The basement drain tube is in and surrounded by gravel. Though I need a few more bags of rock still, spring rains shouldn't run across the floor. I've been putting the yard waste dump on my errand loops and, again today, I got a serious load of free wood to add to next winters supply. Right now, this very second, me lair is being warmed by junk mail...burning at, I would guess, 451 degrees Fahrenheit. Speaking of books- I found a John Irving novel at the Goodwill, and it features an old motorcycle on the cover. One can't go wrong bringing such a thing into a home with no telly...and one warmed via combustibles.