Je ne sais quoi

That phrase literally means "I know not what." According to Wiktionary, it means "An intangible quality that makes something distinctive or attractive."

Why am I giving you a French grammar lesson?

Good question. Actually, I just wanted to use a French phrase and that seemed better than "Excuse em moi."

The McHusband put a French drain in the yard today. Our a/c units lose a lot of water and the area where the pipes drip was a muddy mess. I realize that our timing could have been a little better considering we're nearing the end of summer, but better late than never, right?

Of course, it wouldn't be a McProject without a couple of supervisors.

"Yep, that's a muddy mess."


"You sure you know what you're doing?"


The McHusband hasn't moved, but Tucker, in true supervisor fashion, laid down in the shade while Morgan headed off to "get supplies," which is NCDOT road construction speak for sneaking a smoke.


In an effort to appear busy, Tucker has switched positions.


When the McHusband goes to the shed, though, Tucker has to get up and follow. Hey, no one said this supervisin' thing was easy, Tuck!


Almost done. One more trip to Home Depot for another bag of rocks and some right-angle PVC pipe and it'll be done. I think we'll send the McHusband on that errand.


Voila! (Hey, another French word!) We have a French drain - and a lot of mud.


Hopefully we'll get some grass growing over there and won't have to worry about the mud anymore.

Good job, crew!