house and an open-plan sitting room with study/music area.

This spacious, south-facing room has three windows and two sets of sliding patio doors opening to a terrace offering uninterrupted views over the garden and surrounding countryside.

The first floor has a fabulous master bedroom suite with sliding patio doors to a roof terrace, fitted furniture and an en-suite bathroom.

Three further bedrooms are served by a shower room.

The second floor has the final two bedrooms and a cloakroom and there is also an attic.

Outside the grounds contain a double garage and driveway providing ample parking and turning and gardens with lawns, terraces, mature trees, conifers, shrubs and fruit trees.

Braithwaite in Crook, near Kendal, is for sale at 1.25m from Hackney & Leigh, tel. 01539 729711.

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Impressive 1930s house in Crook, between Kendal and Windermere, has charming interior and three acres of grounds including swimming pool - The...

The radio alarm burst into life at 7am, the news headlines providing a sudden reminder that this was the start of a working week like no other.

Usually Id wake at 6.30 but I had allowed myself the indulgence of an extra half hour due to the fact that, well, I didnt have to travel far. Just to the kitchen to be precise.

At 15, my eldest was supposed to be sitting his National 5 exams this year. Hes now gutted that my endless nagging at him to work harder during his prelims fell on deaf ears the landing zone for pretty much all my advice. Annoyingly for him, sometimes (though not often) Im actually right.

Most impressively considering his age, he didnt ask for a lie-in. He wanted to get into a routine and be at his bedroom desk for the start of school, ready to begin the day as normal. A part of him was excited to see how this new home schooling thing would work out. Badly, if the first half of the day was anything to go by.

His first message came at 9am telling him the Firefly system of sharing tasks wasnt coping and to await further advice.

My 13-year-old was less keen to get up, the thought of maths at home just as unappetising as learning it in class, so I set it as his first lesson theres no point pussyfooting around in times of national crisis.

With my eldest hanging about waiting for his first task to be assigned, I seconded him into assisting his brother. Leaving them to it, I ran downstairs to make my first call of the day. It started with what has now become my default opening line. Just to let you know my teenage sons are working upstairs so if you hear any sudden shouting, banging or possibly even fighting, please dont be alarmed.

To be fair, they made less noise than my husband the previous week who, on attempting to fix the garden fence, fell off our back wall when I was on a conference call. He could be heard in the background moaning loudly as he struggled to stand. I took immediate action of course, by swiftly shutting my patio doors.

Monday morning with the kids passed in a blur of running up and down the stairs to assist with their work, break up arguments and play-fights, keeping the younger one on task and providing snacks including to the dog who had piled in on the act.

Any thought of regular office hours is out the window now. You work when and however you can, including in the evenings.

By lunchtime I realised I needed to come up with a new pattern of working where I could be on hand to help in the morning making calls and answering emails when I can then allowing the younger one to break for a few hours so I can get through my to-do list. Any thought of regular office hours is out the window now. You work when and however you can, including in the evenings.

Those times when I connect with colleagues through video calls have become the highlight for me. For my first one last week, I linked up with five other colleagues and it was fascinating to see their home set-ups in the background. I started oohing and aahing over one of the teams new wallpaper in her lounge so she gave us a tour of the room.

Things then moved on to a more professional note until my chocolate Labrador, Daisy, started barking outside setting off one of my colleagues dogs. Once they piped down we continued and I was just getting into full flight on my team briefing when my youngest son passed behind me in his Mario onesie.

Unlike those times where you have to work from home when your kids are sick and you are pretending on work calls that everything is normal when really chaos is unfolding all around you, at least now everyone is in the same boat.

This is small beer compared to a clip that has gone viral on social media of one poor homeworker overseas who is presenting via videoconference when her husband appears at the bottom of the stairs behind her in his underpants. So panicked is he that he then bumps into the wall before stumbling backwards in a daze prolonging the exposure. The clip finishes with her holding her head in her hands. It will be a familiar pose to most of us over the next weeks and months just dont touch your face.

