Most people do something fun on their birthday - go out to dinner, go on a cruise, or just open a bunch of presents. But since Bruce always likes having a project to do, this year he got a load of rock for his birthday.
Part of the requirements for the low-water landscaping grant we're getting from the city is to install a dry creek bed in the front yard as a decorative element. So bright and early on Thursday morning, a truck pulled up and dumped 2 tons of cobblestones into the street. We had originally estimated that it would take us 4 days to carry the stone from the street up into the yard, but we actually got it finished that same afternoon. Granted, we could hardly walk, but the yard sure looked different.
We also ordered several large boulders to be placed throughout the yard. We thought the crew would use a front-loader to place them. Instead, 3 large guys just used a regular dolly to drag them across the grass. The first one got away from them and fell of the truck, but they just pulled the truck forward and muscled it back onto the dolly.
Right now the boulders are just sitting in the yard, but eventually they'll be surrounded by plants. It's still a little early in the season for most of the nurseries around here to stock the stuff we need.
At the end of the day, Bruce got to relax on his final birthday present - a set of lounge chairs for the back patio. I think they'll get used many times before this project is finished.
