Generally speaking, Mr. considers me to be a revived whip-cracker like I was from a few years ago when we remodeled our kitchen right before Thanksgiving. Except it is Easter now, and Spring in Wisconsin appeared in 7 days’ time.
So, I’ve been anxious to get projects done (that I can watch and capture in photos). I really do hope I get to help as I can. But, Mr., aka, the mastermind of the bigger projects, tends to like to work alone until I gently convince him otherwise that I can help in some non-damaging way. For over 30 years, that’s the deal we have had. This year is no exception as we have on our list to revive several of the projects we have had on our mind for years. As youngins’ without knowing what we were doing, we built (he built) stuff to last a lifetime! It’s hard to undo some and some just have to be done regardless of how timeless they were intended to be.
Anyhoo, the spring thaw has happened, and the snow drifts are melting nicely and slowly without any flooding.
I’m aiming to be a gentle whip-cracker. I’m super excited about the news that involves a long-awaited honey-to-do-list project – that all I’ll probably get to do during it is be the gentle reminder party of the said project that needs completion. How’s that for a generation of a stream-of-consciousness run-on sentence? Oh, and I’ll also watch and take photos of the before and after.
I pondered all of that yesterday afternoon, as I’m sure Mr. did too. Shall we call this phase, the calm before the summer’s project storm – yeah, that works. It led me to relax on our deck, on our new lounger chair. I watched the snow surfs melting. Felt a bit awkward and happy all at the same time when I slid into flip-flops on April 8th!
I had company. All sorts of bugs are coming to life!
And a glass of wine, because, well…when at the beachfront, one must chill as they contemplate the simple joy of soaking up the warm sunshine, right?
Where was I? Oh, yes, back to the whip-cracker mode.
Projects happen in the spring in Wisconsin. Each day this past week, I reminded Mr. that if you don’t get a head start as soon as the snow starts melting, you may miss out on stock or you may miss out on the 11% rebate at Menards.
Mr.: “Your wish will come true – 5.5 Tons of blocks and retaining wall supplies will be delivered on Thursday.”
Me: “Yikes, that much? Where will you have them drop it off?”
Mr: “Hopefully, on the north side of the driveway.”
Pictures of that are to come later. Obviously. 😏
And, without further delay, the long-awaited project will happen soon! First, we’re considering the fact that the project plans in our heads contains 5 potential problems we can’t yet see how we’ll address or overcome until we get into the depths of the project.
- An 11-year-old curly willow tree that we have no idea where the roots go and if we’ll be able to fully remove it
- A snake habitat (that usually appears in the spring)
- A bee habitat (that usually appears and stays active all spring and summer)
- Moving the perennial flowers before they start to sprout (YAY – this is my contribution to the project!)
- And an additional undetermined list of things that may go wrong and/or right as the project unfolds
Before I forget, here’s a view of the wall that will come tumbling down as it appeared in the summer of 2022 – it was in full bloom – weeds and all and remnants of rabbit scoundrels who ate the flowers.
In the fall, the bees enjoy the Autumn Joy Sedum.
Now for those of you who love to speculate or calculate what may happen as we generate the gumption to complete the glorious project, here are a few photos of before the project.
Every railroad tie is placed strategically with generously sized nails.
Today, I must move the sedum stalks and tiger lily bulbs to find their new spring homes.
All eyes are open for bees, or creepy crawly things as I go. Did you see the eyes on the face on the right too?
And then we’ll deal with the willow tree…oh, my, dear, it reminds me of my mom. 11 years since she passed. I know she’d understand that we had to remove it. I’m going to take a few branches and propagate them. And probably make a decorative display in the house in a crystal vase she owned.
That’s how this tree started, it was a decorative branch in the funeral arrangement given to me by my cousin when my mom passed away on that beautiful spring day in 2012. The branch had sprouted with my watering of the plants, so I stuck it in the ground and it took off. Along with the sedum and lilies and my bleeding heart plant. All parts of my memory gardens I so enjoy during the summer.
I hope the moves work and that they all grow hearty again.
Stay tuned, folks, more to come once we’ve really begun!
Post Inspiration – Linda G. Hills’ Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “starts with gen.” Find a word that starts with “gen” and use it in your post. Have fun!
PS – Happy Easter, Happy Spring, and Happy Sunday to you! What spring projects are you gearing up to do? Are you the photographer and record-keeping type when it comes to projects or are you the muscle to get them done? Have you ever moved a wall and a tree all in one project? What thoughtful tips do you have for our project?
I applaud you on knowing that this time of year is “the calm before the summer’s project storm.” Same here. I also need to follow your lead and go sit on the deck with a glass of wine in honor of this season within a season. Soon enough we’ll be at it, but until then 🍷is the best way to get in tune with nature. Happy Easter.
