Patio Project 2009 – or “You had me at Mini-Bobcat”

August 29, 2009 by Not Fainthearted

A little photo essay on what DS1 did on his last summer home. The foreman of the project was DJ, the former custodian at church.

The project started in June and finished on July 31 — just before the Graduation party deadline. In fact, the tables and chairs had to be placed on slabs of plywood over the distributed piles of dirt.

: Bobcat Gothic

: Step 1: Make a big mess.

: Not actually supposed to look like a moto-cross track

: Another place they decided to pile dirt.

: First course level

: The old electricity from the house to the garage

: The trench full of new electricity!

: The top level-even with the landing pad near the house

: Finished steps and HL’s feet!

: Beautiful new steps!

: The new steps from the house

: The beginning of the first course of retaining blocks

: the hole at sunset

: steps and wall

: bottom layer= 2.5 inch trap rock

: Calculated amount of trap rock not actually enough once compacted

: A couple inches low all around

: Toward the steps

: With additional rock added and compacted

: Mid-level rock= 1.5 granite (after a light rain)

: the calculated amount of mid-level wasn’t enough either.

: Top level of rock =3/8″ granite – should be level with top of retaining wall

: Low on this side too

: After two additional pick-up loads (1 yard each)

: Hand compacting the final “extra” level

: Circle complete

: Read for permeable install

: Circle kit finished; non-permeable part done and bricks waiting to be installed

: Foreman DJ

: DS1 using the wet mortar saw

: DS1 using the wet mortar saw

: the foreman, DJ supevising the final pieces. DS2 watches

: What the permeable part will look like with the cracks filled with 3/8″ granite

: At the “Let’s Pretend it’s Done” party before I left for Atlanta (note the cigars)

: DS1 takes a break on the circle

: DS1 takes a break on the circle

: Doh! Missed one cut.

: The permeable part toward those dandy steps (nice weeds, huh?)

: Finished! Well, except for trimming the landscape fabric and the grass seed.

Author: Not Fainthearted

A paradox wrapped in an enigma playing the accordion. I'm a sinner-saint, child of God working at the cross-roads of church and world. A Deaconess called to connect people living near the center with people on the edge and to help your life sing (literally and figuratively) while doing it. People don't always get the deaconess part. Could be the swearing, the corporate job, or the wine.