Doing My Eagle Project (Part One).
Today I did part one of my Eagle Project. This was very nice because it means I have a HECK of a lot less to do nxt weekend, which works out pretty good. WHOA! I'm jumping way ahead of myself...
When I was planning what day(s) I was going to do my Eagle Project, I had a couple of problems, which are really my fault, because I've been putting this off for years (literally). First, know that I only had three weekends before I turn 18 on May 13, this weekend (AKA today), next weekend, and Mother's Day weekend. This weekend, there was also a troop thing where they organized all the troop gear, cleaned things out etc. from 9AM-1PM. Next weekend is the Spring Ordeal (an OA thing), and I would lose about half my labor force. Mother's Day weekend wouldn't be a big deal except that there is a trip I would like to go to (more on the dulcimer festival in a later LJ). So those were my options.
What I decided to do was this: this weekend, I went to the troop gear day. At 1PM, after lunch (pizza), we worked on my project. In Phase One, we removed all the old stuff that was being removed. It took only a little less than the full 4 hours. Jason King and his brother, Sam, who are/were both in Scouts, showed up to help. Shawn Massey, a friend of mine from church had told me several weeks ago that he'ld love to help out on my Eagle Project.
I announced the project at last Tuesday's troop meeting. I told everyone that there would be water, and lunch would be provided. They needed to wear clothes to get MUDDY in. This was a VERY good idea, because the weather was very wet, following a HUGE thunderstorm the night before. I guess thats just Spring in Texas. The other important thing was GLOVES. if you're going to be pulling weeds, honeysuckle, and other vines, as well as using shovels all day, you need gloves.
It was altogether pretty fun... in a weird, twisted sort-of-way. Digging out the Holly bushes was the hardest part. We started on the Southernmost bush, and took turns digging out around it after Randy Cox (one of the adults, since youth can't use power tools in BSA.... stupid regulations) chopped it up pretty nicely with his reciprocating saw. The plan was for us to dig out around this monstrosity, then pull it out via a truck with a tow-strap tied to it. However, next thing I know, I look over from digging out the other Holly bush, and they're just finishing up diggin the WHOLE THING out. I asked them why they did that, instead of waiting and letting us get it out with the truck, and they said, "because its fun." I guess that makes sense; chopping at a large stump with mattoxes is pretty fun, though tiring (its a guy thing; don't worry about it).
So we took care of removing most of the stuff that had to be removed, with a few (planned) exceptions. NEXT weekend, we're planting all the new stuff and finishing everything up. More on that then.
When I was planning what day(s) I was going to do my Eagle Project, I had a couple of problems, which are really my fault, because I've been putting this off for years (literally). First, know that I only had three weekends before I turn 18 on May 13, this weekend (AKA today), next weekend, and Mother's Day weekend. This weekend, there was also a troop thing where they organized all the troop gear, cleaned things out etc. from 9AM-1PM. Next weekend is the Spring Ordeal (an OA thing), and I would lose about half my labor force. Mother's Day weekend wouldn't be a big deal except that there is a trip I would like to go to (more on the dulcimer festival in a later LJ). So those were my options.
What I decided to do was this: this weekend, I went to the troop gear day. At 1PM, after lunch (pizza), we worked on my project. In Phase One, we removed all the old stuff that was being removed. It took only a little less than the full 4 hours. Jason King and his brother, Sam, who are/were both in Scouts, showed up to help. Shawn Massey, a friend of mine from church had told me several weeks ago that he'ld love to help out on my Eagle Project.
I announced the project at last Tuesday's troop meeting. I told everyone that there would be water, and lunch would be provided. They needed to wear clothes to get MUDDY in. This was a VERY good idea, because the weather was very wet, following a HUGE thunderstorm the night before. I guess thats just Spring in Texas. The other important thing was GLOVES. if you're going to be pulling weeds, honeysuckle, and other vines, as well as using shovels all day, you need gloves.
It was altogether pretty fun... in a weird, twisted sort-of-way. Digging out the Holly bushes was the hardest part. We started on the Southernmost bush, and took turns digging out around it after Randy Cox (one of the adults, since youth can't use power tools in BSA.... stupid regulations) chopped it up pretty nicely with his reciprocating saw. The plan was for us to dig out around this monstrosity, then pull it out via a truck with a tow-strap tied to it. However, next thing I know, I look over from digging out the other Holly bush, and they're just finishing up diggin the WHOLE THING out. I asked them why they did that, instead of waiting and letting us get it out with the truck, and they said, "because its fun." I guess that makes sense; chopping at a large stump with mattoxes is pretty fun, though tiring (its a guy thing; don't worry about it).
So we took care of removing most of the stuff that had to be removed, with a few (planned) exceptions. NEXT weekend, we're planting all the new stuff and finishing everything up. More on that then.