Semi Above Ground Pool

Semi Above Ground Pool

I built a semi above ground pool for my son with autism. My son helped me dig the area for this pool!

Semi Above Ground Pool - Leveling

There are times when I cannot bring my son to the beach. Still, he needs more exercise and he loves swimming. I got quotes for in-ground pools but they wanted WAY too much money. I decided to build a semi in-ground pool.  I ordered the pool kit online and spent all of my spare time working on this project over a three month period. Finished just in time for winter!

Semi Above Ground Pool - Lavout, Supports and Pressure Plates

The project was well worth it. Having autism, my son does not have a lot of extra-curricular activities. Most of the time he is indoors playing videos on his tablet.  Pools have always been something that can take him away from that.

Semi Above Ground Pool - Wall installation and sand floor

We have used the pool all summer and we love it. Fall is around the corner so I hope we can continue to enjoy it for a couple more months here in South Texas.

Semi Above Ground Pool - Liner installation

Semi Above Ground Pool - Back Landscaping Begins

Semi Above Ground Pool - View 1 landscaping

Semi Above Ground Pool - View 2 landscaping

This is an oval, semi above ground pool from the pool factory. This pool had to be made level on sloping sand.






























You can watch a video that covers some of the installation process:

About me:
Texas author Mark Ferdinand, a resident of Corpus Christi, Texas has a son with autism that inspires him every day.  Mark’s experience enables him to bring a unique character to life in the world of fiction. With the increase of special needs characters as a trend in books, movies and television, Mark is able to approach the creation of such characters with a realism and respect not often seen in popular media.

After completing his first novel, Mark decided to compile a group of stories that brought him to the unusual occupation of snake venom extraction. For those like the creepy crawly reptiles and amphibians, these are tales from amateur fun to professional pitfalls.

Mark Ferdinand books:
Fortune on the Spectrum
You’re Gonna’ Get Bit! Harrowing Tales of Herpetology

Mark's books are also available in digital format from Amazon (Kindle) GooglePlay (Android) and iBooks (Apple devices). Also, feel free to ask questions about this semi above ground pool project.

Reptile Books

Reptile Books

Texas author Mark Ferdinand tells tales of his adventures with reptiles and amphibians. This is his first venture into reptile books after authoring the adventure novel – Fortune on the Spectrum.
From chasing frogs as a child, to milking venomous snakes for a living, Mark Ferdinand explores a lifetime of tales from the world of reptiles and amphibians.

Whether it’s a quest for his first turtle, keeping crocodiles in his closet, or chasing snakes around the workplace, You’re Gonna’ Get Bit! has a story that all “herpers” and nature lovers can relate to and enjoy.

For those like the creepy crawly reptiles and amphibians. Fun tales from amateur fun to professional pitfalls.

Mark Ferdinand has a scientific collector’s permit when collecting venomous snakes. He has always had a love for herpetology books. He has worked with venomous animals for biomedical research for over ten years and has extracted venom over twenty thousand times without serious incident. Knock on wood as hard as I can!!


You’re Gonna’ Get Bit! is available in the following formats:
Paperback (Amazon)
Kindle (Amazon)
Android (Google Play)
ePub (iBooks and iTunes)

Mark Ferdinand lives on the South Texas coast with his wife, daughter and son. Fishing the surf, hunting, gardening, carving, auto and home repair occupy his spare time. He has written on the topic of autism spectrum disorder from a father’s perspective in parenting articles and in other non-fiction venues.

 

Having limited typical communication skills, his son introduced Mark to new ways of interpreting his needs and aspirations. As his son grew older Mark became fascinated by the story potential within these amazing children. This prompted the creation of a dynamic adventure story focusing on a character with autism. After completing his first novel, Fortune on the Spectrum, he decided to compile a group of lifetime stories that brought him to the unusual occupation of snake venom extraction called You’re Gonna’ Get Bit!: Harrowing Tales of Herpetology.

Reptile books author and Texas author Mark Ferdinand. Mark writes novels with autistic characters, Texas fiction, and true tales of reptiles and amphibians. Books available in paperback, Kindle, Android and Apple devices.

Autism Novel Author

Autism Novel Author - Mark Ferdinand

Mark Ferdinand lives on Padre Island with his wife, daughter and son. Fishing the surf, hunting, gardening, carving, auto and home repair occupy his spare time. He has written on the topic of autism spectrum disorder from a father’s perspective in parenting articles and in other non-fiction venues. An autism novel author with experience.

