Brickwork
I grew up watching my mother, father and my brother gardening, they were all so good at it! our family home felt like a beautiful rainforest, with a mix of dessert and spiced peppers:
![My brother making a Christmas tree](/assets/img/brick/work1.jpeg)
![Tools when growing up](/assets/img/brick/work2.jpeg)
![James and my father building a Christmas tree](/assets/img/brick/work3.jpeg)
Now that we have our own home, we have started learning how to grow plants - from flowers to fruit and vegetables, and making our new fruit trees thrive.
Building a Solid Foundation
We decided to build a shed in our front yard, and so we needed a solid foundation to put it on.
![Nikolay helped a lot](/assets/img/brick/base2.jpeg)
We had to excavate a trench of undisturbed soil for the required bearing, lay the Step 1 and Step 2 foundation bags, then the cement tiles making sure they were horizontal (enough) and then make the shed.
![Set things up for a day of work](/assets/img/brick/base1.jpeg)
![And the base is finished!](/assets/img/brick/base3.jpeg)
![The shed finished](/assets/img/brick/shed.jpeg)
We set up things to make the foundation during one day. A beach tent kept Nikolay entertained with toys, and allowed him to watch ups build things from scratch. He now wants to be an Architect and a builder! (and a scientist and a painter and so much more!).
Parrilla Argentinian
We have a beautiful back yard (not so common in Lincoln Park, we’re indeed very lucky!
![Our back yard](/assets/img/brick/set0.jpeg)
To honor our Argentinian heritage, and to continue my father’s tradition of Sunday Asados, we needed to build an Argentinian Parrilla there.
![The plans](/assets/img/brick/grill.jpeg)
After making several sketches, we proceeded to make a lego model, of course.
![Our new tools](/assets/img/brick/grill0.jpeg)
![Getting things together](/assets/img/brick/grill1.jpeg)
![James learning new skills](/assets/img/brick/grill2.jpeg)
We then emptied the whole space from plants and soil, it was quite some work, and prepared the ground for a 5’ foundation base.
![The ground is ready](/assets/img/brick/set3.jpeg)
![The first rocks are set](/assets/img/brick/set1.jpeg)
![Everything ready for the foundation](/assets/img/brick/set2.jpeg)
Our fantastic contractor Maurizio (and his team, and his uncle!) have been teaching us so much!
![The foundation bags are ready](/assets/img/brick/brick1.jpeg)
![The mixer Maurizio lent us](/assets/img/brick/set4.jpeg)
![The first step towards the grill done](/assets/img/brick/set2.jpeg)
Once the the foundation was dry, we were ready to start making the legs and the counter.
![Half way there](/assets/img/brick/brick3.jpeg)
![Building the upper level](/assets/img/brick/grillnew-c.jpg)
![Building the upper level](/assets/img/brick/grillnew-b.jpg)
![Building the upper level](/assets/img/brick/grillnew-a.jpg)
After the upper level was done, we waited for a warmish December day to add the fire bricks that should make the grill ready to be used next spring!
![Fire bricks set](/assets/img/brick/grillnew.png)
![Niko proud of the new grill](/assets/img/brick/grillnew-d.jpg)