Yard Re-Do

2016 Playground Additions

Rocks

We took some time in the spring and filled the sink hole again with a good bit of the rocks we got for this and another project (see side wall outside of fence for those details). Then it was a full truckload of mulch, which went in various places around the yard, including the playground.

Holes Holes

Come September, our focus shifted to the new addition- giant monkey bars and flip bars. It took one weekend to get the holes marked out and dug (post hole digger and Mr. Man vs. renting an auger for just 6 holes. Torture, by the way, to do by hand into the clay that hadn't not been turned or adjusted, even with the rest of the work we did in 2012 in this area). Posts were built with kids help, then carried to the back and set in concrete, with braces helping to support while the concrete cured. We left the supports up for a few days before removing them.

Holes Holes

The following weekend, the poles were finished and building the behemoth began. Before the monkey bars were installed, a couple flip bars/ pull up bars went in. In order to get the monkey bars in place, Mr. Man put up a pulley to help us pull up one side, with the kids as anchors and tying it around the big tower for support, then us lifting the other side and adding support blocks to hold that side while the other side was pulled up again. It took us a couple hours, all working together, to get it in place and secured. It involved the sledge, drills, and bolts in addition to the ratchet straps to finish pulling them into place.

Monkey Holes

In addition, extra rock wall pieces have been placed on the outside of the monkey bars (a la American Ninja Warrior challenge). The climbing rope was also shifted to be on the monkey bars (and swings at the bottom now). The kids are improving their pull ups and flipping around the bars. They are learning to deal with blisters on hands again.
Step

We then moved into staining the cedar. Our first focus is the verticals. Our challenge with staining has been the weather was so hot and sunny to allow us to do so, or weather issues (rain a la hurricane this weekend), or other plans. It's in progress, and we will do what we can for as long as we can, and hopefully it will all be finished before it gets too cold overnights to stain. I can do most of the lower stuff or planks I can reach with the step stool (or low ladder), but there is no way I can stain from a ladder to reach the (high) outside bridge or outer alpine tower, so that falls to Mr. Man. And if he's on another task, we need to prioritize.