Fence and Goat Vacation

The Goats took a vacation to Auntie T's. They assisted in getting her overgrowth down to a manageable level. While they were on the 5 week vacation I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to see about getting a fence that would actually maintain them into the back area of the yard and they could not escape into the pool area as they had been doing.

Here is how it went:

Quote #1 for fence: $2,400

Quote #2 for fence: First appt. the guy did not show up. Reschedule for the next weekend. Guy shows up, looks at our back yard, where we want to put the fence and says, "I can't match any other bids you have." I say, "But you don't even know what the other bids are." To which he replies annoyed - "Oh yeah, what are they". I tell him - he says, "Yeah I can't match that"

Since I think $2,400 is way too high for a chain link fence I talk T into doing it ourselves to save $$$.

Trip #1 to Home Depot: $547

Trip to different Home Depot to rent auger: $77

I sleep 12 hours, take tons of cold medicine.

T begins digging holes for posts.

I supervise and measure if the hole is deep enough and measure spacing between post holes.

T digs 12 holes - only injures himself once - we don't think the femur is broken.

I begin to make Quick Crete for first hole - this is hard stuff to stir!!

T steps in and does majority of stirring.

We set posts - I mostly operate the level (handy little tool) and scoop the mixed Quick Crete in to holes.

We take a break to let them set up while we go to Chinatown Parade to see K and Kit in it.

I take more cold medicine

We begin stretching chain link and installing gates.

Trip #2 to Home Depot - credit $39 (bought too much stuff) purchased $65 (didn't buy enough of other stuff)

We get all but the last 10 feet done and are out of some supplies and out of time - I have to return to work.

We drop Kit off at Horse Camp:

T is off the entire week and wishes he could return to work where it is not so labor intensive!

Trip #3 to Home Depot - $28 pick up the supplies we were short

Resume last 10 feet of fence building after work one day.

FINAL COST - NOT $2400 - and truly PRICELESS because we can now say "WE BUILT THAT FENCE OURSELVES (and we are still married and have found out we can actually work together pretty good as a team)". I can't wait for retirement - think of the projects we can do!!

You can tell it was not a "professional" job, but it is holding back the goats from the pool area and it looks pretty damn nice!!!

See for yourself