The Wellhouse from Hell

The day finally arrived when we decided it was time for the well house with the peeling paint and rotting bottoms to come down, and a new one go up. Sounds easy enough, right?
Not in the Ozarks. First you (foolishly) mention it to a neighbor, and next thing you know you've got Jim supervizing, Mike making beer runs, and 2 other guys making a bet on whether it will stay together or flatten when it gets tipped over with the tractor that's run by yet a 5th person - yes, the husband. (The guy who said it would stay together won. Afterall, he saw it getting built.)

Oh, shoot! I left out a part. First y'all gotta lean on the tractor with a beer talking about it for about half an hour.

So then everybody watches as the tractor pushes the old well house way down over the hill. It goes crash. All the drunks yell, "Hurrah!". We have another beer to celebrate, then everybody goes home.

Ooo, now we're in the planning stages of the new one. This time we're going to pour concrete. No, not ourselves. It's too much of a pain. Call the guy & make a date for him to come out.
Something's wrong with the pressure tank. Call the plumbers. Nope, nothing wrong with the tank. The pump went out. Call the guy bringing the concrete and tell him to hold off. Get the guys replacing the pump out here a.s.a.p.
But did we go w/o water? Hell no!, the neighbors heard about it. Next thing we know we've got Gott coolers, 16 Gatoraide jars, and countless 5 gal. buckets sitting....in our kitchen! :o (I didn't like that part, but I can't hardly go knocking good neighbors.)
Okay, pump's fixed. Call the concrete guy back. Call neighbor Dan the perfectionist, (our 2nd mistake), and see if he wants a job setting forms and putting up a well house. Nine days and $300 later, it's framed in. (Yes, he charged us to watch concrete dry.)
So we puts the shingles on and closes it in, and let the project sit for a few weeks 'cuz it's too stinking hot to work after you've already worked all day.
Finally, the doors get put together. (I nailed one together all by myself; hardly missed at all, and only dented one. No, they were not galvanized.)
Now it's time to paint. I won't put you through hearing how much fun it is to paint eaves with roofing nails sticking through on the hottest day of the year.
So, so far we've got an 8x14 shed that you'll be able to keep warm with a candle. It's got sheathing insulation on the outside, regular on the inside. We've yet to hang the sheetrock, paint the interior, and texture, (yes, texture), the ceiling. Oh yea, and cut and paint the rest of the trim. Oh yea, and extend the (how do you spell) spickett to the outside.

Oh, why so big? Cuz it's located close to the garden, and I'll be able to store the mower, the hoses, and all those nifty garden tools real handy like.

I can't wait. ::)

Um...I have a stupid question. What in the hell is a "Wellhouse?"

[kathleen]

Oh, why so big? Cuz it's located close to the garden, and I'll be able to store the mower, the hoses, and all those nifty garden tools real handy like.

I can't wait. ::)


You got to build the shelves and wall hangers to put everything away neatly.

Sounds like you did a good job. Congrats on your new wellhouse. :)

[kathleen]

Um...I have a stupid question. What in the hell is a "Wellhouse?"


A house over a well, silly.

A house over a well, silly.


Okay. Why?

Um...I have a stupid question. What in the hell is a "Wellhouse?"


Gee, that was fast, but yea, you're right. It's a house you put over your well to protect it from the weather; mainly freezing weather. Most people put one up about the size of a large dog house.
The pump (this is how we get water) is 300 feet down - where the water is. The pressure tank, gauges, and some of the pipes are above ground so they need to be protected from freezing or you'll have no water. Btw, the pump runs on electricity. ;)

[kathleen]

Okay. Why?


Because in some climates in the world it gets too cold and the pump can freeze.

Okay. Why?


So you can keep the critters out. I have a friend who is on well water and they were taking showers and noticed an 'odor' in the water. Called the well man and they didn't have a well house, the well man pulled a dead skunk out of their well ... they had been taking a shower for weeks with that dead skunk down there, not to mention drinking it. ;D

Because in some climates in the world it gets too cold and the pump can freeze.



"Freeze?"

So you can keep the critters out. I have a friend who is on well water and they were taking showers and noticed an 'odor' in the water. Called the well man and they didn't have a well house, the well man pulled a dead skunk out of their well ... they had been taking a shower for weeks with that dead skunk down there, not to mention drinking it. ;D


How Spartan. What will they think of next? Wood floors?

