Garden Project

[WVBill]

Like Thomas' post in the Off Topic section, My wife, the "landscape designer" decided that she wants to put a "patio garden" in our back yard. Attached picture shows a mosaic panorama of the way the yard was and the first few steps toward the goal. Yes, it would have been a lot easier if she had made this decision before she had me put up the decorative fences last summer - but I just drive the tractor, boss.

The pictures are taken from our deck. The yard slopes down about 16 - 20 inches in the 30' from the bottom of the deck to the garden with the picket fence so to lay a brick patio so we can have table and chairs, I need to level some of the area (about 20' by 20') out - and lower it below the flower beds so I can lay a proper gravel base for the brick pavers. I'm planning on a round patio about 16' diameter.

Oh by the way, can it be done by 4th of July, honey?/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

I started about 7:30 Sunday and finished about 4:30. Approach was to till up the grass and remove that layer with the FEL then repeat until I got down to near level. Next week I'll attack it with the box blade to smooth it out. Got to order gravel this week. Let's see 20' x 20' x 4" deep would be about 4 1/2 yards of gravel, right?

 

[TerryinMD]

WVBill,

Looks like a good start to your project. My guesstimation is about 4.9 (call it 5) cubic yards of gravel - (20*20*.3333333)/27 = 4.9nnnnnnn).

Let us know the results. OBTW - have you asked your "landscape designer" about moving the fences. That patio will change the aspects of the views which will need..... /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Got to ask another question - where will you place your rusted Chevy planters!! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Being from a border state, couldn't resist the temptation to take a swipe at a friendly neighbor!!!

Terry

 

[WVBill]

The Chevy planter is out front, just past the 8 foot satellite dish where we can admire it from the old couch on the front porch. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

The fence on the left there is strategically placed to screen the back yard from the view of the "neighbors". They're almost 1/4 mile away but she's a real B---h who watches the whole neighborhood through her binoculars - really!

 

[TerryinMD]

Ahhh... a good sensa humor!! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Oh... oh... wait - seems like your missing some of the other valuable decorating items - broken appliances. An old washer or dryer makes a handy cooler during the summer. Heck - ya fill it up with your favorite beverage, a little water, some ice. You're good to go for at least a day!! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Shame to hear about the local neighborhood witch, err, watch. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif Every neighborhood has one - always adds to the local flavor. So, what you're saying is that the "landscape designer" will not be making any "adjustments" to the plan - well, at least for the time being.... /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

Terry

 

[Thomas]

Oh thanks a heap Bill,for I thought I was done w/our garden project until my better half /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif the picket fence in your garden <font color=red>and now she wants me to build a couple<font color=red><font color=black>/w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

I hope our better half never meet or you and I won't have much of a summer. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Keep sending the photos for we are very interested.

Aren't those little compact tractor a gem when it comes to work like that. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[billboe]

Hey Bill,

From the picture, it looks like you are tilling in circles... I read a bit of a tiller manual a while back I and I believe it said to never "turn" while the tiller is engaged with the ground. Thinking about it, I can see how that may cause problems.

Any tiller experts care to comment?!!?


Thanks,

 

[WVBill]

billboe: Hmmm. I think you may be right. Turning while tilling probably puts side-load stresses on the tiller it wasn't designed for. I hadn't thought about that before.

Thomas: Don't let your wife see this but the picket fence was quite easy - it's vinyl fence sections from Lowes - same with the arbor and the other fence sections. I like building things but hate maintenance - particularly painting fences, so I went the Vinyl route.

Terry: ""adjustments" to the plan"!? - you're assuming there is a "plan" /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif. Well, yes, there is a "picture" in her head. She's very good at visualizing things - just not commiting them to paper.

 

[TerryinMD]

WVBill,

She knows exactly what she wants - and she'll let you know exactly when she wants it!! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I know that I'm in trouble as soon as hear the following from my wife - "I've been thinking........" /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif sigh!!!!