No, none of this is pretty, but unlike those times where you have to work from home when your kids are sick and you are pretending on work calls that everything is normal when really chaos is unfolding all around you, at least now everyone is in the same boat. Theres something about that I have to say I find liberating.

Right now we are all just trying to find a way through this overwhelming and fast-moving situation. There are challenges around every corner. But I think, I hope, that maybe, just maybe, we can make it work (ish).

Lots of us are finding ourselves working from home for an extended period the first time, and it looks like that might be the case for some weeks to come.

Of course, many others do work that cant easily be transplanted from an office to a home, but even if yours can be, it can be an odd and difficult experience especially now.

You can, though, learn from the home-working pros! One writer and author who has worked from home for many years looked at our current situation and decided that his best contribution was to quickly write a book, sharing the wisdom that not only he has learned, but his friends and colleagues across the world too.

Its called Take Control of Working from Home Temporarily, and its available for free from Take Control Books

Its author, Glenn Fleishman, also joined the host of one of our sister podcasts, Pass It On to talk about what you can do to understand how you arrange your working space and your life if you or someone you know finds themselves working from home for the first real time. Just search for Pass It On tips wherever you get your podcasts.

None of the advice in the free book or on the free podcast is preachy or patronising. Its all really pragmatic stuff from how you indicate to family or flatmates when youre busy versus interruptible, making sure youre being kind to yourself, and not feeling guilty about the second re-watching of Frozen II if you just need to get a solid hours work done when looking after your kids.

Download the free book for Kindle, iBooks, PDF and more from http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/working-from-home, and listen to the podcast by clicking here or searching for Pass It On tips wherever you get your podcasts.

Original post:
Yes, working from home is hard. But relax we're all learning as we go along - The Courier

Hadley Barndollar @hbarndollar

ThursdayMar26,2020at2:04PM

PORTSMOUTH Demolition of the former St. Patrick School has begun, making way for a future 30-car parking lot for the nearby Immaculate Conception Church.

Asbestos work started earlier this month, and demolition this week, by Air Quality Experts and Rangeley Enterprises, the contractors selected by the Diocesan Building Committee for the 115-year-old 125 Austin St. school. City building records list the property at 98 Summer St.

A pre-construction meeting was held March 11 with the purpose of mitigating adverse impacts arising from the demolition activities.

Demolition of the rear of the building was taking place Thursday. On an upper floor, old writing on a chalkboard still read, "Let's create a great year together."

Abutters received a notice from the city March 23 warning of potential rodent spread as a result of the ground vibrations caused by the demolition.

City Health Inspector Toni McLellan wrote that while the property has been evaluated and cleared of rodents, the demolition "may drive rodents living on neighboring properties into surrounding areas."

McLellan said other property owners can protect their homes by looking around for holes in siding, foundation or other openings that may allow rodents to enter. She asked people to take photographs if they do see rodents and to call her at (603) 610-4187.

"If rodents are found on your property, the Health Department does not recommend treating for them yourself, particularly if it is not confirmed that where you are treating is actually where rodents are located," McLellan wrote. "Poisons for pests are very dangerous in the environment. Often neighborhood cats or dogs and large birds will come into contact with poisoned rodents and will also be poisoned, or may consume the poison themselves."

McLellan said a certified pest control operator should be consulted if a property owner wishes to have their property further evaluated or treated.

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St. Patrick demolition begins, neighbors warned of potential rodent spread - Seacoastonline.com

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We told you back in 2018 that Walt Disney Imagineering was once again developing a Wreck-It Ralph-based attraction to replace the seasonal (I think we can now all agree that its gone and that we were right I would hope) Stitchs Great Escape in Tomorrowland at Walt Disney Worlds Magic Kingdom. Well, now it seems work is set to commence on the project as recent permits (Notices of Commencement) were filed for demolition of the theaters interior.

According to sources, the new Wreck-It Ralph attraction would reuse the existing theater-in-the-round from Great Escape (which were also used for Alien Encounter, Mission to Mars, and Flight to the Moon), but would attach video game-style controllers to every guest seat.

