office

headquarters for hydrogeologic engineering operations, famously relocated.....

split-rail fence & fire pit

Fire pit

This fire pit is a simple unmortared stone circle, Joe and I put up today. Joe is my 12 yr old neighbor.

Setting up: trapezoidal cement block from local supplier, traprock base from neighbor, 2 bags playsand.




The rest of the blocks were still on the truck, also cinder blocks + lanscape tiles for tray table next to fire pit


Partway done. The surrounding grass being removed by hoe and is to be replaced with traprock, as protection from sparks from fire.

Fire pit! The pit is surrounded by traprock to prevent fire from sparks coming outside the pit. Inside the pit, are 2 bags of playsand as a base, then a couple inches traprock over that. This design is the same as the neighbor's who helped out.

Coulldnt take a final shot without Emily running in.

Split-Rail Fence

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This split-rail fence took a weekend to put in with help from Joe and Tony. It's 16 sections, around 200 ft. It is decorative, and uses pressure-treated split-rail timbers and posts from Lowe's. It runs along the street on both sides of the driveway, and partway up right side of driveway.

Below, the "before" picture. Check out the stakes- I used these stakes to play around and decide where exactly I wanted the fence to go.

Below, some of the tools: Posthole digger was essential. The holes were 22 inches deep. It took 20 minutes per hole provided there werent too many rocks. The prybar to the right was for loosening up rocks in the hole. The shovel is to dig out the grass & start the hole.

Partway through. It helps to put the dirt onto a tarp, so you don't have to clean up the lawn afterward.

Assortment of split rail timbers and line posts. There are three types of posts: end posts, line posts, and corner posts. The end and corner posts have slots in one or two sides of the square posts. Line posts have holes straight through so the rails can overlap.

Cement and traprock. Post-setting cement is easy to use because you can just add mix and water to the hole, without having to mix it in a barrel. Traprock is set at the bottom of the hole before putting the post in, to allow drainage so moisture doesn't wick up the wood post and cause early rot.

After setting Post-Set concrete.....

We used 1 - 2 bags of post-set per post.

We ended up mixing a batch of cement to smooth off the ground and slope around the posts so water drains away from the wood posts.

Cleanup Time!

Some rocks pulled from the post holes...

Finished !!

Line post closeup

garden part 6

Sunflowers are 8 or 9 feet high & tomatos nearly 6.

Squash patch is lush but still early in season for them it seems. A couple tiny squash buds just starting to appear.

Amish heirlooms so far so good

Apples look alright since pruning the tree this spring but I am seeing fewer this year even on the lower branches.

From the painted deck. That teak was $20 from a mill store, they sold it as defective but all it needed was a bracket

accidental shot