Because in some climates in the world it gets too cold and the pump can freeze.



He's probably picturing Laura Ingles out there cranking away. lol

Oh yes, definately shelves. And just wait - I have these "Monk moments" you see. I'm going to trace all the stuff once I have it hung so nobody goes putting them in the wrong places.
Oh yea. There's going to be enough red paint left over, (of course it's dark red w/white trim. What else?), to put in the texturing mud so I'll have a PINK ceiling! ;D
In case nobody's guessed, the well house is mine. :)

I would imagine people with "wells" probably don't have "sewers?"

In which case, they have septic tanks which leaches the poopy caca into the ground and after a while it gets into the water table?

Bon appetite.

[kathleen]

"Freeze?"


I understand it's a concept that you have trouble getting.

Tell me to explain it to you if you ever plan a trip to one of the poles.

Otherwise, it's going to be a waste of time. ;D

Because in some climates in the world it gets too cold and the pump can freeze.



One additional question on this.

Does it not "freeze" inside a well house? Are they heated or something?

Why do I have this sudden urge to go out and plow the lower 40?

How Spartan. What will they think of next? Wood floors?


Bad, just for your enlightenment....hundreds, maybe even thousands of people use ELECTRIC pumps to pump water from under the ground into their homes. It really is quite common. Goes through modern pipes and everything. Most people, however, have the smarts to protect THE PART THAT STICKS OUT FROM UNDER THE GROUND. Otherwise, the pipes will freeze - in winter - and frozen water does not flow.

Lonestar, I'm still trying to figure out how that skunk got down in the well. It's an open well????

[kathleen]

In which case, they have septic tanks which leaches the poopy caca into the ground and after a while it gets into the water table?

Septic tanks shouldn't leach - and they are usually emptied once or twice a year (by a big truck that pumps all the caca out of the tank). Where it goes after that, I don't know.

Septic tanks should be placed a certain amount of distance away from the well. There are laws in place for things like that.

One additional question on this.

Does it not "freeze" inside a well house? Are they heated or something?

Why do I have this sudden urge to go out and plow the lower 40?


And why do I have this feeling that you're putting the shit on us big time? ;D

Septic tanks shouldn't leach - and they are usually emptied once or twice a year (by a big truck that pumps all the caca out of the tank). Where it goes after that, I don't know.

Septic tanks should be placed a certain amount of distance away from the well. There are laws in place for things like that.


I've had a sepetic tank installed. Inside they have some 8 inch PVC tubes that run away from the tank. They are called "leach lines." Now, if they weren't meant to "leach," why do they have "leach lines" in them?

Okay. I did a search on "well houses" and looky here...

http://www.iuwashdc.com/Well%20House2.JPG

Bad, we just make sure the leach lines run downhill....away from the water source. :)

And why do I have this feeling that you're putting the shit on us big time? ;D


Honest injun. They don't have well houses out here. They have wood boxes covering them. I've seen these, but certainly nothing like the one above, nor any that had been painted.

Bad, just for your enlightenment....hundreds, maybe even thousands of people use ELECTRIC pumps to pump water from under the ground into their homes. It really is quite common. Goes through modern pipes and everything. Most people, however, have the smarts to protect THE PART THAT STICKS OUT FROM UNDER THE GROUND. Otherwise, the pipes will freeze - in winter - and frozen water does not flow.

Lonestar, I'm still trying to figure out how that skunk got down in the well. It's an open well????



Oh yeah one his grandfather had put in. What he did was put the pump and pipes down the open well and had a plywood plank over it. The skunk dug under the plank and fell in. He now has a modern up-to-date system with a nice well house. ;D

[kathleen]

I've had a sepetic tank installed. Inside they have some 8 inch PVC tubes that run away from the tank. They are called "leach lines." Now, if they weren't meant to "leach," why do they have "leach lines" in them?


Depends what you think is leaching. The liquid is leached out just by the design of the tank. The "solids" are kept behind.

Depends what you think is leaching. The liquid is leached out just by the design of the tank. The "solids" are kept behind.


