Smart move. That's the kind of field hack that saves a day. The gravel mixing is the real time killer, so skipping it when the client wants speed makes total sense. A full bag of concrete in wet clay is basically a perfect plug.

Man, that's a tough lesson to learn the hard way. Some carpets are just too fragile for a kicker, no matter how careful you are. Your uncle saved you a lot of future headaches.

Wait, is that why my starter sometimes just gives up? @the_michael I had this old fridge and my sourdough would never rise right on that side of the kitchen. Moved it away from the vent and it was like a different culture. Cold air just kills the activity, you can see it get sluggish. Makes total sense when you think about it, they want a steady warm spot. My last one would get a weird skin on top if it was in a draft.