Thank you, Ally – I took inspiration from you and your progress on projects. Cheers to a pause with some wine and a relaxing chair – and SUN! Happy Easter to you too 🍷💐🌷🌺🐰
That looks like a wonderful spring project, Shelley. I look forward to progress picture (unless it’s the snakes). I love the picture of the win glass today.
Thanks, Dan! So…you’re like Indian Jones and you can’t stand snakes? 🤔😂 I can’t stand them either, but we know they’re in there, we’ve seen them going to and fro. Along with ground squirrels. I’m looking forward to sharing more photos, it’s a big project to undertake at our age.
Cheers to wine and sunshine! 🍷🌞😎
Wow man, that’s a huge project, guys! That tree would pop out of the ground nicely with a front-end loader and a heavy chain choking the base of the tree. Pop! Have fun with the cinder blocks, wow. The ties are ready to retire. I hope the tree takes off growing again, Shelley. Have a great new week, guys. 👍🏻
Poor guy will be under the whip until at least August! … At you enjoy wine while relaxing the whip
LOL – you know, Frank, your timing estimate may be more true than we know! 🤣🤔😂
Now that’s funny!
😁🤣
Amazing what you can accomplish when you have no idea what you’re doing, isn’t it? Happy Easter!
Yes, indeed – it’s called super powers and the desire and ability to move on to plan B, C, D, etc. 🤣😂🤔😉 Happy Easter to you and Mary! Thanks for stopping by, it was great to hear from you!
It is a pity the timber wall has to go. I’ll have the sleepers if I pull it apart please?
That Willow will have roots everywhere seeking water. They are good at blocking sewage pipes.
Looking forward to the progressive photos of the project. I am not a fan of concrete block walls until they age a bit.
Happy whip cracking outside of the bedroom for a change 😂
Yes, we’ve loved the timber wall – it was built to stay and last a lifetime, so we thought. The first attempt at removal of top layer of rails is proving that so. The wall may be buried behind the new wall so it’ll continue to decay for decades more underground. With the critter homes in tact, minus the willow tree.
Yeah…the willow doubled in height last year, it may have found a preferred water source 🙄😏
LOL – I was told my whip cracking needs to be extra gentle as each block weighs 55#s! 🤔😏😅💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
Wow lady, that is a lot of whip-cracking! What an interesting photo, wearing flip flops and looking out at the snow. I like how the sun is shining through the glass of wine and creating a little pool of color. Well with all that work ahead of you Shelley, you must take a load off your feet, even if you’re just giving the orders. 🙂 The homeowner in the corner house, two doors down from me, spent Saturday afternoon/evening mowing, weed whipping and who knows what else – I thought he’d never get done with it! Who would have thought there was enough grass to cut … the time will come soon enough to deal with all that.
Yes, a whip-cracker must do what needs to be done! And find time to relax too. We’re not so sure this project will be as easy as we hoped, we will definitely modify as we (he) goes!
Yikes…that just seems too early for yard mowing. But, our neighbor was out there thatching his yard all weekend too. I could see how that would likely help, our yard is packed down hard from all the snow.
Yay for Spring, though, we’ve waited way too long for it to arrive! We’ll be in the 80s one day this week before it drops back down into the 40s. Yo-yo 🪀weather!
Yes, keep Mister’s nose to the grindstone! 🙂 I don’t know what is wrong with my backyard grass – it has become moss and mud and looks awful. Now would be the time to replace it before this horrible heat wave this Summer, but I have to have two trees cut down and decide what to do with the back garden that was scorched and burned from the fire. Every day I break off twigs looking for a sign of life – there is none. We are getting to 80 Thursday and the Upper Peninsula s getting snow on Saturday – we are getting a lot colder with some type of precip Saturday into Sunday … hopefully not the white stuff.
I have to be careful not to push too much 😉 We’re working on the project slow and steady. I spent a half hour digging bulbs, and discovered muscles that I haven’t used while working from home on a computer all winter… 🤔😏 If I’m sore, I can imagine how sore Mr. will be doing all the heavy-lifting. Yikes…what were we thinking? 😂 We’ll hopefully be in shape by the end of summer.
Unfortunately walking, as great of an exercise as it is, does not help keep you limber as I find out every year when I tackle it for the first time.
I can so relate to your words of wisdom!
Oh, wow! Good for you two getting started before it gets too warm. That wall of railroad ties with those BIG nails might be a doozy to take down. I hope all your propagating and replanting goes well. You and Mr. are a good team!
Hi Rebecca – it’s so great to hear from you!! Funny you say, ‘before it gets too warm’ – it was in the high 80s yesterday and neither one of us were ready to be outside in it or to sleep in the warmer house. We’ve been acclimated to a high of 67 in the house for the whole winter. But…the branches that I stuck in the tree in water in a bucket in the tea house are loving the warm greenhouse effect, I think I may have some branches to plant and hopefully, they will grow! 🎋🌴🌞