Yes, I know how they work. I think it's wise to plant lots of willow trees around septic tanks, too. ;D

Honest injun. They don't have well houses out here. They have wood boxes covering them. I've seen these, but certainly nothing like the one above, nor any that had been painted.


[Urgh! My 'puter's running awful slow.]

Well, those people aren't quite as up to snuff as we are.
Btw, I have dubbed our's the Taj Mahal, even though it's not quite what you've pictured. Gee, I wonder if I could get my husband to build one of those! :o

[kathleen]

I think it's wise to plant lots of willow trees around septic tanks, too. ;D


I like willows but don't understand - are they "purifiers" in some way?

[Urgh! My 'puter's running awful slow.]

Well, those people aren't quite as up to snuff as we are.
Btw, I have dubbed our's the Taj Mahal, even though it's not quite what you've pictured. Gee, I wonder if I could get my husband to build one of those! :o


I would like to see a picture of your creation if you can get around to it.

Yes, I know how they work. I think it's wise to plant lots of willow trees around septic tanks, too. ;D


That's a good idea, even the septic man needs to support his family. ;D

I like willows but don't understand - are they "purifiers" in some way?


Heh heh...willow trees are THE most invasive tree around. Their roots are shallow and they seek water like a blood hound.

Anyone who has a willow within 20 yards of a septic tank is either an idiot or an idiot.

Oh yeah one his grandfather had put in. What he did was put the pump and pipes down the open well and had a plywood plank over it. The skunk dug under the plank and fell in. He now has a modern up-to-date system with a nice well house. ;D


Oh yea. I've seen a few of those. Scary stuff. Glad to hear they went with 'new and improved'.
We have neighbors who up until recently were pumping - more like syphoning - the water from a nearby stream....and wifey was washing out baby diapers UP stream. :-X

[kathleen]

Gee, I wonder if I could get my husband to build one of those! :o


Why?
I prefer function over appearance. A modest wellhouse works just as well as that monstrosity. ;)

[kathleen]

Anyone who has a willow within 20 yards of a septic tank is either an idiot or an idiot.


Oh, I see. Can't believe I missed that connection. :)

[kathleen]

We have neighbors who up until recently were pumping - more like syphoning - the water from a nearby stream....and wifey was washing out baby diapers UP stream. :-X


Yuck.

Some people don't know how to use the brains in their head.

Or the education system is worse than I thought. ;)

I would like to see a picture of your creation if you can get around to it.


Hard as it is to believe, I don't have a digital camara. I need to pick up some color film. (Stupie me bought b&w by accident. Wouldn't do the well house justice.) What's more is I still don't know how to post them. :-[

Anyway, picture this if you will:
8x14 on a concrete slab, 8' ceiling, 12/4 pitch roof, shingled, painted red w/white trim.
Btw, most people do put just a box over their well. However, they're usually insulated one who, how, or another.
I'm actually quite proud of ours. It's more like a regular house than a well house. Want to rent it? You can keep an eye out for squatters. :)

Why?
I prefer function over appearance. A modest wellhouse works just as well as that monstrosity. ;)



Cuz it purty, silly. :) But it'd block the view of deer hunting so I somehow don't see it happening.
(You don't by any chance recall Zsa Zsa Gabor in "Green Acres", do you?)

Cuz it purty, silly. :) But it'd block the view of deer hunting so I somehow don't see it happening.
(You don't by any chance recall Zsa Zsa Gabor in "Green Acres", do you?)


I thought that was Eva Gabor?

Yuck.

Some people don't know how to use the brains in their head.

Or the education system is worse than I thought. ;)


This would be the same guy who gets insulted when people call him a hillbilly, and is quick to remind them that he was educated in.....CALIFORNIA! ;D
(He's 48)

This would be the same guy who gets insulted when people call him a hillbilly, and is quick to remind them that he was educated in.....CALIFORNIA! ;D
(He's 48)


Don't you people have something there called "riparian rights?" Normally you can take "some" of the water, but not all of the water, and under no circumstances can you put anything back into it.

I thought that was Eva Gabor?


I think you're right. I even started to type her name first. Still, either vay, it verks. ;)

Don't you people have something there called "riparian rights?" Normally you can take "some" of the water, but not all of the water, and under no circumstances can you put anything back into it.



