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

Are You Building a Park, or Something?

Tom was working on the lot today and a guy stopped by and asked the question that titles this blog. The answer is: No. And yes.

We will eventually build a house here. It would be nice to break ground in 2008, but we're letting the schedule take shape organically.

We are building a park - our own beautiful space and a space to share with neighbors, affectionately called "Luciferous Terra" - a place on earth providing light or mental insight.

What we are doing now is getting to know the property. We are letting it talk to us. Letting it show us what it wants, how it greets the sun and rain, how it moves in the seasons. We are becoming familiar with each other (the lot and us) so that it will be happy and willing to receive us. We're planting things and making it beautiful, letting it know it's cared for.

Tough Love

Several plants at the lot have been given tough love. Basically, they've not been watered since T put them in. I'm surprised at how well they've done, especially given the extremely DRY late summer and fall that we had. The red Texas sage looks particularly fine.

Queen Victoria and Small Houses

"Things taste better in small houses."
-- Queen Victoria

Absolutely, we agree!!!

Over the Hump!

The big hump in the middle of the property is gone! T spent yesterday working to remove it, bucket by bucket by bucket. My fantasies of finding great archaeological treasures are gone, but he did find several marbles!