Whistle while we work....
Jul. 10th, 2005 08:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
trystinnI'm exhausted, freshly showered and very happy.
Hubby provided a perfect project for me to work on for the remainder of this month to get my mind off the 30th!
Today Josh got the circle cleared but for a few roots (there's a fairly moderate-sized root system in the middle of the circle we have to work around). A final round with the mower to take care of the smaller stuff and we'll be done. The paths have been cleared from the Circle to the Orchard Gate, the fire pit and from the Orchard Gate to the Pavilion. We're fortunate that the "back forty" as we call it, has naturally circling trees, so they almost set up the circle and nothing needed to be cut down - just briar needed to be cut back.
We're fortunate in that our community has a private community beach on the east side of the island where we can scrounge for driftwood, shells, sand dollars and smooth rocks. We loaded the van with the aforementioned items, brought them home and piled them outside the Orchard Gate for us to work on during the week. And of course, this being the Pacific Northwest - it rained on us!
Gonna be a LOOOONG week!
The Circle Plan: To create a ritual circle with standing stones (Phase III), complete with altar, statuary and water element (tbd).
Phase I: Create dirt-floored ritual circle with clearly delineated borders, with a retaining wall (cinder blocks) on the South east near the entrance from the orchard. Complete path from Orchard Gate to Northeast entrance Gate to circle with torch lighting along the way. Complete path from Northwest circle gate to firepit.
Phase II: Raise driftwood monoliths to mark the astrological points and begin Beta testing on the locations of the altar and other circle objects (statuary, storage, altar). Install water element (standing water?), install flooring in circle, complete cement foundation for the pavilion. Upgrade lighting to electric or oil, finish delineating circle line and flooring.
Phase III: Replace driftwood monoliths with stone. Optional: install water pump for water element. Plant border alongside walk and retaining wall with shady growth herbs, bushes, etc. Consider same from Pavillion to Aradia's Shrine and porch.
At some point, I'd like to get a path from the firepit to the herb garden on the west side of the yard...its a joy having a big piece of property, but a LOT of work to plan and prepare, not to mention install and weed!
I'm using "Secrets of Sacred Space" by Chuck Pettis, a US Geological Survey, our home's initial survey and the US Navy to specify coordinates, but if anyone has any other resources they'd recommend, I'd sure love to hear about it!
Speaking of projects - the spiral walk out in the front stone garden is coming along brilliantly. The neighborhood kids have gotten involved and I notice we're inching forward nicely with additional stones and rocks. Another two bucketfulls today of ocean rock almost completed a half-circle turn.
I need to make some decisions about the Aradia Shrine...not really happy with its location near the back porch. I'm thinking maybe in the apple orchard? Hard to say.
I'll try to get some pictures up later this week - from all the rainclouds on the horizon, not sure much would show, our property is so hidden by trees!
Hubby provided a perfect project for me to work on for the remainder of this month to get my mind off the 30th!
Today Josh got the circle cleared but for a few roots (there's a fairly moderate-sized root system in the middle of the circle we have to work around). A final round with the mower to take care of the smaller stuff and we'll be done. The paths have been cleared from the Circle to the Orchard Gate, the fire pit and from the Orchard Gate to the Pavilion. We're fortunate that the "back forty" as we call it, has naturally circling trees, so they almost set up the circle and nothing needed to be cut down - just briar needed to be cut back.
We're fortunate in that our community has a private community beach on the east side of the island where we can scrounge for driftwood, shells, sand dollars and smooth rocks. We loaded the van with the aforementioned items, brought them home and piled them outside the Orchard Gate for us to work on during the week. And of course, this being the Pacific Northwest - it rained on us!
Gonna be a LOOOONG week!
The Circle Plan: To create a ritual circle with standing stones (Phase III), complete with altar, statuary and water element (tbd).
Phase I: Create dirt-floored ritual circle with clearly delineated borders, with a retaining wall (cinder blocks) on the South east near the entrance from the orchard. Complete path from Orchard Gate to Northeast entrance Gate to circle with torch lighting along the way. Complete path from Northwest circle gate to firepit.
Phase II: Raise driftwood monoliths to mark the astrological points and begin Beta testing on the locations of the altar and other circle objects (statuary, storage, altar). Install water element (standing water?), install flooring in circle, complete cement foundation for the pavilion. Upgrade lighting to electric or oil, finish delineating circle line and flooring.
Phase III: Replace driftwood monoliths with stone. Optional: install water pump for water element. Plant border alongside walk and retaining wall with shady growth herbs, bushes, etc. Consider same from Pavillion to Aradia's Shrine and porch.
At some point, I'd like to get a path from the firepit to the herb garden on the west side of the yard...its a joy having a big piece of property, but a LOT of work to plan and prepare, not to mention install and weed!
I'm using "Secrets of Sacred Space" by Chuck Pettis, a US Geological Survey, our home's initial survey and the US Navy to specify coordinates, but if anyone has any other resources they'd recommend, I'd sure love to hear about it!
Speaking of projects - the spiral walk out in the front stone garden is coming along brilliantly. The neighborhood kids have gotten involved and I notice we're inching forward nicely with additional stones and rocks. Another two bucketfulls today of ocean rock almost completed a half-circle turn.
I need to make some decisions about the Aradia Shrine...not really happy with its location near the back porch. I'm thinking maybe in the apple orchard? Hard to say.
I'll try to get some pictures up later this week - from all the rainclouds on the horizon, not sure much would show, our property is so hidden by trees!
