it's finished, completely finished!!!!!

well, almost completely finished.... i have a few cedar 1 by 3's to buy in order to double side the gates but everything else is done done done.

i am this very second realizing that i am still too tired to think straight. it has taken almost 5 minutes to write these two sentences... so, that means it will be a post with many photos, not so many words.

i had begun this endeavor six years ago, i was hoping it was five, but over the weekend debbie and i decided it was really six. in three days we set three posts, framed and nailed four seven foot sections, built two gates, trimmed fence posts and a railroad tie, blew our noses a million times, didn't drink enough water, made 21 caps for the posts and secured all areas that were not so secure...

first... the before shot.

and.... the after shot - complete with sunshine and blue skies.

and another shot, because i am so damned proud....

the gates have also been an issue. the new ones are perfectly spectacular. they are square, hang beautifully, and swing easily. the former gates - if you could call them that - did none of that...

then..., the horrible gates that are now in the contractors truck across the alley ready to go to the dump... with his permission of course, and... the pavers that were waiting to be re-set...

now, the new and infinitely improved gates, and the re-set pavers. these had been disrupted during the big sewer incident - spring 2004.

and lastly, the post caps... cut 21 of these babies, each 5.5" square all run through the table saw - individually (i had to have an 11º bevel on each side to match the top rail of the fence!) - with every bit of my attention on the blade and my five fingers, which i am pleased to report are all still attached to my body.

we had everything we needed but some 2 x 4's and gate latches. i had 11 extra treated 4 x 4's that i was able to post on craig's list at 9pm on saturday, and they were sold within the hour. ronda came in a nice shiny pick-up and took those away for a cool $125 which more than paid for the new lumber so i came out pretty close to even.

debbie and i worked very well together and accomplished everything we set out to, and more.... it was a great weekend. the weather could not have been better, we had every tool we needed for the job and impressed a couple of neighbors with our skill and dedication.

now, i need to go buy some advil with that extra couple of dollars.

Comments

[Daphne]

Congratulations on a job well done! It looks superb...
Now put yer feet up love!

[vegasandvenice]

Poodles - Totally no joke most beautiful fence I have ever seen. We are planning on prettying ours up but this just completely incredible! I am green with envy! - veevee

[tongue in cheek]

we start to re do our back space at the end of the week, I like how you did yours, good details! I li
ke the stones!

[Julie]

Good job!!
Where have you been...Ive missed you!
Thanks for your comment and help. Yesterday, after writing in my blog, I found Alicia's artical at Whipup. EXCELLENT article. It helped me a lot with my thoughts.

[wendy]

It looks fantastic. How satisfying (and back breaking). Do you find yourself just going for another quick look at your handiwork?

[stephanie s]

thank you all for the lovely comments.... i am still so proud i can't stop looking at it and thinking that it is finally done!!! i have sat out two evenings in a row enjoying the pretty nice weather for april and seeing at how it is all coming together... that will teach me to put off a project for 6 years!

[cate]

wow. you've been working hard! looks awesome...

[weirdbunny]

well done you worked really hard.

[Marian]

AWESOME WORK !! You should be very proud of youself and Debbie.