When this novelty wears off (i.e., the wafting stench sickens you), decide to build them their own patio from pavers left over from other projects. Then concoct a plan to construct a cement pad that is smooth and beautiful and conveniently located. Prepare the ground for this marvelous structure.
Purchase fancy tools and an obscene amount of concrete mix. Be sure to lift each of the 80-pound bags four times between the store shelf and their ultimate destination. Build muscles and break your back in honor of all the garbage!
Involve small children with the water hose.
Mix three bags of concrete mix with water in the wheelbarrow. Mix and churn and mix and churn and remember you're saving fifty bucks by not renting the cement mixer from Home Depot. In a move worthy of Tom Sawyer, convince your seven-year-old that mixing and churning is fun and get him to take a turn. Form eternal parent-child bonds over the love of work. (Or at least mete out punishment for unspeakable crimes committed earlier in the week.)
When all the concrete is poured, use a not-so-fancy 2x4 to level it. Then bust out the real tools to make it look good.
Let each family member make their mark in the cement. Six names and hand prints of descending size transform the garbage pad into an heirloom work of art.
Hastily construct a protective cover when the sky opens and rain descends. Measure the hail when it falls.
Finally, bask in the glory of the finished product. Imagine the "oohs" and "ahhs" your garbage cans would make if they could speak. Make a mental note to spray the cans down with the hose at the next opportunity.
They are pretty gross, after all.
11 comments:
We're proud of you. It looks great! I'm sure the old back is aching right now though!
That's something we keep talking about doing. I hate dragging the garbage cans through the dirt (or more often mud). Unfortunately, it never seems to make the top of the "project list." Someday...
They look very happy indeed. :) We built (well, the landscapers built) a veritable red carpet for our garbage cans from their new home behind their gate, through the yard out the side gate, and down to the street. So it isn't really a very glamorous thing to spend time and money on, but it's satisfying nonetheless!
Such honorable treatment for your trashcans!! I love that you added handprints.
It is the little moment to moment details that make life easier...like having a quick, efficient, somewhat pleasant way to dispose of the garbage. Way to make life easier, Garry. Too bad it is such a hard process!
Lucky cans! The handprints are going to be a treasure!
When I saw where this was going I was hopeful there would be hand prints put in there. You can't make such a permanent thing and not leave some sort of ownership to it. Those prints will be looked at for years and years.
I'll admit that even though my muscles definitely complained after the job was done, it wasn't quite as bad as I had imagined. It's nice when some things go easier than expected.
And, while it's not perfect and I'll never be asked to be a professional cement contractor/finisher by anyone, it turned out OK, especially for the garbage cans.
I am proud of you Garry, your a chip off the old blocks, Grandpa and
Dad. I must be in your Gens Grandma Great
You are so popular. :) Looks like a productive weekend. Glad it's complete.
What a fun family project! Tell your boys the Hadley's want to hire them to construct a cement path along the side of our house for our yard debris can. I've been wanting one for years. ;)
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