Making repairs

This trash container was built about twenty years ago by Buddy and Jessie, our neighbors back then. Buddy had married Jessie's sister and bought the back acre behind Jessie's house. After retiring, the two couples were enjoying a quiet life in the country when we moved in next door. The guys loved puttering around their gardens and their garages, and enjoyed small projects like building this trash container.

The trick here was to keep it from being knocked over or bashed in by the pranksters who were vandalizing mailboxes and trash bins at night. So Buddy and Jessie made the four corner pieces from six foot posts of pressure treated wood, and sank them two feet into the ground. I remember how Buddy chuckled as he thought of the rude awakening in store for anyone who tried to vandalize this container. Those deep-set posts would give them a shock for sure!

And, indeed, over the years, those posts have stood firm. Occasionally, though, the pieces which form the sides need replacing, and Ben or someone from one of the three families which share this trash container would make the needed repairs.

Today Ben and Paul replaced two of the side pieces. As I watched them, I thought of Buddy and Jessie, now long gone, and the bit of history behind this unassuming construction.