Sunday, I did a victory dance: I had completed the chore of moving all of the masonry products that had been displaced (to allow replacement of our back porch last August) back under the porch and steps. This cleared the space in which the masonry had been stored for a few rose bushes for Hunky Husband. You may recall that the rose bushes that I had transplanted from our previous house (in 2000) were, not only getting old and tired, but were uprooted several weeks ago in favor of installation of sod.
The first photo shows most of the masonry as it had been temporarily stored...
...then, as the vacant spot appears, today. In addition, there was a stack of 18"x8"x2" pavers to the right of this area - across the personnel entry to the garage from this vacant spot. The stack contained about four dozen pavers.
The following two photos show the permanent storage arrangement - and - yes, other than the bricks that match the house (under the stairs), I have used various pieces of the masonry for various projects, over the years. Undoubtedly, I shall find additional uses for some of the pieces.
It is hot and humid out, this morning; thus, I shortened my walk and the time spent on yard work (emptying the mud, decaying leaves, and water from the sump for the eave trough drainage system, using that water on trees and ice plants, and spreading a bit of mulch). After resting/reading the morning newspaper, I went back outside - to pick cherries. I had hoped they would ripen this weekend when some of the younger folk will be over (I believe in impressing folks into labor!); but, the cherries are ready for picking. Mind you, I only removed about 30% or 40% of the ripened fruit. The birds will take care of the rest. Last year, the birds got them all! (The previous year, neighbor Tonya and her children picked them. Tonya made cobbler.)
The photo, below, shows the North Star Cherry tree after my morning labors.
You have been a busy bee. Mmm cherry cobbler sounds yummy. I haven’t had a cherry tree in almost 20 years and still miss how good they were.
Posted by: Ingineer66 | June 07, 2018 at 10:20 PM
Cherries have been a favorite fruit of mine. I recall my aunt fulfilling my childhood fantasy of being allowed to eat as much as I wanted of a cherry pie she made from those we picked from their cherry tree. I learned there can sometimes be too much of a good thing when I subsequently became sick. I still like cherries and cherry pie or cobbler, but Mother was right, moderation in all things.
Posted by: Joared | June 09, 2018 at 07:26 PM
Ingineer--I agree that Tonya's cobblers sounded yummy. With four children, she probably made a bunch!
Joared & Ingineer--To my knowledge, none of my relatives grew cherries. My grandmothers had apple and pear trees plus my paternal grandmother had concord grapes. My great grandparents had mulberry trees, walnut trees, and concord bushes - and, maybe, apple and peach trees, if I recall correctly. I always hoped to be staying with my great grandparents and/or my paternal grandmother when the concord grapes ripened. I still anticipate their arrival at the supermarket; although, I don't always catch them - or - the stores may not always get concords each year.
I've never grown grapes. Have tried pears, peaches, apples, and plums. At our previous home, the dwarf pear tree produced prolifically. At this house, I yanked out the pear and peach trees because they were sparse producers, buggy, and eaten by the squirrels. The plum tree at this house produced ok; but, the plums were wormy, so I yanked it (I don't spray.) The cherry tree has astounded me.
Posted by: Cop Car | June 09, 2018 at 08:14 PM
P.S. Joared, Bogie can tell you that, as did you, she always liked cherries. At least, she requested a cherry cake for each birthday, for a few years. Eventually, she figured out that I couldn't make cherry cake. It always ran over the pan (obviously, I was not using a mix.)
Story: Bogie at age about 11, was at home when the gas service guy came out to fix our gas oven (bad thermocouple, as I recall). When he told her that perhaps her mother would make her a cake if she stayed out of the way so that he could finish the job rapidly, she shut him up by saying, "I don't want my mom to make me a cake!" I don't know about Bogie, but that always produces a chuckle when I think about it!
Posted by: Cop Car | June 09, 2018 at 08:21 PM
I do remember saying that, just would not have remembered what the circumstance was. Thanks for the chuckle and memory!
Posted by: bogie | June 10, 2018 at 04:52 PM