Domestic Diversions

The Fence...

Above:  I wanted a twenty-six foot long expanse of fence to keep the hounds out of the driveway---my girl hound seems to believe the driveway is the perfect potty area in winter.  :o/  I also wanted a removable section of fence for service access to the house or back yard when necessary---wide enough for a truck to drive through.

Above:  Here's the design I came up with, which was functional, budget friendly and pretty easy to build.  I purchased a rusted steel panel from a local salvage yard which is interesting to look at, in itself.  The panel is the "waste" that was left over after circles were punched out for the original purpose.  It is five feet tall (the perfect height for the fence I wanted) and ten feet long.  The method I used to install the steel panel allows easy removal for service access.  (Oh, yes, those big round black bundles are eighteen bags of leaves I raked over the last couple of weekends.  My neighbors who have created a full-city lot size garden and orchard will be able to use most of the leaves for mulching/compost!)

Above:  The rest of the fence utilizes "horse fencing", heavy-gauge galvanized wire fencing manufactured in a 4x4-inch grid pattern.  Each panel of horse fencing measures six-feet high by sixteen feet long.

Above:  We cut the height of the horse fence panels down to the desired five foot height.   The best way to cut the horse fencing is with an electric grinder.  We attached the rusted steel panel (left side of the photo) on the side of the fence posts that will be seen from the house.  The horse fencing was attached to the opposite side of the posts (right).

Above:  We used heavy gauge staples "nailed" into the 4x4-inch treated wood posts in several places to attach the horse fencing material.

Above:  The rusted steel panel was hung on two L-hooks which were screwed into the posts.  This allows the panel to be lifted off  for service access.

Above:   The gate is a simple design using treated 2x4's to build a frame and brace, then infilled with more horse fencing cut to size.

Above:  Latch side of the gate at the fence.

Above:  Hinge side of the fence where the post attaches to the corner of the garage.  I found the galvanized post caps online at Bevo Works here.  The horse fencing was located at an agricultural suppler.  All other materials can be found at Home Depot or Lowe's.

The Gutters...

Above:  Goldfish rain chain.  I decided to use a rain chain instead of a downspout, as the junction of the roof overhang and the main body of the house created an awkward condition in which a huge and unattractive down spout elbow was required.

 Above:  Following the rain chain up...

Above:  ...and up to the corner opening in the gutter.  I needed eleven and a half feet of chain for this location.  There are some beautiful copper rain chains on the market.   I had very little budget for a rain chain and located this "budget" chain via Amazon.com where there was one six-foot length in stock, and via Target.com where there was another six-foot length in stock---together giving me twelve feet.  So I ordered from the two different sources to get enough.  This chain is no longer in stock at these two places---I must have bought the last!  I don't know any other place to find it.  Hope it lasts a good little while!

Above:  The section of new gutter across the back of the addition, with rain chain hanging to the left of the door and steps.  Next Spring, I will be developing more landscaping around the addition.  Hoping that we are pretty well set now for winter's arrival---hmmm, where's the snow shovel?  Now...on to the holidays!