You Rock!

My friend and neighbor Denny came out with me to spend the day picking rocks for the chimney & columns. Denny & Jen own Lot 27 and are looking forward to building a home there. Here Denny surveys the view from his lot.

The mason says a ton of stone covers approx. 35 sq. ft, and we'll need around 20 ton total. I'd say Denny & I collected about half that.

There are several ancient rockslides lying exposed on the slope of the ridge. Over the centuries these gray fieldstones have acquired a dusty rose patina and a colorful smattering of lichens.

We were able to get the pickup fairly close to the rockslides. We had to pitch some of the higher rocks down the hill first. Sort of like bowling or bocci with 20 lb stones, congratulating each other on a particularly well-placed pitch or finding the perfectly-shaped stone.

We made it through the day with no herniated discs or smashed toes, and we left the hillside looking pretty much as it did before, having removed just a tiny fraction of the stones out there.

Thanks Denny. A good friend indeed, and a good day.