CHRISTMAS YARD ART - the DRIVEWAY ARCH

Some folks contend a xmas driveway arch is genuine southern redneck holiday yard-art. My grand daughter didn't care, she thought the "bow" was wonderful. So it'll be back next year. Besides, this thing is easy to make. Now, before you get started, this fits MY driveway, which is maybe 10 feet wide. See the hints if yours is different. Now if you want genuine southern redneck, check out my mailbox post. Classic! This makes a good companion to the 10-Foot Star on my other page.

MATERIALS
3	10-foot pieces of 1/2-inch PVC water pipe
2	3/4-inch PVC pipe couplings
5	18-foot strands of garland
3	Strands of C9 outdoor lights. (see Helpful Hints)
2	2-foot pieces of 1/2-inch rebar
4	Stakes (wood, not cow).
1	spray can green paint (cheap is okay)
-	PVC cleaner and glue
-	Small twine or strong monofiliment. 60 feet or so will be plenty.

DIRECTIONS

1. Glue up the pipe so you have a 30-foot piece
2. Paint it green.
3. Wrap it with garland.
4. Wrap the pipe and garland with lights.
5. Find the middle of a 30-foot piece of twine and tie around the pipe at each coupling.
6. Drive each rebar half-way into the earth on either side of the driveway. About a foot from the driveway is good.
7. Drive the stakes about 10 feet either side of the rebar and a couple feet from the driveway.
8. With your buddy on one end and you on the other, bend the thing into an arch and slip each end over the rebars.
9. Tie the twine to the stakes and adjust so the arch is straight.
10. Sit back and ponder the colossal coincidence of 24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case.

HELPFUL HINTS

If your driveway is a different width, do a test-fit after the pipes are glued up. You might have to adjust the length and where the guy ropes attach. And the amount of garland, lights, and guy ropes.

Down here in Dixie, the red clay holds the rebar fine with just a foot driven in. Your soil might need more. Up on Rocky Top, forget driving stakes altogether.

Ya might want to consider glue-on threaded fittings instead of couplings. That way you can take the 30 feet of pipe apart. Three 10-foot sticks are easier to store than one 30 foot piece. I didn't think of that until I took it down. I ended up cutting the couplings off and I'll deal with it next year.

Once the pipe is glued up, set it up on saw horses (or barrels or whatever) while wrapping the garland and lights. Makes life easier.

The garland I got from Mr. Walton's store is plastic and has silver tips. Looks cool. You may use something different and might need more or less of it. If you miss a spot, the green paint hides the pipe. I started with 3 strands and it wasn't enough. Had to go back for more. Grrr. It ain't the shopping I mind, it's the long check-out lines.

Lights: use whatever kind you like, and whatever quantity you want. I have an abundance of C9's so I used them. Next year I might add a couple more strands.

You'll need help carrying this sucker to the end of the driveway. It's just too wiggly, even with schedule 40 pipe. Maybe 1-inch would be better? Might not need the guy ropes, either. Somebody build it that way and let me know.

Points for finesse: tie a red bow at the top of the arch. If you're good, you can do this after wrapping the lights but before putting it up.

My buddy points out you could paint the pipe before glue-up, as long as you keep the ends unpainted, as it's easier to handle the pipe that way. You would have to do some touch-up after gluing. Whatever. Just get 'er done.

Once this is up, it's a low clearance bridge. You'll know what I mean when the time comes.

Good luck and have fun!