Of course, with construction halted throughout Walt Disney World property due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, progress all depends on when things will return to normalcy, but its clear that the project is moving forward for the time being. The current Stitch meet and greet will likely be closed upon the parks reopening, whenever that might be.

If all goes according to plan, the Wreck-It Ralph attraction in Tomorrowland will be coming our way in 2022, directly following the opening of the TRON Lightcycle Run roller coaster in 2021. These additions combined with the ongoing cosmetic changes in Tomorrowland should provide the base for a new version of the area for the Magic Kingdom.

Related

See the article here:
BREAKING: Permits Filed for Stitch's Great Escape Demolition, Work Slated to Begin On Rumored Wreck-It Ralph Attraction at Magic Kingdom - wdwnt.com

In an unprecedented move, Final Fantasy XIVs development team has temporarily suspended automatic housing demolition. This affects all data centers and all servers globally. By the time the announcement was posted on the Lodestone, demolition had already been suspended.

To keep your house in FFXIV, you typically need to enter it at least once every 45 days. For Free Company houses, as long as any member enters the house every 45 days, the house is safe from demolition. This suspension stops the timer.

Heres an example of how this works: You havent entered your house in 30 days. Once this freeze is lifted, the timer starts again, and the next day will count as 31 days since you last entered your house.

Suspending the housing demolition timer is exceedingly rare, and typically only affects a few data centers. The timer has not been suspended on North American data centers since 2018s Hurricane Michael, the first Category 5 hurricane to strike the continental United States.

Square Enix is unsure when housing demolition will be turned back on. As for when auto-demolition will resume, we will monitor the situation in the coming days, and inform you all when we have come to a decision that auto-demolition can commence again, their announcement said.

The rest is here:
Final Fantasy XIV Housing Demolition suspended indefinitely because of Covid-19 - Gamepur

The city fathers tried many times to extend the water intakes in the bay to stop the Typhoid Fever. None seemed to work. In 1902 they finally decided to take water out of Lake Erie which meant that they would need to run a 60 inch or more pipeline under Presque Isle out into the lake. The State gave the Erie Water Commission 175 acres of land.

This article tells the history of this undertaking and how it almost solved the problem. There was on last step that finally did solve the Typhoid problem.

The city tried many options such as floating flumes, various length intake pipelines in shallow water to try to eliminate the contamination coming into the citys water supply. One of the flumes was just 100 Yards from a sewage clogged creek outlet into the bay. None of these even slowed the typhoid problem in the city.

Next, they planned a 60-inch cast-iron pipeline and put it in a trench on the floor of Presque Isle Bay. This would extend the pipeline to within 2,500 feet of the Presque Isle shoreline and was a total of 1.6 miles in length. This installation took place in 1896 and 1897. The work was done by two huge barges equipped with dredges to dig the trench for the iron pipeline. Water began to flow in the fall of 1897.

Regrettably, by 1902 it was evident to the Water Commission that there was still a high level of typhoid as over 180 deaths were happening annually. The Commission's first action again demanded that the city cease dumping raw sewage into the bay. Yet again, the City fathers ignored their request.

That is when the Water Commission, as I mentioned in my earlier article, decided to lay a pipeline under Presque Isle and out 5,000 feet into Lake Erie. That location is 3.5 miles from the Chestnut Street pumping station. The Commission budgeted $ 104,000 to do the extension. In July of 1904, T.A. Gillespie of Pittsburgh was hired to extend the pipe into the lake from the end of the existing pipeline in the bay.

As this was happening and work was being planned, the Water Commissioners found they were having a difficult time raising funds to pay for the task. At this point, the three commissioners, Mr. Clark Olds, Mr. William Hamilton, and Mr. Willis B. Durlin, advanced the necessary funds personally.

The work on the extension was to be done in three stages. The first was to be from the bay to the shore of Presque Isle, or about 2,500 feet. This portion was to begin in late 1904 and early 1905. The next section was the lake portion, which was to be done in 1906 and 1907. The final section was to be started in 1907 and finished in 1908.

