Monday, Andrew Namur came over with his John Deere mini excavator to lay waste to the concrete pad that has long despoiled half the backyard. Our neighbor Steve reports that it has been there at least since 1979 - when he bought his house.
Steve, his wife Peg and I talked over the fence. Discussing the local crime wave, I mentioned that two metal suet feeders had disappeared from our apple tree in as many weeks. Was the culprit a raccoon or a squirrel? Peg caught the devil red-handed. It was an eastern grey squirrel. The second feeder was unearthed near the compost heap from a pile of decaying leaves.
Back in Cooperstown when our son Nick was about ten, he and his friend Sam devised slingshots to target squirrels who were angling for Sam’s mom’s birdfeeders. Why do we adore watching the birds at the feeder but resent the squirrel’s appetite? I was pondering this eternal question while emptying the compost bin onto the newly bare earth. This day is glorious - lots of snow drops and crocus shoots and buds on the forsythia. Little Kobe is gnawing on rawhide in a sunny patch as I work.
Andrew stopped by for payment. I went inside to get the checque. The radio was on. Laura Lynch’s show stopped me in my tracks. The subject? “Reducing the carbon footprint of homes across Canada is no easy task. We ask what role does home heating play? From individual homeowners, to community-lead change, find out who is taking action and why.” It is what I will be listening to as soon as I finish this post and head back out to the garden.
This week at Fernwood - Frontera’s carpenter Graham is building the frame and shelf for the for the trundle bed in the back room (photos soon) plus
Monday: Andrew Namur AGN Excavation of the concrete pad
Tuesday: Peninsula delivers 6 yards of dirt; HRV and heat pump balancing plus third blower door test performed by Bernhardt crew
Wednesday: Compost and soil spreading starts
Thursday: Broadwell install of front railing and perhaps stainless steel side panels installed by Taylor. Drain cistern - recommend water not sit more than a month.
Weather permitting wildflower seeds will be scattered out back by the weekend - Lita to bring Heliotrope.
