As I type this, the chain link fence that surrounds our front yard is being dismantled. There are little sparkling bits of light floating around my head right now I am so happy. Over the next few days the yard will be transformed from a dead grass lot to the beginnings of a wild, drought tolerant garden with horizontal slat side fences. Behind those fences is the next project, and while I am thinking mostly about the new back deck and raised beds, there's this other thing that I'm considering, a pipe dream, of making a soaking pool out of a galvanized livestock feed tub. If you think I'm crazy, just check out what other folks have done with this application.

I love the wood cladding around this feed tub pool in Santa Barbara. Standard round stock tubs are between 8 and 10' and 2' deep; deeper than a bathtub, enough to submerge at chest level. I'm researching the best way to keep this type of pool clean, so far I'm intrigued by the idea of a floating, solar powered filter.

Both of my boys are learning how to swim, Jasper can do laps, and Wylie is at the stage where he likes to dunk his head under water and doggy paddle around. While we head to the community pool for lessons and real swimming, on a lazy summer day it would be so nice to have something like this to play in, or to dangle your feet in on a hot day.