All Fenced In

A white picket fence is required for a historic home, isn't it?  Well, maybe not in all cases, but this house was screaming for one and Rob had a vision as to exactly how it needed to be constructed.  Because I am a visual person, I had to see it all laid out with stakes:

When the boys were home for a holiday, Rob took advantage of their brawn to help get the first two posts dug and in - 8 x 8 posts, I kid you not!

Sturdy and substantial (there was actually a lot of debate on my part about the size of the posts but I ultimately caved).  I still had my doubts throughout the process that they were just too large given the height of the fence, but it turned out that Rob was absolutely, 100% right on this one.

The remaining posts were a long process to install, even with the help of a rented automatic post hole digger.

These posts were all 6 x 6's so not a lot lighter than the gate and corner posts.  Rob finished the job solo and then started planning out the addition of the pickets.

 

The first section went up like clockwork:

Before too long (okay, a couple weeks total, but he was a one man show at this point) the fence was fully installed.

It's absolutely the perfect addition to the still unfinished yard.

The wood is aging so we can paint the fence the requisite white (hopefully before winter) and it needs post caps and a fancy gate to finish the picture.  It's apparently the most substantial and sturdy picket fence many have seen, according to the comments received from numerous passersby.  It's definitely a fence for the ages.