Did you see on that other thread where I said we don't have any local authority? ;)

I thought that was Eva Gabor?


You're right, Zsa Zsa was the pig.

[arod]

12/4 pitch roof,

That would be either a 4/12 or a 36/12 pitch roof, dingbat. :smiley3:

Did you see on that other thread where I said we don't have any local authority? ;)


Nope. Guess I missed that live WAY out in Bumfuck....which begs the question...

Do you dip snuff?

Or simply chaw?

Nope. Guess I missed that live WAY out in Bumfuck....which begs the question...

Do you dip snuff?

Or simply chaw?


Please don't tell me Eva dipped or chawed. I'd be devastated!
btw, it was Eva. (google search)

That would be either a 4/12 or a 36/12 pitch roof, dingbat. :smiley3:


quite right.

Please don't tell me Eva dipped or chawed. I'd be devastated!
btw, it was Eva. (google search)


My granny dipped and smoke a pipe. I still remember her rocking on the porch. Mean old hen....loved her to death.

Whenever we'd do something bad, she'd send us out for our own switch with the proviso if the switch wasn't "good" enough, after she broke it on us, she'd send us back for another one.

Well, ma'am, I didn't wanna be whupped twice, so being the boneheaded child I was, I brought her back a 2X4 and said (with lower lip quivering) "Is this one good enough, ma'am?" (tears in eyes)

She laughed so hard I didn't even get a beating that day. ;D

Tell me, your eyes brown?

Tell me, your eyes brown?


Yes'm. Very.

Yes'm. Very.


Then cap that well, dammit! ;D

Then cap that well, dammit! ;D


Are you intimating that my childhood memories are fantasy?

I can assure you, my dear, that I do not prevaricate.

[kathleen]

Are you intimating that my childhood memories are fantasy?

I can assure you, my dear, that I do not prevaricate.


It does sound like something a Grannie would do.

My family had the big spoon - a spoon carved out of a tree branch for some sort of pioneer task. It was threatened more often than used but it worked just as well. ;D

It does sound like something a Grannie would do.

My family had the big spoon - a spoon carved out of a tree branch for some sort of pioneer task. It was threatened more often than used but it worked just as well. ;D


My mother had THE RED BELT!!! :o

Now, to a 4 year old, it had fish hooks, razor blades and fiery coals attached to it. I'm sure it did not.

But it sure felt like it.

[wendy]

Only one belt? We got to pick our own belt. One learned very fast not to pick the narrow belts.

Only one belt? We got to pick our own belt. One learned very fast not to pick the narrow belts.


Yep. We didn't have a choice. We did have to "go and get it." I think that's inherently cruel, don't you? Being sent to get the weapon of your own destruction?

My father was more of a hand man, and a "this is going to hurt me a lot more than it's going to hurt you" man.

I remember once when he said that I said "Yeah? Well, why don't you hit yourself and find out?"

I didn't do that any more.

[wendy]

Yep. We didn't have a choice. We did have to "go and get it." I think that's inherently cruel, don't you? Being sent to get the weapon of your own destruction?



;D

Dad rarely ever spanked us..I think he did it more to placate mom than from a desire to inflict punishment.

[wellkeptsecrets]

What none of you got the two hour 'break them down emotionally and show them how insignificant they are' lecture? I wish my father would have had a belt he used... in fact once I asked, "couldn't you just spank me?" I got backhanded for being an impertinent smart mouth. Ah, the memories of childhood. :-\

It does sound like something a Grannie would do.

My family had the big spoon - a spoon carved out of a tree branch for some sort of pioneer task. It was threatened more often than used but it worked just as well. ;D


My kids were sent to go get the "blue spoon". I still have it to this day. But, damn, I only cook with it now. :(

[jeny]

My parents never hit us. My mother was severely abused as a child (think broken bones and cigarette burns) and she had this fear that abuse was genetic and that she would lose control is she hit us even once. But my parents did have some pretty creative punishments. We never stepped out of line.

