Former Palettes

I am stunned that I don't have a 'before' picture of the palettes to share. One more treasure that was revealed when the snow melted last spring -- there were probably 20 or more.   Some are currently being used to keep our stored stuff off the ground in the garage, some are under a pile of firewood.  A fellow freecycler helped us out by taking 4 or 5.  But there were still way too many. 

Happily, we recently put the majority of them to good use building ourselves a compost pile.  A multi-sectional pile to be precise - creating a home for those leaves that are about to fall (or at least some of them!)

Sauna?

The site plan shows a structure where there is very little remaining, and we were trying to figure out what it might have been.  After all, we wouldn't be allowed to build anything new within the 100' line from the water, but we can always rebuild/repair. 

Unfortunately, what is there doesn't give much of a clue.  We were thinking maybe a gazebo or tent platform from when it was a camp.  It's built into the side of the hill, faces the water, and has a pretty nice view.  Plus this rather cool looking stump remnant.  (Guess the plot plan is a little dated)

Then it was pointed out to us that no self-respecting Finnish group would be anywhere near a pond without a sauna.  Aha!

Now, I've enjoyed a sauna a few times in my life, but I'm not sure my own private sauna is high on my Christmas wish list.  And I haven't actually convinced myself (or anyone else in the family) to go in the pond beyond wading, so that dip in the pond after the sauna is still questionable.  So I think we'll just let this linger on the 'possibilities' list a while yet.

Garden Art

Back to the garden for some more found objects.  

This guy must weigh a ton. Luckily we like it so we're off the hook on moving it. 
A library book on 'Moving Heavy Objects' has appeared, though, so perhaps relocation is in the future.

This is a family original - an unusually shaped branch very specifically placed by the youngest artist in the family.   She's setting the bar pretty high for us here.

Lady Slippers!

 Feels like I'm continually being reminded what a gift this place is - today we found three different patches of lady slippers. What a great surprise!

Guess the lady slippers are lucky too, as I'm not sure how those on the path have avoided being stepped on.

 

Aggressive Gardener

The plantings from two weeks ago seem to be doing well.  We were lucky that it rained every other day for about a week, and then, while I was travelling and it was dry, this little garden gnome helped out.

I'm guessing it was Saturday, based on the soccer shirt. 

Today, even more green sprouts are showing.  Almost felt like summer!

Before & After at the Stairs

I realize this is a never-ending task and that the top was starting to fill up with pine needles and leaves even before I made it all the way to the bottom, but it really felt pretty good to be out doing some physical labor on a sunny spring day.  Plus I think freshly raked moss may be the newest trend in landscape design.

The photo on the left is from March, on the right is today.

The physical labor really clears your mind, too - I could see immediately that this exercise would be good practice in ignoring that perfectionist tendency.  Meanwhile, someone else was enjoying that childhood pleasure of being faced with a body of water and an apparently infinite supply of sticks, pine cones and stones all calling out to be thrown.  I pity the fish.



There was also a bit of psychology experiment at the end, faced with carrying five bulky bags of leaves and needles up the stairs.  Do you start with the top bag and build up to that big climb, or at the bottom and get the worst out of the way?



I split the difference, starting with that bottom bag but then rewarding myself with the top bag and alternating from there on.  My legs are still a little shaky.

Spring arrives

 I am so excited to see what comes up this spring.  I've heard that one of the former owners was quite a gardener, but given about five years of neglect (not to mention the sand piled outside the house), I'm wondering what's survived in the garden.

So far, a couple patches of crocuses have appeared.  Raking uncovered what looks like a couple of daffodils and irises (a little scrawny looking though).  And this little guy.

Sweetest thing we've found for quite a while!