One Thing Leads to Another

As so often happens, I start one project and end up elsewhere in the yard.  Everything is interrelated.

Almost two weeks ago, when the temperatures were unseasonably warm, and the ground was not frozen, I, unexpectedly, began creating a path on a seldom visited slope.  Uncovering a huge rock took time and energy away from finishing creating the newest trail on our property.  The next day, I had hoped to get the rock out of the hole, but decided I better not overdo it--my back had been pain-free for about a month or so, and I did not want to aggravate the herniated disc which seems to have healed.  Instead, I decided to continue creating a terraced path.

I had completed almost half of it they day before.   I was able to make use of a few moderately sized rocks and move them to the pond's edge.  Farther along the slope, there was a bit of trash left from a previous owner who, apparently, used sections of the property as their own private dump.

I ended up spying a pot caught under a multiflora rose bush.  Being a seldom-accessible area in the yard, two or three multiflora rose bushes escaped my not so ever vigilant eyes.  I ended up removing them and adding them to one two of my brush piles.  I gathered the garbage and stopped before the path was completed.  It is over two-thirds complete.

Unfortunately, the weather turned, with two or three inches of snow, and temperatures well below freezing, this project is on hold.

Maybe that is a good thing--almost a week later, I am noticing symptoms of discomfort where my painful bulging disc is.  I am doing my stretches and taking it easy.  I need to get symptom-free again, and continue working on my streambed and waterfall come spring.

Creating a New Path

Yesterday, January 11th, we had a high of 62°F!  Not good for the planet, but I enjoyed the reprieve from winter.  I accomplished a lot today.  I am so glad I went outside to enjoy the warm weather.

As so often happens, I start out just meandering through the yard and, unexpectedly, start some random project.  This time it was a path I had been planning in the back of my mind for a few years.

Instead of removing them, I decided to weigh them down to keep them off the path.

This is a slope on the property which I rarely have access to except in winter.  It has not been a priority (I tend to work on the meadow, woods, or pond)...but, I have been wanting to create a useable path there for a few years--right now it is a narrow footpath.

I am pleased with the results.  I probably would have finished the entire path,had I not found and uncovered a huge rock.  I plan to use it for my pond/streambed/waterfall project.  (I had really hoped to uncover several large rocks and mini-boulders while digging my pond.  Although I found rocks of various sizes...none were substantial.   So happy to have come across this one--despite the fact i will have to transport it a fair distance.

I love finding an exposed rock...and uncovering a very large rock that can be used for my pond/streambed/waterfall project.

I had really hoped to uncover a lot of useable large rocks mini-boulders when digging out for the pond (Phase II).  Unfortunately, although I found small rounded rocks to use in the streambed, but nothing like this!  Happy to have it, but, it will have to be transported a bit farther than if it were found on the site of the pond.

My Pond in Winter

The liner still needs disguised.  Cropping does wonders.

Better Luck this Time (I Hope)

Walking our "woodland", I, again, spotted a dried leaf hanging from the spicebush that I put in many years ago.  From past experience, I know that it contains the pupa of a moth...remembering which one is always an issue for me.  After (yet another) web search, I suspect it is a Polyphemus moth cocoon.

Unlike last year, there are six--seven, if you count the one from last year that never eclosed.

Here's hoping they have better luck this time...and it would be even better if I could get pictures.

Pond Liner Disguise Ideas

Phase II of the pond is dug and filled...but, more than a year later, the vast majority of the liner has yet to be hidden.

For a while now, I have thought of hiding the liner in various ways to make it look as natural as possible--this particular spot, I would like to make look as though the water has carved it's way under a rock.  Before I forget (which I doubt I will), I thought I'd better post this as inspiration (although, the final version will look quite different, I am sure).

2019: A year in Review

I haven't done a post like this in a while.  I had forgotten how time consuming it is.

However, I enjoy seeing the seasonal changes shown in these posts.  :)