Sunday, 5 December 2021
at home
We had a cold but sunny day. I kind of wanted to start moving assorted mulch/soil improvement materials to the willow grove, but something more important called. While Allan worked on the east front fence, I weeded along the sidewalk, because the weeds are so easy to get at right now. I will be weeding more thoroughly at the lower level from now on with our new almost transparent top to bottom fence.
While weeding inside the garden, I enjoyed a view I rarely see (looking west). I love my front shrubbery collection!
The second old post was a nightmare to remove.
When Allan finally got the post and concrete out, he accidentally dropped a chunk of concrete into the very deep hole and could not fish it back out. I was startled when I saw him lying on the ground with his arm way down in the hole…unsuccessfully. Now it was more shallow than planned and the concrete curb was still too snug to fit the new post. He turned to a new plan, shaving the base of the post, but darkness came before he got it to fit. This was frustrating. If all had been as easy as the first post today, he’d have gotten the last two done and been ready for horizontal pieces.
I remember our good friend, expert craftsman and carpenter Bill Clearman, advising us NOT to concrete posts into the ground. I am glad we did not in the back garden. It will be easier than this (but still not easy) to move the south fence out to the property line.
I got to pet my good friend Jack when Heather of Purly Shell walked by with her dogs.
Faerie watched me with every pass I made hauling old trellises and bamboo poles past the front catio.
I hope tomorrow goes better. The prediction of half an inch of rain says maybe not.
Glad to see the fence coming along. I, too, hope tomorrow goes better.
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I agree with not cementing posts in. Too hard to get them out! All the sowbugs around that one rotten post were interesting. I once knew a woman from the U.K. who said sowbugs over there were known as “the grandfathers” or “the little grey men”. They are a sure sign of rot in progress.
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I haven’t heard those names for sowbugs, really cute!
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So frustrating! Hope the work went better the next day. That’s one cute little faerie.
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That was very unlucky for Allan. He has my deepest sympathy.
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