As a couple of you already know I have recently bought the house of my "dreams". I say "dreams" because it isn’t some multi million-dollar estate like some may desire, but it has a lot of sentimental value. I moved back "home" which happens to be a 2600 square foot home located in west Mobile on 2 acres of property next door to my parents. The home belonged to my grandmother and was built by my grandfather (died when I was 3). I grew up out here and fished, hunted, etc. all around this area. I finally (by the grace of God and many of his blessings on my life 8) ) was able to move back here and buy my grandmother's place. As I said it has lots of sentimental value because of the fact that I grew up here, my grandfather built it and I have some space to stretch out a bit and get away from suburbia and neighbors that live a little too close. ;)
Anyways, one of the projects at the new place was to restore the small cement pond that my grandfather built for me to fish in when I was young. One of the reasons this means so much to me is that I have been told many times by my grandmother and father that HE is where I get my love from the outdoors from. They say he would fish or hunt ALL day with the last few dollars he had to his name. I only wish I could spend ONE day with him on MY boat and put him on da fishes. 8)
Anyways, my work begins on the new place. Here is some concrete I busted up from the bottom and sides of the old pond.
I busted up the bottom and sides in an effort to make it a little wider and deeper because it wasn’t big enough to support fish through the colder months.
Here is a load on the old EZgo. She gets worked pretty hard everyday around here. ;D
I also repoured the top and brought it up to grade so I would have a nice clean border to edge around. 8)
Here it is as I poured the last bit on the topside. It doesn’t look like it from the pics, but this is the conclusion of about 2 weeks worth of work. Between work, side jobs, and thunderstorms every freakin afternoon :x progress went pretty slow. :P
After that I got the paint on the top and the drylock on the inside of the pond to seal it.
I used epoxy paint with the paint chips on the topside. It turned out pretty good IMO. :)
With the pumps in place and the water running for a few days it was time to get some new residents for the lil pond. I decided to get a few bream because they would be fun for the girls to feed and maybe catch every now and then like my granddad did with me when I was young. 8)
Yall may also take note of the frog on the end "spitting" water. My grandfather bought that for my grandmother when they first built the place. I cleaned him up and repainted him to reuse on "pops" pond. I also clear coated him with acrylic to withstand the elements.
The fishin report.
On the way down to my buddy's pond we ran across a NASTY tempered water moccasin. :shock: I put an old fashion azz whoopin on him with the EZgo and we were on our way. ;D
Here is Darren with a typical sized fish for him. :D
One for me:
Darren with a lil better one. ::)
We got about 5 new residents and SCOOTED back to the house before a thunder boomer got on us. :shock:
Me and the girls will prolly go get a few more tomorrow. 8)