Fences Make Good Neighbors (We Sure Hope So!)

Despite the initial set backs and the extreme heat, our chain link fence was completed last Friday.  LD is quite happy with the fence, and I must admit that despite my initial doubts about installing chain link fence I am too.   It blends into the background much better than what I expected, and makes the backyard feel like a park.

We really love where we live, and wanted to maintain the open feel of the property which is why we decided to go with black vinyl chain link.  Unfortunately, part of the southern property lines borders another subdivision and we have had issues with trespassing (ATV riding, teenagers shooting at birds, dumping of yard waste) in the wooded portion of our lot.  We were not convinced that a 42" chain link fence would be enough to stop the issues we had been having, so we decided to build a privacy fence along that boundary.  We paid our contractor to dig the holes, and decided to try and tackle the privacy fence on our own.

Brush Dumping

ATV Riding

Last Saturday we rented a trailer and loaded it up at the local Home Depot with twenty-five 4 x 4 posts.  We also picked up approximately 200 lbs of gravel.  After setting four posts, however, we decided it was way too hot and headed to the movies.  Thinking we would continue in the evening once it cooled down.  Well we came out of the movie and the thermometer had actually gone up!

We were fortunate to get a break from the oppressive heat this Saturday and we took full advantage of it.  After three runs to Home Depot for concrete (our cars could only handle so much weight), we managed to set all twenty-five posts.  It took 37 bags of 50 lb Quikrete Fast-Setting Concrete Mix = 1,850 lbs!  Needless to say, we were both exhausted at the end of the day but very pleased with our work.  We will have to rent a trailer to purchase the railings, and hope to get started on those next weekend.

Our dogs will have to wait a bit longer before they can finally have the freedom to roam around in the backyard.  They have waited three years, so a few more weeks will not hurt.

Morgan celebrated her 13th birthday last week with her MOTF-1 USAR  friends.

Morgan, Katy, Phoenix (first three on the right).  BTW-each dog has a plate of birthday cake in front of them!!!