Fence Building 101

We started replacing the fence this weekend. Its going to be a winter-long project as there are over 400 feet (121 meters) to replace. Above: It took us a while to figure out how to get the old panels off in one piece. The answer was -- very carefully. I intend to use some of the old panels to completely fence off the property (through the woods).

We're using the existing 4"x4"x8' posts as they were unaffected by the termites that have chewed up the bottom of the rest of the fence. Anywhere the fence touched the ground the termites devoured it. The original fence was cypress which is supposed to be termite resistant. . . and I sealed it repeatedly with oil-based sealers. . . but none of it was any match for the voracious bugs.

Above: First we replaced the cross beams, placing them relatively level. Then we ran a string across the top from the corner to the end post. The string is at the height we want all the pickets, and relatively level.

Above: Then, one-at-a-time we nailed in the new fence pickets.

I made sure to dig a trench about a foot deep under all the new fence so that the bugs won't be able to get to it. I have a lot more digging to do.

Below: The first completed 8-foot section. This was a test to see if it was within our skill set to accomplish this task. I think the biggest effort will be getting the supplies from the store to the house. . . and then hauling off all the old fence to be burned. Its not that much work to nail in the new fence.

The first 8-foot section took an afternoon of planning, shopping, and installation. The next day we decided to attempt to replace the gate on the opposite side of the house. This was a bit more challenging project (below).

The original gate had been repaired many times in the 15 years since it was installed. It was no longer functional (below).

We removed the gate and all the hardware and the small section of fence between the gate and house.

The 4"x4"x8-foot posts were a little crooked (not plumb) but we decided to work with them rather than to replace them as they are set in a lot of concrete and the posts are fine aside from being slightly off plumb (plumb meaning on a vertical plane).

Between cursing and stomping and two trips to the hardware store for more supplies, we hung Christmas lights . . . and achieved what we thought impossible. A completely new gate is in place, built from nothing but our best efforts and about $50 worth of lumber and $30 worth of hardware.

Notice that we had to cut off part of the top of the 4"x4"x8-foot post to get it to open and close easily, but. . .overall, I was very impressed with our work.

SPIDERS AND SNAKES

Everyone always wants to know what kind of wildlife I encountered in this house tucked into the woods. Mostly all we had to contend with this weekend were spiders. All of our houses in this area are covered with Latrodectus mactans or Brown Widow spiders. I don't mind the spiders so much but I hate the mess they make on the house. Below: My fingertip with a few of the spider egg sacs. The top sac has lots of little spiderlings emerging.

In Florida we not only have Black Widows but two kinds of Black Widows plus a Red Widow and these ubiquitous Brown Widows. Of all the widow spiders in Florida most people probably encounter these Brown Widows on a daily basis, but don't know what they are.

I suspect that we are mostly immune to their bites after many years living in Florida and spending lots of time outdoors. I do normally wear gloves and jeans to try and keep the nasty critters off my skin. Like all Latrodectus species, the Brown Widow has a neurotoxic venom that, drop by drop, is as toxic as the better known Black Widow's. Below: A closer (but still blurry) look at the tiny spiders emerging from the egg sac.

As I was putting up the Christmas lights I was brushing these sacs off the house and millions of little spiders were scurrying everywhere. I'm not at all itchy so I think I survived another day of close contact with them.

I can report that I saw no snakes, as has been the case all summer. I did however encounter a family of North American River Otters (Lontra canadensis) tearing up my ponds. By the time I got in and grabbed a camera they had scurried the 1/4-mile into the tall grass in the dry lake.

Below: Their trail out to the marshy area is well-worn. I knew they had been in the ponds from time to time because they always leave a terrible mess behind (poop, plants upended, etc.). This area where I was standing would normally be about 9-feet (3 meters) deep. The persistent drought has left nothing but a marshy field where our 700 acre lake once existed.

Below: Walking back to the house is a long trek now from where the soft, damp ground begins. You can barely see the boat and some lawn chairs up on the berm of the dry lake, far in the distance from where I was standing in weeds now 9-feet tall.

Below: At sunset looking to the north there is some water perhaps a mile out in the distance from the former shoreline. Trees grow up around the unused boat as we enter or 5th dry season preceded by a dry summer (equaling historic drought).

The temperatures today were nice. About 80° F. (27° C.).

Below: Unrelated but on my mind. . . the Monte Carlo being towed away, again. I still haven't found a charity that will take her nor a mechanic that can fix her problem with occasionally stalling. Tomorrow I'm going to start calling junk yards. What a waste of a good vehicle. . . but. . . I'm tired of messing with her.

We drove her back from Chevy (20 miles away) with no stalling and a bill for $100 to diagnose her problem. . . which was inconclusive. I drove her around the neighborhood yesterday (after her visit to Chevy) and she stalled 3x. ARGH!