making progress

So, I've been a little MIA this week.  I know, I have a lot of catching up to do.  But that's because every spare moment has been spent working on putting up the new fence or painting the fireplace.

 {Spare moment = Callan's naptime}

 Slow progress on both projects.  Expected.

Note to self:  Hire a professional next time you want a fence installed.  

Putting up a fence is HARD WORK.  It takes a lot of patience.  And prep work.  And time.

We tore down the old fence on Saturday.

Adios peeling, rotted, ivy ridden, falling over, tied up, eye sore of a fence.

{old fence}

Literally, tied up.

{old fence}

Once the fence was down, it already looked and felt so much better.  And to be honest, it made us wish our backyard was a little deeper...but we got what we got.  Can't do anything about that.

{fence removed}

{old fence panels}

This fence replacing process is slow going.  The bulk of the work gets done during Callan's nap time.  And in 100+ degree weather.  We are lucky if we can get two posts set in concrete before Callan wakes up.

{hooooot}

Fence ingredients.  The major ones, at least. 

{concrete, posts, & panels}

Our neighbor generously rented us a one man auger to make the post hole digging drilling a little easier.  It wasn't the most delightful thing to maneuver {just ask my husband}, but it got the job done.  Mostly.

Once Callan wakes from a nap, we'll put him in his stroller and wheel him out to the shade while we finish what we were in the middle of before he woke up.  He doesn't last long.

I don't blame him.

It's hot out there.

Even in the shade.

We have 5 panels up.  We have 7 (?) more to go.  I'll post pictures next week once it's up in all it's glory.  It's already looking so much better.  

We're learning as we go...we've had a few bumps along the way...it's certainly not perfect...and certainly not completely straight...but it's an improvement. 

And it's so nice to look out the kitchen window and see a brand new fence.  It makes me smile.

See?  : )