It’s finally happening, but it’s actually happening

[jjohnwm]

Okay, first things first: that is magnificent!

To paraphrase Esox: I never thought for one moment that you would ever come through with this project. I am very happy to be wrong. Beautifully done.

Now a question...and you of course knew there would at least one...

I'm just curious if, after a long period of silence...is it entirely coincidental that this lovely pond has come together after multiple folks suggested you get a few local handymen to come and do the grunt work? I mean, your initial start-up...no work boots, didn't really know which end of the shovel to hold, that kind of thing...was, shall we say...weak.

The last word we heard, the pond was basically a messy low spot in the yard. You kept getting assorted booboos and it just didn't sound like you were having fun. And, then...out of the blue...this! Designed, excavated, levelled, plumbed, lined, paved, grouted...fantastic, incredible, unbelievable!

But, however you did it...or whoever did it...it's done now and it's awesome.

 

[The Masked Shadow]

I'm just curious if, after a long period of silence...is it entirely coincidental that this lovely pond has come together after multiple folks suggested you get a few local handymen to come and do the grunt work? I mean, your initial start-up...no work boots, didn't really know which end of the shovel to hold, that kind of thing...was, shall we say...weak.

The last word we heard, the pond was basically a messy low spot in the yard. You kept getting assorted booboos and it just didn't sound like you were having fun. And, then...out of the blue...this! Designed, excavated, levelled, plumbed, lined, paved, grouted...fantastic, incredible, unbelievable!

valid question, I actually finished digging the pond a long time ago, and I started to actually build the pond at the beginning of summer. The pond building coincided with a landscaping project in the backyard; putting in a flagstone pathway, adding decomposed granite, planting only natives, etc. I had help from the people who landscaped in certain things, like overall landscaping of the pond, and some minor parts like concealing the skimmer, and concealing the plumbing, all of these things had to be coordinated so the pond and the yard would look good together. I had some help with the retaining wall because I had never worked with rebar, and I had help with gluing all the PVC elbows and all that. The main help they gave me was actually getting the flagstone, because at the time they were building flagstone pathways, so they had pallets of flat flagstone which I mooched off to put ontop of the retaining wall and waterfall. I also talked to a local pond shop owner about plumbing questions because imo that was easily the hardest thing.

to be honest, I didn’t want to post on here because I didn’t want advice because it was going smoothly just talking to a local pond guy and getting help when needed from the landscaping people.

 

[jjohnwm]

Lol, it was indeed the mention of rebar that really caught my attention; that got me looking at those pics and marvelling at the beautiful stonework and masonry joints...and made me suspicious...

I can certainly understand not asking for remote internet advice when you have local expertise available. You should have just explained that; most of us are happy to limit our responses to mere abuse without offering any actual assistance.

 

[esoxlucius]

I actually finished digging the pond a long time ago,

This is very true. Let's not forget guys, surfer dude did make a start 3 years ago on this project, and it was going fine, until.....he had a slight accident with the shovel where he nearly cut his own legs off at the waist!

But once he got over the mental trauma he got back on that horse, with some help it would seem, a lot of help it would seem, and got the job done.

Great work, it looks fantastic!