"Fall Fun"

It is really to bad that all of you cannot enjoy the early days of Fall
at the Hole In The Wall. Some call it "Indian Summer".
Although, unusual we have not yet had our first frost of the season.
Late this afternoon, as I was working on a fun project, I heard the inspiring sounds of the
Sand Hill Cranes making their seasonal trip to the south. Within minutes, three large flocks
appeared over the top of the Eagle Nest. Evidently, due to the high winds that were occurring, they came over at tree top level as they crossed into the air space of the Hole In The Wall. A half later, four separate flocks also traversed the same course at the same altitude. Not being able to resist, I let our resident "Bird Chaser" out of the truck to see his reaction. Evidently, he is willing to chase other birds at high altitudes, but seeing this many birds ganged up, he must have decided that the odds were not in his favor, he willingly watched them without a bark.
With heavy rains tonight, the satellite dish is blocked, instead of Fox News tonight, I am content in listening to "Lonesome Dove" ~ Life Is Good.

"Fun Project"
For a good many years, the "Ole Fire Pit" has served us well. A lot of great visiting, harassing, teasing, tall tales, ghost stories, honest fish stories, and many jokes have been told around the pit. Many fond memories. Lots of good food and beverages of all flavors, even a few alcoholic beverages have been enjoyed while watching the flames. If only our elected officials would sit around a camp fire and just talk, perhaps they would solve some of the problems our nation faces. Most of these problems have been discussed at our "Ole Fire Pit" and resolved.

The "Ole Fire Pit" is now history, instead the "Enhanced Fire Pit" is nearly completed with a few minor details.
There were those that were curious as to the condition of the sand after several years of intense heat, it was even speculated that perhaps it had turned to "glass". The sand nearest the fire ring, was red in color turning to orange and fading into a light brown before retaining the original color about three inches from the ring.
So as not to have to move sand several times and spill it onto the gravel, the cleaned out fire pit served as storage area for the original sand. Ironically, the fire ring held the same amount of sand that was originally banking the ring.
Once the sand was moved to the fire ring for storage, the old wooden structure was removed and a new one constructed. This time, the inside walls were reinforced with "hurricane tie downs" and each piece of treated wood received a heavy dose of "gorilla glue"on each seam and end joints then bound together with "Woody Screws".

Due to the new "blueprints, calling for the leveling of the fire ring so our biscuits would not be
lopsided, I quickly discovered that all the sand stowed in the fire ring, although a great strategy, made it impossible to level the ring. Once again, the sand was moved to a "blue tarp" outside the frame for storage. After several hours of leveling, and squaring a round circle in a square box, it was time to once again move the sand from the "blue tarp" back inside the frame. No sand was wasted in these transfers, one wheelbarrow of fresh sand was required to bring the insulation barrier to grade as replacement for the rocks that were in the "old pit" as called for in the blue prints. The sand was then compacted with a "home made compactor" within two inches of the rim of the fire ring.

As per the blueprints, reinforcement wire was then laid on the compacted sand to provide extra strength to the concrete slab that will be poured.

The old burned 2" x 4" frame that surrounded the "ole pit" was been replaced with a 1.5" x 1.5" aluminum angled frame which brings it level with the top of the fire ring and flush with the exterior walls of the new fire pit, as called for in the blueprints.
I now await for first light when the "crete truck" arrives to make the pour.
Until later, you will just have to wait to see how it turns out, it is just to bad that all of you are missing out on all the fun.
Life Is Good.