Regrettably, in early 1907 strong storms disrupted the lake work, and the pipe barge was heavily damaged, and some pipe was lost delaying that work until 1908. On December 7, 1907, the work on inland Presque Isle began on the twin settling ponds that still exist today. A map of this area from 1900 shows this whole area was originally covered with many small ponds and numerous swamps.

When work began, two ponds already existed near where the settlings ponds would be placed. The new ponds, when completed, would be used to let the silt settle out of the water before pumping it over to the city side.

A huge floating dredge called Centrif worked on moving the massive amounts of sand and water necessary to create a channel 25 to 40 feet wide from the bay to the lake. As planned, along the way it would also create the two settling ponds we see today. Old records also indicate the dredge also enlarged the area where the Ferry Slip is today on the bayside. Its first job was to create the East Pond. When done, it moved to the West Pond area and enlarged an existing pond to form the new West Pond. When completed, it moved to the trench bisecting the peninsula. Finally, when this was done, it moved into the lake portion of the job.

On September 16, 1908, the new line to Lake Erie was completed and turned on. Today, the only visible reminders of this 1904 to 1908 extension project are the massive blue iron valves that are still located in the area. These, by design, moved water between the two ponds.

The other only remainder was the lighthouse looking structure located at the end of the Ferry Slip. While many people believed this was a lighthouse, it was not. It never had any power and was never used. Thank Heaven for that. It was an emergency valve house designed to draw water from the bay again if problems developed with the lake intake system.

While the intake line into the lake was somewhat successful, it did not fully solve the typhoid problem. It seems that in the winter of 1910-1911, another epidemic broke out, and records show reported cases of 1,060 with 135 deaths recorded. The hospitals were so crowded that Hamot Hospital built a temporary addition which contained eighteen beds. There was a shortage of trained nurses which was relieved when a group came to Erie from Philadelphia.

In 1910, Big Bertha, a 20 million gallon per day MGD Bethlehem Triple Expansion High Duty Pumping Engine, was installed in the building that is now located on the southern side of the bayfront highway. By 1912, the Water Commission began treating the water using a hypo-chlorination process that included adding hypochlorite of lime to the water supply. At the same time, they decided to install a water filtration and treatment plant at the Chestnut Street plant with a complete chemical and bacteriological laboratory. This ended most of Erie's water problems. (By the way, Big Bertha is still in the plant, but not in use. Occasionally tours are held to view this huge Pumping Engine.)

In one more article about the Water Works in Erie and on Presque Isle, I will cover the positive events and construction that has occurred since the water improvements in this area. Until then, stay well and,

See you on the park!! (A wonderful place to get outside during this time)

Gene Ware is a published author of 9 books and is on the board of the Presque Isle Light Station, and past Chairman of the board of the Tom Ridge Center Foundation, and the Presque Isle Partnership. He is also a goerie.com contributing writer. If you have questions or comments, send them to ware906@gmail.com.

Here is the original post:
The extension of the City of Erie's Water Intake into Lake Erie. - - Would it eliminate the Typhoid Fever problem? - GoErie.com

The DeForest Planning and Zoning Commission approved a 66,000-square foot project to add onto, and make improvements, to DeForest Area High School at its March 24 meeting.

The project was initially given the go-ahead during an April 2019 referendum. It includes an addition to the high school in the form of a new gym and natatorium on the south end of the building. There will also be more room for classrooms, with improvements to athletic fields and parking.

Zoning Administrator Brandi Cooper listed the details of the project.

The main entrance will shift away from the current one on the north end of the building. It will be moved to the west side. There will also be 163 parking spaces added, bringing the total to 690 stalls.

There will be an access point to the eastern athletic facilities via North Towne Road. The project would include an easterly extension of Jefferson Street and a school-only driveway to North Town Road to its south.

Before it was given final approval, there were a few provisions to the plan. The biggest concern came after the Village Engineer Ryan Quam had been accessing the area for a while. Quam sent an email to Village Board Trustee Jason Kramar, who is also on the commission.

