Journeys›Photograph

A Week at Home with Backyard Construction

·San Diego, California·#San Diego#pets#daily-life#construction#home-improvement#gaslamp-quarter
A backyard construction site features a white Bobcat loader, a trench, and an existing concrete patio.

The end of July was marked by the start of a big project at home. A Bobcat excavator arrived and began tearing up the backyard, turning it into a construction zone. The constant noise and piles of dirt quickly became the new normal for the week.

Inside, life went on. The dogs were mostly unfazed by the commotion, though we did find a new source of entertainment: a miniature San Diego Padres helmet that happened to be the perfect size for one of them. He was a patient model while sitting on the kitchen counter.

As the days went on, the hole in the yard grew deeper. Wooden forms were built around the perimeter, and eventually, a complex grid of rebar was installed, finally giving the excavation the distinct shape of a swimming pool. Seeing the framework made the whole disruptive process feel a bit more real.

After a few days of dust and machinery, we took a drive downtown for a change of scenery. It was a bright, clear day in the Gaslamp Quarter, with the tall buildings and palm trees providing a stark contrast to the state of our backyard.

A black and white dog stands on a blue mini trampoline in a living room with furniture, shelves, and a window.A light brown dog wearing a brown baseball helmet with a yellow 'SD' logo looks at the camera, a hand nearby.A tan dog wearing a small brown baseball helmet with a yellow SD logo looks down on a speckled counter.A light brown dog with a "Tucker" tag wears a brown SD baseball helmet and sits on a speckled counter.A large excavated hole for a pool with wooden forms, dirt, and construction equipment in a backyard overlooking houses.An outdoor construction site shows a large pool excavation with rebar reinforcement ready for concrete, surrounded by wooden forms.Cars on a street lined with tall palm trees and modern skyscrapers under a clear blue sky.An ornate archway sign for the Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego, with a lamppost, flags, and brick buildings.

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