We've gone from well house to corporal punishment. I guess now we can take our children out to the well house instead of the wood shed?
Btw, the few spankings my children got were effective, but never abusive. Jeny, I'm glad your parents found a way around that. :)

[jeny]

We've gone from well house to corporal punishment. I guess now we can take our children out to the well house instead of the wood shed?
Btw, the few spankings my children got were effective, but never abusive. Jeny, I'm glad your parents found a way around that. :)


:) My Mom beat the odds and became much, much more than her family legacy could have ever predicted. Sadly, all of her brothers and sisters never got past it. My Mom still questions her mothering abilities, but to me, she is the best Mom in the world.

Myself, I'm not opposed to spanking in and of itself. So far it hasn't come up. ;D

[wendy]

What none of you got the two hour 'break them down emotionally and show them how insignificant they are' lecture?

I would rather have taken a beating than listen to the "lecture". ;D

I would rather have taken a beating than listen to the "lecture". ;D


I was blessed. I got whacked with no warning and then it was over.

Except for the pain, of course.

[wellkeptsecrets]

I would rather have taken a beating than listen to the "lecture". ;D


Me too. :'(

Me too. :'(


Well, if you need a spanking, Master Taino is available....reservations required.

http://www.mastertaino.com/images/spanking.jpg

http://www.mastertaino.com/about_master_taino.htm

[jeny]

OMG badnews, is that YOU with the red ass??

[wendy]

http://www.mastertaino.com/about_master_taino.htm


What a sick son of a bitch.

How did you happen to find that website? ::)

I would rather have taken a beating than listen to the "lecture". ;D


So would our kids, and believe me, my husband was a master at lecturing. ;D

What a sick son of a bitch.

How did you happen to find that website? ::)


This time I really agree with you. ;D

[wellkeptsecrets]

Well, if you need a spanking, Master Taino is available....reservations required.


http://www.mastertaino.com/about_master_taino.htm


Uhm.... no thanks Master Taino is a little too strange even for me. :o

[wellkeptsecrets]

What a sick son of a bitch.

How did you happen to find that website? ::)


Wendy, were you refering to Master Taino or Master Badnews as the sick son of a bitch... just getting clarification here. ;D

What a sick son of a bitch.

How did you happen to find that website? ::)


I typed in "spanking" in Google under pictures. Voila.

[wellkeptsecrets]

I typed in "spanking" in Google under pictures. Voila.


Well stop doing that.... it caused twinges of excitement. ;D

I just want to know who the sick bastard is that switched this thread to a spanking thread from a wellhouse thread...oh, I remember. It was .02. She said she was going to use her wellhouse to spank the kids in.

[jeny]

So would our kids, and believe me, my husband was a master at lecturing. ;D


My Dad had a "look" and he would say in the calmest most even voice, "You need to go to your room, I am just so disappoited in you I cannot even talk to you right now, I really expected better" Oh God that used to make me cry and cry and cry. Guilt, a wonderful parenting tool. ;D

[wendy]

Wendy, were you refering to Master Taino or Master Badnews as the sick son of a bitch... just getting clarification here. ;D


Both. :)

It does sound like something a Grannie would do.

My family had the big spoon - a spoon carved out of a tree branch for some sort of pioneer task. It was threatened more often than used but it worked just as well. ;D


See? Weren't me, bn.

[wellkeptsecrets]

hmmmm.... I believe Bad started it with tales of his grannie making him go after a switch. Of course I could be mistaken. 8)

My granny dipped and smoke a pipe. I still remember her rocking on the porch. Mean old hen....loved her to death.

Whenever we'd do something bad, she'd send us out for our own switch with the proviso if the switch wasn't "good" enough, after she broke it on us, she'd send us back for another one.

Well, ma'am, I didn't wanna be whupped twice, so being the boneheaded child I was, I brought her back a 2X4 and said (with lower lip quivering) "Is this one good enough, ma'am?" (tears in eyes)

She laughed so hard I didn't even get a beating that day. ;D


Yup, wks, you're right.
Badnews, you're a pain in the ass. Good thing we love you.

[wellkeptsecrets]

Yup, wks, you're right.
Badnews, you're a pain in the ass. Good thing we love you.


Yes, he is quite the little instigator isn't he? But so smooth while hijacking threads. 8)

Yes, he is quite the little instigator isn't he? But so smooth while hijacking threads. 8)


I think he does it to change the subject when he's confused. Afterall, he posted a pic of an artesian well. ;D