The project initially called for a design of the Fox Hill Estates plat located northeast of the Highway 51 and 19 interchange that does not require the vacation or change of any stormwater outlots dedicated with the recorded plat and Certified Survey Map (CSM), if practical.

Quam said that the requirement could not be met and would be an unfortunate waste of time and/or hundred of thousands of dollars.

Quam has spent the last 10 months evaluating the site and said that the soils in the existing pond outlots are not suitable for infiltration and thusly cannot contribute toward the 100% infiltration requirement.

Also there was a requirement that the existing runoff volume draining to the wetlands be maintained, but the pond would not allow sufficient runoff to the wetlands, according to Quam.

Quam designed a stormwater plan to minimize all future construction costs.

The ponds were designed as low as possible in order keep the lots low and balance site earthwork, Quam wrote in his email. The ponds were designed over soils suitable for infiltration to eliminate the need for importing sand. The ponds were designed in a central location to keep storm sewer sizes below 36 diameter to minimize storm sewer costs. Note that 5-foot by 5-foot box storm sewer is very expensive and causes pipe conflicts. The regional ponds meet the infiltration requirements for the entire plat so developers of the commercial lots will not need to import expensive sand, construct costly bio-retention devices, or install expensive permeable pavement.

Quam said that the design, with a view adjustments, met Capitol Area Regional Planning Commission and DNR requirements.

Also, new additions to the project were to widen the extension of Jefferson Street and adjust the west end of a path connecting to the high school tennis courts to better facilitate its western extension south of the tennis courts as part of a grant application.

The project is scheduled to begin construction in summer an be completed for the 2022-23 school year.

Follow this link:
DAHS addition approved by Planning and Zoning Commission - HNGnews.com

Are you considering putting a pool in at home? Perhaps youre deciding whether the upkeep and maintenance is worth the effort and hassle? While having a pool in your own backyard does require attention and will add to your monthly bills the pros certain outweigh the cons.

Swimming is one of the best ways to beat the heat on a hot day. This is why many people find it beneficial to add an in-ground pool at home. Its among the most ideal ways to cool down in the comfort of your own property, especially during the summer. Apart from providing a good leisure activity, having a swimming pool at home has other benefits too.

From midnight dips, memorable family moments to simply creating a fun environment for your loved ones, the benefits of owning a swimming pool are plentiful. Del Suppo Pools, located at 26 McKean Ave. Donora,Pa., is here to bring your staycation pool a reality.

Here are some reasons why you should consider a pool this season.

Water has a natural sense of instilling a sense of calm. Regular swimming, even just half an hour at a time, is known to be effective for lowering incidences of depression and anxiety and improving sleep patterns. Swimming releases endorphins, the natural feel good hormones that lead us to experience a greater sense of happiness and wellbeing.

Theres no denying that friends and family flock to the homes of those who have swimming pools. From backyard BBQs and cocktail hours, to impromptu playdates or sunbathing on a Sunday, if you love to entertain then get a pool!

You certainly dont need to have a gym membership if you have a pool right outside your door. Just a few laps a day can provide you with a full body workout. Pools are fantastic for those who need low-impact workouts this way they can increase their fitness levels while not straining their bones, joints or muscles.

While the cost of cleaning and maintaining a pool certainly makes an impact on your utility bill (unless you join Del Suppos annual pool maintenance program), it can also save you money in other areas i.e. entertaining your kids, staycations vs. traveling, gym memberships, etc.

Im excited to offer this service program to our customers, said Buster Suppo, President of Del Suppo Pools. We have been doing pool service for many years. We find that our customers are a mix of people people who like to travel, who work crazy hours and just want to come home and enjoy their pool. Now we can offer a weekly program and roll in the opening and closing to allow you to do with your pool what youre intending to do enjoy it.

