Building a Pond

The kids and I went to watch their uncles and grandpa build a pond on great grandpa Ferguson's pasture. This time of year we like to look for reasons to get out of the house as much as we can, even if it means lots of dirty clothes and muddy vehicles (inside and out). Getting ready to leave for anywhere can take up to 30 minutes of putting on boots,outdoor gear, and getting into car seats. Next winter Ezra will hopefully be able to dress himself, but for this winter, it is quite the process to get anywhere. The process of getting ready is an event itself.

Grandpa is building up an old drive way with dirt taken from inside the pond.
This fence row at one time had a wild plum tree that Grandma Ferguson and I picked plums from to make jam one summer. I remember her standing on a five gallon bucket to pick them, and handing them to me.

The valley where the upper pond will be. I grew up on a farm on the other side of the hill on the horizon. Grandpa and Grandma Ferguson lived just a mile away.

Uncles Mark, Mike and BJ getting their "core" of the pond approved. I don't know a lot about dirt work, but I've learned that this has to be made with clay (as opposed to top soil) and deep enough so that the pond doesn't leak.

The boys in their car seats. It is a tight fit!

Riding with grandpa.

Once the core of the pond was approved, uncle Mike started pushing clay on top of it to build up the dike of the pond.

The boys are in the tractor with grandpa, and Uncle Mark is filling their scraper with dirt.

Uncle Mike and BJ building up the dike on the upper pond. You can see the lower pond below is already built.

Zachary with uncle Mark in the back hoe.

Uncle Mike driving dozer.

The boys like watching home videos just as much as cartoons and movies. Here is a video of Grandpa, Ezra and Elliot stuck n the tractor, while Uncle BJ pushes them out with the dozer.

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