Dothan Day 10: Mount Solar Panels & Remediate Pond Fountain Float

The chickens roosting as I walked by them this morning.

I installed the post a few days ago.

Post with the mounting board installed, prepared solar panels, tools and fastening hardware.

Completed Solar Panel Pole.

The Fountain Float that I created last week worked well but got stuck in some mud causing it to list. When I retrieved it I noticed that the plywood board started to fall apart.

I created a new box to hold the float and installed ropes similar to a clothesline on pullies to aid in positioning and retracting the fountain to shore.

 

Dothan Day 9: Dock Completed.

 Before....

After.....

Rains came before my afternoon Sun Stroll.

Dothan Day 8: Dock Day 3 and Solar Panel Pole

I keep waking up early with the sunrise.

This morning, I installed the Solar Panel Pole for the Pond Fountain before starting on the dock.

Dock Debris! My water shoes out to dry.

Progress Photo.

Progress Photo.

Progress Photo.

Progress Photo before rain.

Dothan Day 7: Dock Day 2

I woke up about 0530 with the sun this morning. Here is the view from my room. 

Mister is ready for his bird bath.

After I complete the dock repairs, I need to redesign the fountain float.

Even with wasp delay, I completed about a third of the dock this morning. 

I removed the remaining old deck boards. I saved a few better old boards on the side to use as temporary walk ways.

A storm blew by without rain but a cool breeze.

Dothan Day 6: Dock

When I woke up this morning, I heard a diesel engine and other machinery wondering what is happening. In a partial sleepy fog, I went to investigate. A very kind, cheerful Lowe's delivery driver greeted me with, " I hope where I left the lumber is ok next to the other pile of wood that I saw. I didn't want to wake you."

Now we have nearly all of the supplies to start on the dock. At breakfast, I mention to my host we could start work on the dock rather than clearing the pond trail. He agreed.

Here is the dock before we started.

Notice in these next few photos that the dock lists to the left significantly. It also shakes from side to side.

I straightened it with a rope tied to a nearby tree.

I also secured it with scrap lumber.

Straight dock before installing bracing. 

Note the screw gun with rope to prevent me from dropping it in the water, tape measure, wheel barrow for carrying supplies & lumber, Styrofoam to float tools and lumber on the pond to the end of the dock and a large container of deck screws. I secured the straight dock with the X bracing.

A photo showing progress on removing old, rotting planks. I also install an end-cap piece of wood that helped to stabilize the dock. As I walked back and forth, we noticed that the end is stable but the 2 other sets of pilings still sway side to side. We will install the new support beams and planks before determining of additional X bracing is needed.

After I removed all of the planks from the water section, I installed support beams to hold the new planks.

I asked my HelpX host for a crow bar to pull out old nails. He gladly visited Lowe's! 

The new  tool made the work of pulling up old planks and pulling out old nails so much easier. I then noticed the name on it, "Klein Tools." As I approach the 1 year anniversary of retirement, the name reminded me of a manager who helped me tremendously at the bank.

Dothan Day 5: 4 Small Projects, Developed A Plan and Prepared 1 Large, Delicious, Meal.

I woke up with the sunrise this morning at about 0530.

My first project: leveling the out house.

Project 2: Sand bottom of out house door to stop it from rubbing on decking.

Project 3: Create a path from front of Pond House, PH, to Out House and back of PH.

Path in progress.

Path Completed!

Project 4: Remove renovation debris pile.

Mike, HelpX Host and I developed a plan to repair the dock.

I prepared our mid day meal today from a few leftover ingredients we had from the last 2-3 days. I sauteed chopped kale, sliced onions (from garden), sliced red pepper, sliced summer squash (from garden), quartered mushrooms, spicey sausage in some olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to adnate before tossing with rigatoni pasta. YUM! The batch made 4 large portions that we both enjoyed. Below is 1 portion.

I needed to take a walk after the large meal. I am thankful for the shade trees! 

Some thunderstorms started brewing in the area creating a pleasant cool breeze. I sat on the porch swing to enjoy the change in weather while reading, but created another project to add to the list.

The pond is getting filled. We are the little blue dot above Cottonwood.

Dothan Day 4 Shower Completed

 We completed the shower today with heater, curtain and pathway installation.

Running water lines under Pond House.

Water line for Out House and Shower. We will be installing another path from here to the front of the building.

Water Heater

Propane and water connections

Installed Water Heater and Shower

Installed Curtain

Mike, satisfied HelpX host

Foot path before adding pineneedles

Foot path in progress

Completed footpath

Mike asked me if I'd like to work on his dock.......... 😉

My afternoon Sun Stroll

Dinner at Taj