Del Suppo Pools weekly maintenance program includes 20 weeks of pool or spa service/maintenance for $2,800. This service includes:

Pool Opening and Closing (Auto-cover or Loop Loc)

Cover Cleaning with Pool Opening (repair additional charge)

Vacuuming Weekly

Surface Skimming Weekly

Emptying strainer/skimmer baskets weekly

Backwashing DE/Sand filters & cartridge filter cleaning as needed

10% off of Chemicals/Parts/Equipments in-store or delivered on a day of service (Some exclusions may apply)

Preventive maintenance inspections every week to keep your equipment up and running as it should to help avoid mid-season meltdowns

Onsite water testing to keep your water crystal clear. We will make sure your water is properly balanced and effectively being sanitized. Chemicals are added as needed.

Weekly report included

CPO & EPA Pesticide Applicator Category 24 (swimming pool) Certified Technicians

My crew and I are trained in water treatment, electrical repair and troubleshooting, said Suppo. We attend several industry sponsored training sessions each year. We are EPA certified for heat pump repair. So we will not just vacuum your pool but help to maintain it and keep it running well for many years to come.

There are also many options to remodel or update existing pools, said Suppo. So, if youre buying a house with a pool, make that pool yours. Change the liner; add a sundeck; add a slide; if you have a young family consider an Automatic Cover; worried about energy costs call us we can change out the pump for an energy efficient variable speed pump.

A swimming pool isnt simply a decoration at home. Its no secret that a propertys value will increase significantly with the addition of a swimming pool. If you intend on eventually selling your home for a hefty profit, then a built-in pool is a way to go. Be aware, however, that the value also depends on the type of pool you want to install, so its best to seek advice from an estate agent before you start digging your yard up however, Del Suppo Pools, and their years of experience, are here to help guide you through what options are best for you.

We build a lot of pools every year because people want them, said Suppo. When people who have previously owned a pool move into a new home, Im the first guy they call after the mover or break ground on their new property.

At Del Suppo Pools, and their sister company Tri State Pool Covers, you can design the inground swimming pools of your dreams and their experienced, well- trained staff will build it by using the highest quality materials on the market today. With the imagineering system, Del Suppo Pools can build your swimming pool in any size, shape, or depth that you desire. They also offer a wide variety of options including lighting, fountains, automatic safety covers, and liners to suit your needs and personality.

Our customers return to us because they appreciate that we work hard to satisfy them, said Suppo. We do our best to resolve problems and give our customers good service and value for their money. We have had lots of odd things over the years like frog ponds that became a prince of a pool. We always do our best to give the customers what they want.

Sponsored content brought to you by Del Suppo Pools.

Read more:
Interested in a pool? Consider these reasons today! - Observer-Reporter

Reducing soil erosion, turning steep slopes into terraced backdrops, creating focal points in the landscaperetaining walls serve many purposes. Indeed, they are some of the most common ways to correct problems caused by hilly areas! Well-built retaining walls transform unworkable inclines into usable outdoor space for the garden.

Despite their simple appearance, though, these walls require a good deal of planningsometimes professional engineeringto keep their shape. Soil is heavy, especially when soaking wet from a recent rainstorm, so a basic retaining wall (four feet tall and 15 feet long) potentially has to support up to 20 tons of soil pressure. With every additional foot of height, the pressure of the soil increases substantially. Miscalculate your construction plans, and you could end up with a weak wall that risks bulging or, worse, collapsing altogether. For just this reason, retaining walls taller than four feet should be designed and constructed by the pros.

Shorter retaining walls, however, can be constructed by enthusiastic do-it-yourselfers equipped with some basic construction knowledge. Does that sound like you? If youre looking to get your hands dirty and enhance your landscape with a retaining wall, these guidelines for building a retaining wall will help you get off to a good start.

A retaining walls effect on the natural flow of water could impact your neighbors, so some communities require homeowners to obtain a permit before construction commences. You may have to submit plans for your wall and schedule a property inspection to ensure that building a retaining wall wont create drainage problems.

While youre at it, do also place a call DigSafe (811), a nationwide service that will notify local utility companies that you plan to dig. These can determine whether their buried lines will be in the way and mark their exact locations.