Mark Ferdinand - Autism Author

Having limited typical communication skills, his son introduced Mark to new ways of interpreting his needs and aspirations. As his son grew older Mark became fascinated by the story potential within these amazing children. This prompted the creation of a dynamic adventure story focusing on a character with autism.

Autism Books

Fortune on the Spectrum is a novel in which the main character has autism. Traits of his autism give him great focus on his obsession with day trading the stock market. He becomes the youngest self-made millionaire in Texas history.

Mark also published his new non-fiction work entitled You’re Gonna’ Get Bit! Harrowing Tales of Herpetology.


Autism novel author Mark Ferdinand's books are available in paperback or Kindle through Amazon. Also in digital format for Android through Google Play. Also available from iBooks.




Books by
Mark Ferdinand

• Autism and Fatherhood
  

• Fortune on the Spectrum –
  An Adventure Novel

• You’re Gonna’ Get Bit! –
  Harrowing Tales of Herpetology 

• The Autistic Prankster –
  Enjoying the Fun Side of Autism

• Every Tiki has a Spirit

• Bachelor on the Spectrum
  (Coming Soon!)

Beyond paperback Mark’s books can be
purchased for Kindle, Android, and Apple devices.

Fortune on the Spectrum

Fortune on the Spectrum

Denny was diagnosed with autism at three years of age. Autism gave him the gift of obsession. This gift made him the youngest, self-made millionaire in Texas history. Autism also made him vulnerable to the forces of the outside world, of both society and nature.

Fortune on the Spectrum is the journey of an unstoppable young man, destined to succeed and challenged to survive. Denny's story takes you through struggle, humor, love, finance and danger from the voice of an atypical mind.

Autism Author Mark Ferdinand

Mark Ferdinand lives on Padre Island with his wife, daughter and son. Fishing the surf, hunting, gardening, carving, auto and home repair occupy his spare time. He has written on the topic of autism spectrum disorder from a father’s perspective in parenting articles and in other non-fiction venues. An autism author with experience.

Having limited typical communication skills, his son introduced Mark to new ways of interpreting his needs and aspirations. As his son grew older Mark became fascinated by the story potential within these amazing children. This prompted the creation of a dynamic adventure story focusing on a character with autism.
 

Fortune on the Spectrum is available for download from iBooks on your Mac or iOS device. Also available for Paperback and Kindle (Amazon) and Android (Google Play)

Desert snake trip. Herping for research.

Desert snake trip. Herping for research.

Collecting venomous snakes in the desert. I have a scientific collector's permit to collect specimens for biomedical research. On this trip I collected Western Diamondback, Sidewinder and Mojave Rattlesnake. The video below is: Desert snake trip. Herping for research.

For those that like the creepy crawly reptiles and amphibians. Fun tales from amateur fun to professional pitfalls. Texas author Mark Ferdinand tells true reptile stories in his adventure book - You're Gonna' Get Bit! Harrowing Tales of Herpetology.
From chasing frogs as a child, to milking venomous snakes for a living, Mark Ferdinand explores a lifetime of tales from the world of reptiles and amphibians.
Whether it's a quest for his first turtle, keeping crocodiles in his closet, or chasing snakes around the workplace, You're Gonna' Get Bit! has a story that all "herpers" and nature lovers can relate to and enjoy.

Mark Ferdinand lives on the South Texas coast with his wife, daughter and son. Fishing the surf, hunting, gardening, tiki-carving, auto and home repair occupy his spare time. He performs daily extractions from venomous snakes for an internationally recognized biomedical research institution. He is a lifetime naturalist and keeper of reptiles and amphibians both personally and professionally for fun and research.

After completing his first novel, Fortune on the Spectrum, he decided to compile a group of lifetime stories that brought him to the unusual occupation of snake venom extraction called You're Gonna' Get Bit!: Harrowing Tales of Herpetology.
Mark has written on the topic of autism spectrum disorder from a father's perspective in parenting articles and in other non-fiction venues.
Having limited typical communication skills, his son introduced Mark to new ways of interpreting his needs and aspirations. As his son grew older Mark became fascinated by the story potential within these amazing children. This prompted the creation of a dynamic adventure story focusing on a character with autism.
Corpus Christi author and Texas author Mark Ferdinand. Mark writes novels with autistic characters, Texas fiction, and true tales of reptiles and amphibians. Mark's books are available in the following formats:
Paperback - Amazon
Kindle - Amazon
Android - Google Play