Arbor Days

Our rainwater collection tank in the back yard is finally getting some much needed help now that Spring weather is upon us. We poured the foundations (first pic) about a year ago with intentions to build an arbor immediately, but I got diverted by the many projects inside the house.

The second shot was one of my prouder construction moments; I had hired three helpers so we could attach the posts and main beam on the ground and life the whole assembly in place. It worked! (third photo).





Not pictured is the fiasco which occurred on the other side of the tank. Since the terrain made it tough to erect it the same way, we installed the two posts first and then tried to lift the 4x12x20' cedar beam onto the posts. You see no photos of that part because I was laying dazed on the ground after the guys lifting the other side of the beam slipped and I had about 300 pounds of cedar bonk me in the head. Our second photographer (Ann) was also distracted, trying to figure out if she should dial 911 or just call straight to the funeral home. Luckily my wounds were just superficial so neither call was needed.

This near-death experience produced a marked decrease in my enthusiasm for this project, so I only got as far as you see in the final photo last weekend. Instead of working any further we took off for one of our favorite Wimberley activities- a night at the outdoor walk-in movie theater, sitting in lawn chairs with many of our country neighbors. Much more relaxing, safer, and equally entertaining.