Solstice at the Lot

Tom spent yesterday, high noon, at the lot...watching how the sun falls onto the property.
How cool is that?!!!?

Trees and Boxes

Tom has been clearing scrubby/dead trees on the lot and making a house model out of carboard.
More coming soon, including pictures.

From Alexandra Stoddard

Alexandra Stoddard is one of my (Steph's) favorite authors. I love how she approaches life and design. Here is a quote from her most recent newsletter. The quote rings true for me in our home creation process:

"The number one question asked us is, 'When will the renovation be over?' This is not a question to be answered with any accuracy. The restoration of our cottage will be finished when the necessary work is done. In the meantime we are enjoying life to the fullest, we are finding joy in our work and in our relationships with others, and we feel richly blessed by great people, known and unknown to us, who let us know that we are making a difference in their lives."

Cool gifts

Tom found some old blackberry and raspberry bushes on the property, buried in an overgrown area. He lovingly dug them out of the weeds and replanted them in the clear. Given that blackberries are on of his favorites, I'm sure he'll give them lots of T&C!

This lot has given us so many amazing gifts...

• Marbles and other treasures from the dirt
• The very cool limestone sidewalk/round space
• Surprise flowers - tulips and crocus and others
• The chance to love and tend the earth

Plant Thinning

What you're seeing here is part of the moving process! We, well mostly Tom, are turning our current yard (shown) slowly back into grass, as we promised the landlord. We're moving some plants to the new space, and giving away lots and lots. We certainly won't be out of the current house by next Spring, but Tom won't have as much time to spend on these plants. It's all part of the great, big organic process of building our new home. This process is moving slowly, but it is moving and at a pace that is comfortable for us....and our plant children!

Bits and Pieces

We don't have a house plan, but we recently acquired some bits and pieces. On a recent visit to family, we salvaged this antique cupola with a copper roof and fun weather vane. We think the cupola may have once topped my sister's home, which is listed on the National Historic Register.

We also brought home this hand-made door, fashioned by my (Steph's) grandfather. It has three ornately carved panels on each side. This door means a lot because it's one of the most recent pieces that my grandfather created. His woodworking has slowed to a halt.

The idea is that these items will be incorporated into our home.

With Autumn fast approaching (or here), we'll be adding some perennials to the lot (more blooms for spring), part of the slow process of moving plants from our current home to the new one. Tom has also been at work taking down some "bird-poop" trees - that is, scrubby trees (mulberry) planted by aerial bombings of birds.

Fruit of the Land

Tom grew these lovely cantaloupes at the lot. They turned brown recently and we gobbled them up over the weekend! Tasty!

New American Gothic

Hello from Luciferous Terra,
Well it seems as though this spot of earth (may) want us as occupants. It is a learning experience. Actually my attempt at doing a blog post, a first by the way, is a learning experience. An old dog can learn new tricks. This photo is of me, Tom, or as a fellow the other day called me the Stone Man. He was walking by and stopped and chatted for awhile. He was wondering if I would give him a piece of limestone so that he could carve a memorial stone for his dad. Well, the deal did not transpire but I hope it does in the future. For anyone who wants to criticize my spelling or grammar or whatever, feel free to do so----- cause this ain't English class at this point, it's about fun and sharing. Who knows, maybe it will get more academic with time. This could be the beginning of that book I always thought I'd write.
So this is a plot of various perennials and annuals surrounding a piece of yard art affectionately called "Grilled Cheese Sandwich".





This photo is not a crop circle. However, it is proof that someone else did love this property at some point. What you see is what appears to be a circle of stones, probably a flower bed that seemed to surround a stone in the center, where I can easily imagine a bird bath sat at one time. There is a beautiful limestone sidewalk leading up to and beyond the circle. The discovery under x amount of soil was thrilling. This and the other discoveries so far help me to believe that helping heal this piece of wounded earth is what the rest of my life is about.

A better shot of "Grilled Cheese Sandwich".

Oh yeah---- someday we will build a house on this lot, or maybe it will rise up out of the soil in a somewhat organic fashion. I wonder if it's ok with the FDA if I use the word organic in such fashion? Don't "THEY" pretty much own that word and charge folks to use it these days?

Well, I best stop now before I start waxing poetic, or sarcastic, or caustic, or earth only knows what else.

Tom