The Rock Garden

The rock garden is taking shape. The most impressive thing about it at this point is that Dana found all the rocks in our field and brought them all down the steep steps to the garden on the hand truck next to her. Spike is overseeing her placement of the rocks while Blake just looks around for something to eat!

This particular project not only has a lot of parts for such a small space, but it also suffers from 'project creep'. As soon as one part is completed, three other parts turn up.The pots and artifacts that survived the fire still need to be replanted and placed somewhere. Right now we just keep moving them from one place to another  to get them out of the way....no easy feat since they are large pots and full of dirt. The arbor needs to be rebuilt in a different location, and the stairs down to the driveway which we rarely used prior to this project badly need a handrail.

The pump house is next to the steps, and practically every tool we own is leaning against it. What isn't leaning on the pump house is on the table just in front of it. Now a wheelbarrow has appeared out there plus a bunch of green buckets, irrigation equipment and bags of soil. Some things can't be completed until the fence gets a second coat of paint or a load of dirt is delivered. With the exception of the fig tree, we haven't planted a single plant yet although a few are patiently waiting.

I keep thinking we're getting close to being finished, but then ten more things pop up needing doing. However, it's only the outside. When it starts getting dark and cold we can go inside and turn on the fireplace and figure out ways not to watch the news.

The situation is bleaker for our neighbors whose homes have been reduced to rubble.

The county or whoever is doing the lot cleanup work has yet to start doing any of it, but there are hints that they might be getting closer. Every once in awhile we see people wearing hard hats surveying the scene.Graffiti is sprayed on the street indicting where gas and power lines are.  It will be noisy and dirty when they start, but at least it will be a sign of progress and the first step on the long road to rebuilding for our former (and future) neighbors and can't come too soon.