I got a dog and needed to make a fence to keep him out of the side yard. I had just moved in to my new room after my dad died. He had lived in the family home and wanted me to take over his space once he passed. Living with my grandmother and aunt, who are both unable to participate in physical activity often, reluctantly gave me the go-ahead to create the fence.
I was a bit apprehensive, but excited to learn how to build something long-lasting with my own hands. I called a few different men in my life who were aware of how to build fences. They all gave me very opinionated, slightly differing answers. After consulting a few videos, I was ready to trust my gut and break ground with my hardware store purchases.
Digging into the ground provided more questions than immediate gratification than anticipated. I encountered more piping than I was comfortable with and had a panic attacks when I thought I had ruptured a water pipe. After being continually educated about home irrigation systems and what water and gas pipes look like, I pursued my dream of creating a beautiful fence.
After an hour or two of digging holes, measuring distances, and mixing concrete, I solidified my posts in position and leveled their stances. The next day I borrowed a hand saw to cut the proper sizes for the pre-made picket fencing I had bought. Using the correct screws, angles, and drills to attach the fence hardware was a new skill I had never previously thought through. I was aided in much of this project by friends and family who had these handy tools in their garages.
I won’t bore you with more details of the construction but I will say the fence is properly made, durable, and elegant. It was hard work, and I learned so much more about how to use tools and home projects than I ever expected too.
Above all, I had fun. I am also ridiculously proud of my fence every time I pass through the gate to get from the side yard into the backyard. And my pup can’t make her way through it. When I see her brown eyes peering at me through the slats of the fence awaiting my return, I am so grateful I took on the challenge and she’s safe beyond the fence.
Bailey Blog 
Leave a comment