Five years ago Dan built a pergola for our bedroom window and afterward made a gate for the driveway.
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| Photo from August 2021 |
The gate has served us well, both for privacy but especially for keeping wandering dogs out of the yard. We used to have a problem with this, and have lost chickens and ducks to dogs people let roam because we're outside of town limits. And also it helps keep our chickens, turkeys, and ducks from wandering into the front yard and into the street. So it's been a good addition.
Earlier this summer one of the gate posts became very wobbly. When Dan pulled it out it was quite rotted where it had been in the ground. So he took down the gate and we discussed how to replace it. After a lot of ideas for a new wooden gate, we finally decided the quickest and easiest thing to do was to install a farm gate.
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| The muscadine vines on the pergola shade the window from the afternoon sun. |
That looks fabulous! And I love the touch of whimsy with the spinning flowers!
ReplyDeleteThanks Daisy! More personality than a plain 'ol farm gate.
DeleteSo pretty.😍 RHill, TX
ReplyDeleteRHill, thanks!
DeleteThat looks great. Love all the additions, gives it personality!
ReplyDeleteDeb, personality, yes! We've tried to make our place our own, rather than a real estate agents selling point.
DeleteI remember when Dan built the pergola and the gate. Looks good. Love the swallows on the gate.
ReplyDeleteRosalea, good remembering! I was surprised when I looked the post up and saw the date. I guess we can't complain too much about the old one's longevity. The posts were home milled from our own trees and not treated except for paint.
DeleteI like the sense of humor with the whirligigs. Practical fence but not too solemn.
ReplyDeleteLiz, they are a bit of whimsy! A reminder not to take ourselves too seriously. :)
DeleteI love your creative way to decorate the gate.
ReplyDeleteKristina, thank you!
DeleteI have found the modern versions of treated wood for ground contact really don't last very long, at least those sold at big box stores. Our solution was to use wood that was naturally rot resistant like osage, locust or cedar for support posts and then use four or five metal 'T' posts in-between those for ease of installation and longevity. But even then, you still would have the same problem of needing to beauty things up.
ReplyDeleteYour gate looks very nice!
Ed, those posts were pine from our land and milled by Dan on his sawmill. So I guess we can't complain about how long they lasted. To your point, we've found the same, that "treated" commercial lumber for outdoor use doesn't last any longer. Our original fence posts (2010) were cedar and over the years the outer wood has rotted although the heartwood is as strong as ever.
DeleteThat's a smile-maker, right there! Good job, both of you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Laurie! We're smiling. :)
DeleteThings should be functional, beautiful, and whimsical. Looks like you have checked all three boxes!
ReplyDeleteTB, that's the goal! I love it when function combines with aesthetics and charm. :)
DeleteThat's called creativity and imagination, my friend! Lordy, where have all the years gone since we first "met"?
ReplyDeleteSue, it's amazing how the time has gone. I can't believe we've been here 17 years! At least we have lots to show for it.
DeleteLove it my friend. Great job. Happy Monday.
ReplyDeleteThank you Regine! Happy Monday to you too.
DeleteWonderful lovely!
ReplyDeleteThank you Goatldi!
DeleteNicely done! Functional, fun, and looks really nice!
ReplyDeleteChipmunk, thank you!
DeleteNice! Now people will be admiring the gate rather than looking beyond it 😁
ReplyDeleteLady Locust, that's the idea, lol. Not that there's ever much going on within view, but peoples' curiosity tends to make me uncomfortable. Good to hear from you!
DeleteThe gate is so pretty! You and Dan have made that such a beautiful farm.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, thank you!
DeleteI love the fix! It's pretty, fun and functional. You can't get any better than that for sure!
ReplyDeleteNina, it's certainly more attractive than a plain old farm gate!
DeleteI love the replacement gate and those twirlly flowers!!
ReplyDelete