Retaining walls can be constructed using a variety of materials, from poured concrete and large timbers to natural stones, even bricks. For DIY purposes, opt for manufactured blocks that are designed specifically for building retaining walls; a locking flange along the bottom edge creates a secure attachment between rows. These blocks (available in gray and earthy tones in smooth or textured faces, like these at The Home Depot) can be found at virtually any home improvement store and many garden centers as well.

Your retaining wall will only be as strong its support system. For a stacked-block retaining wall thats no higher than four feet, a trench filled with three inches of crushed rock will help keep the wall from shifting and settling. The exact depth of the trench depends on the proposed height of the wall, but follow this rule of thumb: Dig a trench to be an eighth of the wall plus three inches. For example, if you want the finished height of your retaining wall to be three feet (36 inches) tall, youd need to dig the trench eight inches deep to accommodate three inches of crushed rock and about five inches (or an eighth of the visible retaining wall) to start the wall below grade.

The first course (or row of blocks) sets the stage for the rest of the wall, so its vital that you make it perfectly level. If it isnt, subsequent rows wont be level either, resulting in a retaining wall thats lopsided and unattractive. Use a four-footcarpenters level to ensure that the gravel layer below the first course of blocks is level before you start setting the blocks. Any discrepancies here will show up higher in the wall.

A wall that leans into the soil it retains is less likely to be pushed outward by soil pressure than a plain-old vertical wall. Design and build your retaining wall to slope at a minimum rate of one inch for every one-foot of rise (height). Fortunately, working with retaining wall blocks makes it incredibly easy to achieve this step-back construction! The locking flange on the bottom edge of every block guides it to click into position slightly behind the lower block, preventing the top blocks from being pushed outward.

Groundwater is the natural enemy of retaining walls. When it saturates clay-type soils, they swell and put excessive pressure on the backside of the wall. To avoid failure, make drainage provisions at the same time as you go about building the retaining wall. Backfilling the space behind the blocks with crushed stone and then installing a flexible perforated drainpipe (available at The Home Depot), also called drain tile, at the base of the wall could create the necessary escape route for groundwater. The perforated pipe will carry groundwater to each end of the wall where it can drain harmlessly away. The ends of the drainpipe should then exit on each end of the wall, and you may cover them with crushed stone to camouflage their appearance.

RELATED: The 10 Best Things You Can Do for Your Soil

After your drainpipe is in place, you should backfill the rest of the space behind the blocks with either sand or pea graveleither will allow water to filter through to the drainpipe at the base of the wall. For the best results, backfill with a few inches of the material after laying each course of blocks, and use a hand tamper to compact the material. By tamping the backfill every six inches or so, youll ensure that it is packed tightly, which will provide additional support from the pressure of the soil behind the wall.

While retaining walls taller than four feet should be engineered by professionals, you may be able to DIY a solution for a tall slope by creating two or more shorter tiered retaining walls as opposed to a single tall wall. A series of short walls adds visual texture, and each individual wall will support less soil weight, ensuring that theyre less likely to fail. When building a tiered set of retaining walls, position the higher wall behind the lower wall at twice the distance as the height of the lower wall. For example, if the lower wall is three-feet high, the higher wall should be set back at least six feet from the lower one. This keeps the higher one from creating pressure on the lower one.

Link:
Building a Retaining Wall: 8 Dos and Don'ts | Bob Vila

NASCAR driver and Capitals fan Ryan Ellis tried to drive his RMNB eFord into NASCARs nationally-broadcast race on FOX at 1 PM. Instead, the Ashburn, Virginia native got caught up in a wreck on lap five during the qualifying race.

Yes, he broke the Russian machine (again).

Before the race, Ellis said how important it was to qualify well so he could avoid any craziness in the middle of the pack. Unfortunately, he started in 18th and in row 9.

The @russianmachine car looked good coming off pit lane, @ryanellisracing pic.twitter.com/FmQ8SfHbID

Ian Oland (@ianoland) March 29, 2020

The race started inauspiciously enough, but on lap five things got crazy. Kyle Weatherman got into Justin Allgaier and both went into the infield retaining wall. Myatt Snider was sent airborne as other cars collected and wrecked behind those two. Trevor Bayne and Justin Haley were also involved.

