Weekends are for working.

 I'm working on that tiered garden project again, but taking different approach this time around.  It's finally sinking in that the compacted rock and overgrowth of weeds is beyond my ability to manipulate with a shovel and a pick-axe, so I'm working above ground rather than in-ground.  

Instead of building a cement block wall into the hillside, I've decided to flatten the top two tiers to the best of my ability and build level work areas there.  I'm putting weed block barriers on the slope where I had planned to build block walls, and will give them a generous blanket of bark mulch when I'm done.  

To prep the tiers for raised beds, I'm using a lasagna method of gardening.  I'm starting with a layer of cardboard, followed by a layer of fresh stall pickings, followed by a generous layer of well composted manure and shavings.

 

 

Once I've added a layer of aged manure to the top tier, I'll think about how I want to progress from there.  I can still use the cinder blocks, or I can cut up the old deck frame and use that wood.  When the actual garden frames are in place, I can top dress the beds with a soil and peat moss mixture.

Also, this counted as day 114 for the house.  The electricians were here doing more wiring and installing lights.  They put Mom's ceiling fan in her porch:

And they put my fan in the vaulted ceiling portion of the main floor.

I was kind of shocked by how big it actually was, but if it were smaller, it wouldn't look right.  I love the patina - it's supposed to look like weathered iron.

We also had a bear visit this week.  A smaller one pulled down the bird feeders last week, so Mom had been bringing them in at night.  She forgot to bring in her little metal trash can full of sunflower seeds though, and a bigger bear came along, pulled the top off the can, and helped himself.  We saw him gorging himself on the front porch by the dawn's early light.  I didn't get any pictures of the bear, but I did get shots of its prints in the soft topsoil.  

Again, for reference I wear a women's size 10 shoe.

So here's what I learned.  A bear's front paw will generally measure the same length and width.  Back feet will be longer.  A paw print that measures 5" by 5" generally belongs to a bear weighing between 150 - 170 lbs., which means this bear was probably between 180 - 200 lbs. That was the last of the bird feed that Mom had on hand, so hopefully that means it's the last we'll see of the bear.