Terry

 

[Golfgar4]

<font color=blue>"I know that I'm in trouble as soon as hear the following from my wife - "I've been thinking........"</font color=blue>

OR........."I've got this idea........"/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif/w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif/w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

 

[TerryinMD]

Sounds like a new post with the heading {You know your in trouble when you hear "I ....." from your wife.} /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

Ain't married life a hoot!! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Terry

 

[Golfgar4]

<font color=blue>"Ain't married life a hoot!!"</font color=blue>

You got that right! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif And I wouldn't have it any other way! /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[WVBill]

Married life is like they used to say about the Navy (Zumwalt era) - "It's not just a job - it's an adventure!"

I agree - I wouldn't have it any other way either!

 

[Golfgar4]

<font color=blue>"Married life is like they used to say about the Navy (Zumwalt era)..."</font color=blue>

Zumwalt?? Were you in the Navy when he was CNO?

I was. I got to service his two A-3's at NAF, Washington, D.C. when he would load up one plane with his family, and the other plane with their luggage and golf clubs, and fly out to California (or the Bahamas, or Florida, or anywhere else he wanted to go!) for the weekend! He used to even fly to Maine on weekdays so he could have a lobster lunch. /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif

Yeah, you're right. It was an adventure!

 

[WVBill]

Golfgar:

Amazingly small world!!!

Yes, it was actually Zumwalt who said "It's not just a job - it's an adventure." When he came aboard the USS Midway in Alameda CA and sent us off to the Gulf of Tonkin 3 months ahead of schedule with just 48 hours notice. I was on the Midway for that 11 month long cruise flying (here's where the world gets smaller) EKA-3's. YOU probably sent him out to us!!!

Good old Whales - had to love 'em. We should probably go off line to swap Whale stories or bore everyone else to heck!

 

[TerryinMD]

Yep, me too!!

Gator Navy - out of Little Creek and Norfolk, VA. I was very lucky and served on the staff of the Commander Amphibious Group 2 and 4. Great duty!! The number of brass and enlisted were nearly the same - a Rear Admiral and tons of upper brass. I was one of the low-lifes..... poor enlisted guy.

Terry

 

[Golfgar4]

Oh boy! More Navy guys./w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif We're going to need to start a separate thread in Off Topics titled Sea Stories.

For those non-Navy types, you guys know what the difference is between a fairy tale and a sea story?

A fairy tale starts out...<font color=blue>"Once upon a time..."</font color=blue>



A sea story starts out....<font color=blue>"Now this is no s_ _ t!"</font color=blue>

 

[TerryinMD]

Not for all eyes - Adult Confidential - Rated NL for Naval Language

Dang - you f-------- musta f------- been f--------- talking f------ to f-------- the -f------- same f--------- boats f------- that f------- I f-------- did!! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif/w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif (for the uninitiated boats = boatswain and the f word was used very liberily - like every other word. I would never haved imagined how many ways the word could be applied until I spent time in the Navy)/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Terry

 

[Scott_F]

Golfgar, WVBill,
The world gets even smaller...I flew the last (almost) of the Whales (ERA's) in VAQ-34 at Pt. Mugu. In fact Golfgar, we had one of the VIP Whales in our squadron for a while. I flew it to the AMARC when were getting rid of all our jets /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif. I'll have to check my logbook for the BuNo. Are either of you going to the reunion in October? See the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.a3skywarrior.com/>Skywarrior web page</A> for details.

Scott

 

[WVBill]

...and smaller ... and smaller

Scott - when were you at Point Mugu? I was there from '83 to '86. I was at PMTC in the Electronic Warfare Directorate heading up the EA-6B SSA. For flight time I flew in the PMTC A-3. My last flying billet in the Navy.

 

[Golfgar4]

<font color=blue>"Are either of you going to the reunion in October?"</font color=blue>

Boy, that reunion sounds pretty impressive. But I was never a crewmember. I was ground support at the home base. I got to pack the drag chutes, sew up the rips on the seats (riggers could sew!), and take care of the flight safety equipment. Technically, the CNO's birds weren't even assigned to our base. I never did find out where they were assigned.

Have a good time if you're going to the reunion. You'll probably run into a lot guys you haven't seen for awhile. That would be fun! /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif