Installing the light

I like to do the math in my head while I'm working. So far, after finishing setting the second row blocks that completes the seating area, I've placed 114 of the 191 total blocks (the seating requires more blocks than the perimeter), and I've used 48, 92 lb bags of mortar! That's over 4,400 lbs of mortar that I've moved from the garage to the back yard, down the dirt steps and into the mixing trough. No wonder I've lost weight this summer!
I advertised "Free dirt" on Craig's List and had a gentleman come and take the extra dirt, which freed up space to move the remaining blocks to the back yard. It also gave the space I needed for some more digging!
There have been a few things that I did not count on, but after digging the entire hole without any real problems (other than the hole itself) I got a little surprise trenching for the light conduit. It seems there was another house on our site before our house was built, which was obviously removed, except for the footing, which I of course found! I decided to tunnel underneath it after an attempt to knock it out was unsuccessful. I'm hoping the plumbing lines can go on top and still be buried an acceptable depth.
I placed the light and ran the conduit to where the electrical panel will be in preparation for the next inspection.
I'm starting on the 3rd row just like the first 2 by placing the corners first. I've found that marking the approximate location with a Sharpie helps me to space the blocks correctly, so I don't get to the corner block and not have enough room for the mortar.
My goal is to have all of the blocks placed by the time school starts. It should really look like something by then, and the heaviest of the work should be done.
You may recognize the woman in the picture. She is busy washing the dirt off of the plants and wondering if this thing will be done in our lifetime!
I love seeing your comments. Thanks.

Starting Row 2

Back at it after 10 days in Maui to let my hands recover from the mortar exposure and surprisingly sharp concrete blocks, the last construction step on the first row was to fill all the block cells with mortar and tie in a row of rebar in the middle of the long side seats.
Bringing the 90 lb. bags of mortar down into the spa wears me out. That and mixing each bag one at a time makes me sleep well at night, except that I sometimes feel like a cement mixer backed over me in the morning. Interestingly enough, most of the time the only thing that loosens me up and makes me feel better is to start in again.
It took 12 bags of mortar to fill the 82 block cells. I don't think a mixer would really help because I would not be able to get it down into the hole, so I would still have to shovel the mortar down into the blocks, plus I'd have to have it for a few days.
I'm now using gloves that are really a big help when I work with the mortar. There are many times when I need to manipulate the mortar with my hands and fingers, so the gloves come in very handy.
When I finished the first row I stopped to take an inventory of what had been accomplished in these first two thirds of summer.
1. I made and repeatedly revised the drawings for the permit application and construction process.
2. I dug out and knocked the dirt off of the St. Augustine grass in the project area, then disposed of it (That stuff is heavy!)
3. I dug the hole with Tommy's help (10' x 12' x 3 1/2'-12 yards of dirt one shovel at a time). 2 and a half more feet and it could be a grave!
4. I built and placed the slab forms.
5. I cut, bent, placed and tied the required rebar. Thanks Dave for the rebar cutter and bender!
6. I poured the slab. Thanks again, Dave!
7. I bored 22, 3" holes in the concrete blocks. I broke both wrists (Just kidding!)
8. I mortaed in place 57, 35 lb. blocks (That's right, I weighted them).
9. I made countless trips to the Home Depot, including 2 to get blocks and mortar before I had the sense to have the rest delivered.
10. I cut and placed 11 spa lines through the blocks. Thanks John for the chop saw!
11. I dreamed it was done. I was wrong.
The second row has as many blocks as the first row and needs to be precise because it is the seating area, but it should go faster than row 1.
Each row begins the same by placing and leveling the corner blocks , then setting a string line and building the outer row of blocks. The only detail in this row is the placing of the light.
Back with you soon!