Category: house

Yesterday my mom and Sparky arrived at HBHQ. This means that there is light at the end of the rock-wall tunnel. This also means that Barry and I will have clear directions when planting our garden.

Yesterday afternoon, before the arrival of Fidge and Sparky, we were betting whether she’d bring her own clippers. Turns out she brought two pairs and some huge wacker-backers. I found her this morning outside already making headway in the HBHQ Jungle. Not only that, but she arrived with things to plant!!! Yahooeeey!!!!

I’m off to attempt to turn my thumbs green!

I have a new perspective for what my dad’s job entails. I’ve always known that he’s a stone mason and that he builds absolutely beautiful things, but watching this whole process unfold before my very eyes gives me newfound respect and admiration.

The amount of planning and preparation that goes into each job isn’t lost on me. I know that before my dad made the trek down to HBHQ he sat down at his workspace at home and made a list of all the things that he’d need. I’ve seen him do it  a million times, sitting by the door with his work clothes still on writing with a dull pencil.

All the tools, equipment, cement, and fair-weather gear arrived and have been getting used by my dad, Izak and Jim. Watching my dad build the wall is fascinating. He doesn’t measure with traditional tools, relying on his own intuition and eyes. Talk about confidence, I like to use a ruler to cut my pie lattice pieces. Jeesh.

When we started talking about putting in these walls, I had no idea that they would be as beautiful as they are. I was clueless. From the chicken-scratch drawing that we showed him to the search for the perfect fitting rocks, my dad’s vision for our yard surpassed anything we could have imagined. My dad’s job is to make things beautiful and he sure does a heart-stirring job.