May Projects Part I

Theo has a two week break from school beginning on May 11th. Unfortunately, his break, does not coincide with the summer break our boys have. They don't get out for summer until Memorial Day weekend, May 24th. That means that for about 10 days, Theo had lots of time on his own while me and the boys were busily working and wrapping up the school year.


His first order of business was a long awaited trip to Arizona. Before leaving for Texas at this time last year, he had promised a group of his Page kids that he would be there to watch them run in the state track meet and to graduate. True to his word, he made the journey on his own first, to Phoenix, and then on to Page. We really missed him while he was gone, but he really needed the break.

When he got home, he was refreshed and ready to get to work on some things we had been talking about doing at our house in Texas.

Last summer was literally the hottest summer on record in most of the state, including the panhandle. it was HOT! I am thinking this year will be more of the same since we hit our first 100 degree day in April! Theo and I discussed it for a while and decided that since we would be unable to make trips to any body of water within a reasonable distance, we would get a pool for the kids. We purchased a great 18 foot above ground deal at the end of April, and promptly set it on the back porch awaiting set-up.

I guess one of the big things you have to do with these kind of pools is get the ground nice and level before set-up. We had determined the area of our yard where it would live, a patch of grass that was spotty at best, and kind of in the corner out of the way. After a lot more talk and discussion, we determined a sod cutter would be the best course of action for such an large footprint. Figuring we would have the equipment handy anyway, I talked Theo into expanding the plans to include the creation of some flowerbeds in our front yard, and maybe even a nice little bed for some new trees. No big.

Being the good natured guy that he is, he readily agreed, and the cutter was rented. Cutting, hauling, scraping, digging, sweating, and maybe even a little whining ensued. We got things all leveled and ready in the backyard first. As the pool went up, we focused on the front yard. More cutting hauling, and all that jazz followed.

Next came the discussion of how to border the newly created beds. We didn't want chintzy plastic lining. Pavers were a little pricey and are are hard to mow around. We settled on concrete. At first we thought we would rent one of those machines that just kind of poops out a nice perfect curb. That would be cool right? No luck finding one to rent. Theo, being the do-it-yourselfer that he is decided he could just do it himself! He created forms with the cheap plastic liners, got the wheelbarrow, the hose, about 20 bags of quickcrete, and went to town. That guy is a freaking work horse! Have I ever mentioned that?

Here are some of the pictures of the process. We are now awaiting delivery of some good topsoil to fill our new beds. The soil here is unbelievably hard clay stuff!

 Meanwhile, in the front...

More to come....