Posting Tips

I know that you are all wondering how I create such intriguing posts for my blog. If that’s the case, I am sorry to say that posts aren’t the topic of this post but rather posts are. Setting a good cedar post for my new raspberry trellis that is. These are our front steps by the way.

I started with a twelve foot post and cut it in two. The most economical length in cedar is eight foot; at least at Menards. However, I needed two six foot posts and a twelve foot length was cheaper overall than two eight foot (four foot of wood I do not need) or even two six foot lengths.

Use those cardboard tube forms for setting your post foundations. That is the tip of the day. Read on to find out why. I bought an 8 inch diameter tube though the concrete mix directions recommended the 12 inch. The tube is four foot long and I cut it into three equal lengths with one of those reciprocating tools, which worked well. One for a post for my brother, he’s not a blogger, and two for my trellis posts.

I used my post hole digger and went down just over 24 inches. I set the tube where I wanted it centered and expanded the hole with a trenching shovel. I expanded it only deep enough so the top of the tube would be just above grade. I poured in a bit of gravel in the bottom and had my level at the ready before I started mixing the concrete. The proper concrete for this application sets in twenty-five minutes.

I mixed the concrete quickly using two hands on my trowel and feverishly scraping from the bottom and turning to get it well integrated. I threw a bit in the bottom and set the post as straight as possible with my level at the ready. Put a bit more concrete in and checked level again. Repeat until the post is sturdy, then fill to the top. Now, and here’s the big tip, working by yourself, quickly leveling filling, leveling filling, you may find the post is not perfectly vertical. You can wedge something, like a stone, between the wall of your hole and the tube form, quickly before the concrete sets hard, to tilt the whole tube along with the post in the desired direction. It will stay that way when hardened as the base of the concrete is set hard amidst the surrounding hard packed soil, not really deep enough to be considered hard pan, at the bottom (the tube does not go all the way down). Beats trying to adjust the post in the concrete. The secret to a perfect vertical.

The tube will also save you concrete. I may have been better of with a 12 inch diameter tube as I had to use more than two bags to set both posts. I may have come up to an even three with the 12 inch.

When shade covered my yard and as soon as my laser level could be read at fifteen feet, to hit both posts at each end of the raspberry briar, I set the second post. The laser level came to rest where it may. I measured how far down from the top it rested on the post now hard set. I measured down from what would be the top of my second post and drew a horizontal line across. I put the post in the hole and lifted it until the line matched the laser mark and noted how high off the bottom of the hole it was before I mixed the concrete. I had my level to check the vertical ready before I started mixing. I put a bit more concrete than I needed at the bottom then stomped the post down upon it until my line and the laser mark matched perfectly. My wife was there to help. We leveled it exactly vertical and she held as I threw in the concrete, using my hands. I could have, maybe should have worn gloves, but then I thought, ‘I aint no girl.’ My wife did a great job. No last second adjustments required.

I will add the horizontal bars in due course. As you can see I set the posts centered on the open ground of my raspberry briar. I set the paving stones, and will set more when I can scavenge more up, along the fence to keep the vines from spreading into my neighbors yard. This will also allow, tight as it may be, access to the vines from both sides. Waste not want not. 100 foot of galvanized steel wire, to string between the trellises, cost less than three dollars. I will post more as the project progresses

I like to eat the raspberries right off the vine. My wife wont eat them without washing them off first. I frieghtened her today, sneaking up around from the front of the house to get a picture as she worked on another of her projects. It is a most beautiful Saturday. My wife bought the pool for the dog.

“So why are you inside posting on such a beautiful day, especially since you just posted yesterday?” you ask. “Way way behind on your word counts aren’t you?’' you accuse. “Why do you even include blog posts in your word counts anyway?”

Is that what I get for trying to be helpful? And don’t forget, with every post the jackpot increases. But it is true. I have written little towards my next novel so far this month. I am just now emerging from my birthday doldrums. I wrote little and some days nothing for nearly two weeks. Never fear. The next novel, the second in the “Fortunes of Chuck Hammer Series” is again advancing. You can purchase my books here if you have an e-reader.

Our retail sales are flat due to Country Thunder. Yes, yet another mega event on this most crowded of weekends. Excuse my tardiness to inform. I knew the late Johnny Christian, a man who drummed for Johnny Cash. He owned The Middle Branch Saloon. I got to know him a bit in the years I worked alone to establish our retail business. He was a big promoter of Country Thunder. A very nice man with a lovely wife who always made us candies for Christmas. I’m sure he’s in a good place.

The $107 question: What were my three most favorite WORS races? Keeping the same question. Check out the Charity Jackpot Page link in the sidebar to possibly triple the amount.