Almost won it today . If they took the top-25 out of 30 Id have a chance.

For real though, had good speed but got caught up in a big ol crash lap 5.

Well get em next week, @russianmachine @AVSpecialists_ @TheTireStore! pic.twitter.com/RECBY9RJVW

Ryan Ellis (@ryanellisracing) March 29, 2020

Got put top of 3 lap one, and lost a bunch of spots but overall it was fun. Think we wouldve ended up like 6-10th.

Ryan Ellis (@ryanellisracing) March 29, 2020

I feel really bad for all the eGuys back at the eShop, Ellis said. We had a really good Russian Machine Ford until we got caught up in a massive crash on the back straightaway. I thought I was going to get through it but my dogs Andy and Barry told me to go low/middle through the crash and they guessed wrong.

FS1 replayed the wreck before the start of the NASCAR race.

Another look at the wreck pic.twitter.com/03hnyng4Wh

Ian Oland (@ianoland) March 29, 2020

For approximately a half second, the @russianmachine logo was on national TV so @ryanellisracing were still winners pic.twitter.com/f0NX7ACayO

Ian Oland (@ianoland) March 29, 2020

Only four of the 34 drivers who participated advanced into the big race. Those drivers were Ruben Garcia Jr., Ty Majewski, Anthony Alfredo, and the race winner Alex Labbe.

Before the qualifying race began, Ellis got a lot of attention on social media after he posted a video of himself driving through a crazy wreck during practice. He didnt even lift as he drove through flipping cars and smoke. Im so proud.

lolololol if this is any indication of whats to come pic.twitter.com/vRBJyJQMdt

Ryan Ellis (@ryanellisracing) March 29, 2020

Ellis also had some fun as well, ending his practice session by flipping into the fence.

Glad you took time to inspect the fence and make sure its safe during practice @ryanellisracing pic.twitter.com/s21H7wsrie

Ian Oland (@ianoland) March 29, 2020

Despite wrecking during the race, Ellis showed speed all week and believed he was fast enough to challenge for one of the top four spots.

He hopes that NASCAR considers adding a second race for XFINITY and Truck drivers on Friday nights.

Constructive criticism of LCQ. We really need to try to open it up to all @NASCAR licensed drivers no reason @TommyJoeMartins and a bunch of others couldn't get in there.

Really should be a 100 lap race or so with cautions. Allow 5 to transfer into the other race.

Ryan Ellis (@ryanellisracing) March 29, 2020

I think we all understand the big race needs to have guys like Dale JR, Biffle, etc. That's cool. But a lot of the other guys have sponsors that need to be represented and I think with the world struggling for live content, we could host our own race for everyone else on Fri/Sat.

Ryan Ellis (@ryanellisracing) March 29, 2020

That way even if people don't transfer in, they still get their sponsors exposure which is really important in this time. Also, 100 laps (and cautions!!!) would really help calm people down and make it seem like a legit race.

Ryan Ellis (@ryanellisracing) March 29, 2020

And guess what! Were already working on another session that we can live stream for those smaller guys/teams. We want to include everyone in the sport. I think @iracing and @iRacingMyers are doing a great job with getting all this done and we all appreciate it.

Ryan Ellis (@ryanellisracing) March 29, 2020

We cant wait to see whats next and thank you again to Ryan for letting us go along for the ride. This is the most exciting Sunday weve had in a while.

eRaceday at eTexas with the eRMNB eKansasland eAudioVideoSpecialists eFord!

Tune to https://t.co/maqsVpTUQI at 11am. @russianmachine @AVSpecialists_ @TheTireStore pic.twitter.com/fiwC0FjMrP

Ryan Ellis (@ryanellisracing) March 29, 2020

Headline photo courtesy of FS1

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Ryan Ellis, RMNB car gets caught up in 'the big one' at virtual Texas Motor Speedway - Russian Machine Never Breaks