Add edging, water, some hardware, and boom, we have a garden pond, fountain, and waterfalls. Will it happen Friday?

May 12, 2017 - Friday

43 degrees/clear/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I've remained inside all winter dreaming what I would do once spring arrived. Ah, to work in the dirt, to be able to actually feel soil that isn't frozen. Mama has always said to watch out what I hoped for, that I might just get my wish. Sure enough, it happened.

The farmer from whom I purchase bulk compost called last night saying if I could meet him at 10 this morning, he'd load my trailer with five yards of his magic top soil mixed with composted cow manure. I told him I'd be there.

Only one problem. There's still gravel remaining in the trailer from yesterday's trip to the concrete plant. You know what I'll be doing after finishing today's blog.

Talk about a day, Thursday was a busy one. I left for Crystal Falls immediately after getting home from my morning walk. The folks at the concrete plant are so nice and helped me decide what kind of gravel and rocks I needed to complete the pond.

I ended up purchasing crushed gravel tailings and river rocks.

Back home, utilizing a shovel and wheel barrow, I began packing crushed gravel around the water falls then mounting the boulders and rocks. 

Next came rolling the mulch out around the pond. Thankfully, there was no wind so laying and covering it with gravel was no problem.

It took several hours to complete, making sure the pitch was just right so water couldn't run into the pond from a heavy rain.

Some clay had accumulated in the bottom of the pond from all the digging and landscaping. I sprayed enough water to create a slurry then used a wet/dry vac to suck the mixture out.

Sargie surprised me by arriving home early. The Vision Center hadn't been busy and she was able to slip away. I took a break and we rode to town for an errand. On the way back, we drove by our local lake.

This is the body of water where, after years of seeing the water level drop, the homeowners voted to drill a well and pump water into the lake. Whether it's from spring runoff, pumping, or a combination of both, the surface seems to be on the rise.

Back home, Sargie changed clothes and began work in the house. I headed to the garden and started washing river rocks in the wheel barrow then dumping them into the pond. 

The shadows were getting long before I closed the garden gate and trudged inside. Taking a shower seemed like too much effort, let alone eating the wonderful supper of stuffed green peppers and winter squash that Sargie had prepared. I managed to do both.

Clean, tired, and with a full belly, I climbed the stairs early last night. Try as I may, I couldn't keep awake and was sound asleep by the time Sargie came to bed a bit later. This old man was all done in.

I'm refreshed this morning and ready to hit the ground running. Sargie closes tonight, so at least she gets to sleep an extra hour or two this morning. I'm heading out the door fairly soon to finish unloading trailer. 

I hope, I HOPE, to fill the pond today and witness water running down the falls and a spray shooting up from the the fountain. This pond is going to be a work in progress, but it will suffice for now. With the addition of potted plants both in the water and around the sides, I hope to make it as natural as possible.

Today should see me doing electrical work. There are two pumps that need to be connected, one for the fountain, the other to power the waterfalls. There's also the large hose that runs from the main pump to the top of the falls. That needs to be hidden along with the electrical cords. Edging will also be added to keep the gravel from mixing with the grass. 

It's going to be another full day on Pentoga Road. 

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Sargie's putting her touch on the waterfalls