Tag Archives: Family

Family

Backyard Clean Up Day #2

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Today when I got home from work my dad headed off to pick up the backhoe for the backyard. Yesterday we both took the day off and today we began to get into the preparation for tomorrows all day fence installation. We have 15 6X8 Spruce Stockade fence panels and 16 posts. Why will this take all day and possibly into Sunday? Well this fence is going to be special. First we are digging a 6 inch trench then we are layering in some stone dust. After that we will put in 18 inch high concrete slabs. These will be placed end to end across the entire 120 foot span of fence. We have a backhoe to dig the trench and move the slabs. I didn’t get pictures of that today because I was busy helping to move the slabs but I promise to get someone to take the videos tomorrow. The slabs were moved by wrapping a chain around the slab lengthwise and hooking it under a piece of rebar that was on one side, the other side has a hole, we stuck a lag bolt in the other side for the chain to catch. Then this was hoisted off the pile by the backhoe and then moved to location. We haven’t actually laid any of the slabs in place yet, but rather made a barrier to keep the people in the back from parking right on top of the equipment so we cannot work tomorrow. The was a car out there all day that never moved and it threw a lot of the plans off.

So when I got home, my sister Tara and I set up a temporary fence for the dogs so they could have some backyard to play in this weekend. No way they are staying in the house in this heat. Then dad got back with the backhoe and we each took turns training on how to use it by trying to remove the stump from the half dead tree from Wednesday’s photos. The stump proved a very worthy foe. It was not easily removed.

Uncle Paul D. came by just as we were rigging up the chain hoist for the concrete slabs. That was an adventure, trying to move 300lbs+ slabs with some heavy chain and the front end loader of the backhoe. After we made a good territorial marker we put the equipment to bed and had dinner. Then Dad and I went to Home Depot to pick up the fence that we will need to install on top of the concrete slabs. This should give us about 7 feet of fenced privacy. Can’t wait to be able to use the backyard in peace again.

Here are the photos of progress so far. North Attleboro, Backyard Cleanup ’05

I’ll have video too. Maybe up on Sunday.

Family, Friends

Lucky Guy

This weekend I was reminded again what a lucky guy I am. On Saturday afternoon I came home to find the house filled with many of my friends who came to a surprise party for my 30th birthday. My very sneaky and oh so wonderful girlfriend, Allison, pulled together this surprise, and she even kept it completely quiet until the big day. I was totally surprised, and had absolutely no clue that there was a party being planned.

I would like to thank everyone involved in the planning of the event. Allison for pulling it together, Tara for helping Allison with the preparations and Erik for so vigorously inspecting bicycle seats and other bike accessories to keep me distracted and then delivering me to the party. Also, thank you for the cake Erin and Bart.

I really appreciate that so many people were able to come to the party. It totally made my day and it was so awesome to see so many of my friends. Thanks for coming Neil and Andrea, Steve and Erin, Derek and Michelle, James, Erin and Bart, Tara and Erik, and Ken and Alicia. Also I appreciated the calls from Danielle and the call from the Trouble Triplets. I can’t thank everyone enough for being there for my birthday. The cards, the cake and the company couldn’t have been better. I’m so lucky to have such great people in my life. Thank you.