ON MY HONEY-DO LIST SINCE 2017

The Gate of Wrath.

We moved into our house on Oct. 31, 2017. We have a little rescue dog. A Yorkie. Her name is Pixie. To keep her from getting out, this was one of the first things Wifey put on my Honey-Do List. Originally, the warpage was blocked by a small piece of wood. Over time, the gate warped more. I kept upping the thickness of the wood I wedged in the gap. Eventually I was using a 4 x 4 block. Then we added another rescue to our menagerie. We named her Bunny Mouse because she hopped around the yard like a bunny and squeaked like a mouse. She's a Chihuahua/Mini Pincher mix. She started out very small. Then her legs began to grow. And one day I was curious about what got our two cats, Smoochy and Snickers, so excited out the side window. When what to my wondering eyes should appear? A miniature dog with long legs. There was Bunny Mouse out of the yard. It was time to build a new gate.

Here is Bunny Mouse in all her long-legged glory.

I jotted down all the measurements on the existing gate.

I used pressure treated 2 x 4s and standard fencing pickets from Lowe's.

The tools used were few. My miter saw, pocket hole jig, drill, screws, socket set, and, of course, my tape measure.

Pocket screws were used to build the frame.

It is a double-sided gate and fence system. I took my time measuring the spacing on both sides. Exterior deck screws were used to secure all the pickets. It weighed a ton. I couldn't lift it. I contemplated "walking" it around the house to the backyard like the Rapa Nui of Easter Island moved the Moai stone heads. In my youth, I could've finagled the fence around the side of the house and installed it, but as I am just two months shy of becoming three-quarters of a century old, I called my two sons for help. Needing only one of them, my youngest agreed to help.

I loaded it in the back of the car and drove around to the backyard. My son and I took off the warped gate and installed the new one.

It only took me 2 1/2 years to be able to check this off my Honey-Do list.

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