A Gate To Remember

The Big Man had a honey-do list with surprisingly only three things listed. The last one on the list: install a gate to the chicken run.

Wheat harvest is quickly approaching, so there is a lot to prepare for on the farm. This means longer hours for the Big Man, and less free time for getting projects done. I thought if I could just get a majority of the gate-making process done for him, he would just have to install it. So I headed to the local lumberyard for some supplies.

I showed the manager my well drawn-out gate plans and basically told him “This is what I want to make, get me whatever I need.” I was nice about it though, of course. Since there wasn’t enough room in my vehicle, they delivered out the 2x4’s, 4x4’s, screws, and hinges.

Here goes nothing.

Now, I don’t know a whole lot about woodworking, but I know enough to get a job done. I wanted to use a circular saw to cut my pieces. However, when I held it up asking my mom if she knew how to use it, she replied with, “Well first off, you have to plug it in.” Thanks mom, hand saw it is.

I wasn’t about to go all fancy, making the gate frame with miter joints. I was cutting the wood with a handsaw after all! So to make things easier for myself, I went with a butt joint. Side note: I had to look up the name for that joint. I will say that is a very fitting name indeed!

After I made my appropriate cuts and aligned everything in place, I found out quickly why miter joints are popular. The lumberyard did not give me screws long enough to connect boards in a butt joint fashion.

Fortunately, I can problem solve on the fly. I took the power-drill (one of the few power tools I do know how to operate) and drilled holes at an angle into the two boards. Screw in the screws, and we’re good to go! (Or at least until I buy something like a gusset plate for reinforcement.)

With the gate built, all I had left to do was to dig the holes for the 4x4 posts. Good thing we have an old fashioned post hole digger for that!

The hard parts were done! Now, it was the Big Man’s turn to finish up the project and cross it off the list!

First, cut the 4x4’s to approximate length (and even out later) and stick them into the holes. Fill the remainder with dirt to set the posts in place.

All that was left was to attach the gate door to the post and attach the latch.

Then disaster struck!

Feeling a need to hurry and get done, I ran towards the shop to get the gate latch.

SNAP

I let out a yell as I rolled to the ground...I rolled my ankle. The pain didn’t quite hit yet, and looking up at my ankle held in the air, it didn’t look too swollen yet. But what on earth was that distinct snap? I started to yell for the Big Man. What was taking him so long?

Finally, he shows up with Baby Girl in arms. First instinct told him maybe my scream was from seeing her hurt, so he went to her first. Obviously I wasn’t there, so he grabbed her and came looking for me.

I told him what happened, and he peeked at my ankle. It was looking pretty bad by now. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he whisked me back to the house in a princely fashion. My hero!

As he came back into the house with kids, he told me he knew what caused the snap. My eldest was playing with hand-crank egg beater and left it on the ground. Needless to say, it’s now broken. I’m thankful it wasn’t anything in my leg!

So I am now out of commission until the swelling goes down.

Back to the gate!

I couldn’t tell you much about the door hanging process after all that, other than I’m told it now functions. It still needs a couple finishing touches, but I’m glad it’s now one less thing to think about!

And life goes on..

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