March 31 2007, 04:36 PM Lines And Curves

For those of you who check in from time to time for news on the environs, I am happy to report some progress. The wooden beam that formally supported the absent porch swing is down, and tucked away into the lumber pile (although it may be of dubious use). I need a better ladder; the right hand side was tough to reach. I had worried about the channels left behind by the lag bolts, but in the case of the locust, this was misplaced. The locust clung tightly, and the bolts were weak, and they snapped themselves free. I do not know if I should remove the ends, or just let the tree deal with it. The maple gave up the bolts hole, and I got to experience the pleasure of having a hardware store just down the street: one slight shopping trip later I had a dowel to fit. I cut two pieces, tucked in some glue, and sent the wood home with the mallet, to be trimmed off after with the saw. It is good to have good tools.

The other part of the shopping trip was two eye bolts, to go into the same locust and the other maple. With these and a short bit of chain the hammock has a proper place, now, and the bold stroke of lumber across that part of the yard has been replaced with a gentle catenary (more or less), far more pleasing. The arboreal folks are coming soon to trim the maple away from the house, but it shouldn't impact the shade much.

The chives are up, and the grass is greening. I have to mow it. The locusts put down all manner of seedlings: I need to mow them, too. The leaf mold is not quite ready, but I should be able to put some in the ground; I forked some over and filled the air with the smells of the forest and spring.

For Autumn, a leaf shredder, I think.