Hambone's checking out the big equipment at the concrete plant

August 23, 2019 - Friday morning

38 degrees/fog/calm winds

Pentoga Road

There were frost advisories issued, but it appears we dodged that bullet last night. Normally, I'd have covered the flowers and delicate vegetables, but honestly, I was too tired and just didn't care. 

Thankfully, Mother Nature didn't punish me for my horticulturally blase' attitude last night. 

Hambone and I had a ball yesterday, but it about wore ol' Pawpaw out. I began the day by fashioning two S hooks from re rod with which to fasten the extension ladder to the roof of the garden house. 

Sargie had left for work and Grady was still sleeping... and sleeping... and sleeping. It was past mid morning when I went upstairs and awakened Sleeping Beauty. 

After a quick breakfast, we left for the concrete plant, or the "sand store" as Hambone calls it.

Boy, there's a lot to keep a young boy interested at such a place. Hambone met Miss Becky, Germaine's sister - Jambo's sister-in-law, and even got a Twizzler. Life had never been better.

Back home, my shadow changed into his swimming trunks, life jacket, and was ready to help make the beach. 

Though the temperature was barely 60 degrees with no sun, he was content to play in the water for several hours while I dug almost a foot of rocks and clay from the area.

The electric tiller was used to loosen the dirt and rocks

Next came laying the landscape cloth in the bottom and over the side of the pond.

We ran the cloth into the water and past the first terrace and poured several buckets into the water so when we swim, our feet can touch sand rather than the slippery rubber.

Pouring sand into the water made it somewhat cloudy, but it will clear up eventually.

It was later in the afternoon before we actually began hauling sand to the beach in the dump wagon, one shovelful at a time.

I'm going to do a Pawpaw brag here, but Hambone really worked his backside off yesterday. What was more amazing was that he actually helped, not just attempted and got in the way. As I've said previously, I hope he still has that attitude ten years from now when it's time to cut wood or plow snow. 

That wagon pulled a bit harder with Hambone riding on top of all the sand to the new beach.

Finally, Hambone Beach (he named it himself) was complete. It had been a long, very tiring, and difficult job, but we got 'er dun!

Sargie arrived home from work after a day at the clinic. Though she's still learning the new system, she loves the ladies she is working with and meeting her new patients.

I'm heading to the lumber yard in a few minutes to purchase some more 2x4's and a few sheets of 4x8 OSB with which to cover the garden house. I want to install windows on the west side today, cover the outside walls, and use my new ladder invention to fasten down the sheets of plywood on the roof. Mark said he hopes to come out early Saturday morning so we can finish the roof. I want to be ready before he arrives.

We'll have the Hambone exchange, probably this afternoon.

All that being said, it's time to get the day started.

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...