Entry for May 31, 2007 WATER GARDEN.....PART #2

Women can be undecided on what they want or how a project will look upon completion. Carolyn had in mind how she wanted the pond to look, so I drew an outline in the ground using an axe to shape, after several times changing the outline she finally decided on the shape! Digging was very hard with a big oak stump in the way. After digging, cutting, pulling two days later the hole in the ground looked good. I tell her we will go to town Sat. to get the liner. There were 3 pond supply stories in town at one time but all of them went out of business. We find what we need at Lowes and Carolyn buys a magazine with water pond photos. Sunday we take a day off to rest but Mon. it's back to work installing the rubber liner { it's made in China} isn't everything ?? Once in place I began to fill the liner with water pulling out any wrinkles in the material. This goes well and it takes some time to fill with water, I estimate it holds about 800 gallons of water. Some rocks are laid around the edge to hold the liner in place but are relocated later. I pour a concrete pad which will support the weight of all the rocks that we use to create the waterfall.
At this point I call my nephew, Mike to come help with the waterfall as he has build several over the years and Carolyn wanted him to help her with the flowers and shrubs to be placed around the finished water garden. Mike is a true expert on flowers and shrubs as he worked in a garden center years ago. With Mikes help for almost two days the garden finally came together. Carolyn has plans to mulch around the garden later. When I ask Mike how much do we owe you his quick response was $ 6,000, man I hope this was a joke and it was thank goodness. The pump that makes the waterfall is a big one, it flows 2,000 gallons each hour to make a peaceful splashing sound as it cascades over the rocks. Carolyn is happy with her water garden and I'm wandering what's next to do??? Maybe a sunroom!!!
YOU CAN SEE SOME MORE PHOTOS IN MY PHOTOSTREAM.....

Entry for May 30, 2007 CAROLYN'S WATER GARDEN...!!

Carolyn has wanted a bigger water garden for some time and a trip to see one my nephew, Mike was building was all that it took to get her excited for us to build her one. She would decide to use a preformed liner she bought from a friend a year ago. After she selected the spot she handed me a shovel and instructions to dig a hole to put the liner into ground. I had cut several big oak trees down about 3 years ago and knew I would run into some trouble. On the fourth shovel into the ground, you guessed it,I hit the stump!! No option, this is where it's got to be!! By the afternoon I had a hole ready for the liner. We didn't put it all the way into the ground, it set about 8 inches above the ground level. I used some stones I had for about 20 years and filled in the area around the liner. Man, that looks good to me, I tell her.. At days end I'm tired but happy with the results, after all Carolyn is hard to please????
The next day I'm off to town to get some concrete mix to pour a pad for the waterfall. Upon my return Carolyn says," Do you want to hear the bad news." What in the world could she be talking about I'm thinking to myself, go ahead hit me with the bad news????" I DON'T WANT THE POND ABOVE GROUND, I WANT IT BIGGER AND INTO THE GROUND!! I know she thinks I will throw a fit, but I am kool and tell her, " Honey if thats what you want, I can change everything." I totally catch her off guard. I forgot to tell you that after I placed the rocks around the liner she moved every one of them to suit her taste.
STORY TO CONTINUE TOMORROW !! HEADACHES & BACKACHES !!

Entry for May 17, 2007 GOLD MINE !!!!

At age thirteen you don't expect to become RICH overnight. Our family would visit granny and pa Barnes on the week ends in Fayeteville. My uncle Billy who was 3 months older than me would go to the Lincoln theater to watch cowboy movies. Imagine mother and granny being pregnant at the same time. Mother with her first and granny with her last child. Oh, the stories they must have shared!! Once at the movies I would have to visit the bathroom. On the way up I kicked something with my foot, it was a wallet. I picked it up and continued on to the bathroom. Inside the stall I locked the door and opened the wallet up; man I have found a GOLD MINE!! Inside I find three five dollar bills and three one dollar bills. Man $18.00 I'm rich, I was at the time. Sodas, candy bars, peanuts were only a nickel in the 50's. I'm not telling Billy, he would want half of the money. I dare not tell mother and daddy, they would take my new found wealth away from me. Once back home in Tullahoma I have thought of a perfect place to hide my money. There is a hen house in the back yard. I get a Prince Albert tobacco can to put my money in and will hide it under one of the hens nest that is covered with straw. I will get money out for sodas and candy. I begin treating my friends , buying them goddies. I bet they thought I was dealing drugs. Wait a minute, there are no drugs in the early fifties. After a while I'm scared mother will find my money. I have a brillant plan. I hide the can in the middle of a colvert under our driveway with a rock over it. What if it comes a flood?? YOU BIG DUMMIE!!! it rained for two days and the can with my money was gone. I begin walking by the ditch which ran down hill to the depot some eight blocks away. At the depot I find the can with my money but a little wet. Back in the hen house goes my money. Mother never finds it and it takes a years to spend all of it.

Entry for May 15, 2007 PET DUCK DINNER..!!!

THANKS TO MILLI's BLOG ABOUT STORIES FROM OUR CHILDHOOD I RECALL THIS ONE...................................................................................................

I have a story that happened when I was about 3. I really can't say that I remember back that far into the past but Mom & Dad told it for many years and I guess it's embeded into my brain?? We lived on a farm where Dad was the hired hand and the owner provide living guarters for the three of us. Times were hard and Mom was in a pickle as to what to cook for Christmas dinner. Dad tells Mom, looks like it's going to be Nick's pet duck. Mom prepares the duck for dinner along with some veggies. Once we set down for dinner Mom &; Dad are not able to bring themselves to eat any of my pet duck but Nick is eating it without any trouble. Dad would tell this story almost every year at Christmas and I would joking, complain about them killing my pet duck. After many years one Christmas Dad had a box for me at Christmas. As I opened the box I had no idea as to what was in the box. Finally I get it opened & to my suprise it's a mother duck and 3 baby ducks statues!! Dad says here's you some damm ducks!! They sat on top of our fridge for many years and are now put away in a closet. Thanks Milli for helping me recall this story. Regards