New Neighbors

     For our Memorial Day weekend we decided we would make the run up to the cabin. We had scored a whole load of heavy equipment tracks and we needed to get them moved out of the driveway where they were dumped. The plan is to eventually use them as raised beds for veggies and such. For the immediate future, however, they're being used as "edging" for along the driveway. We figure they're actually helping us to kill some of the weeds while they're sitting there. 

     We had no idea how many were in the truck when we saw them. It turns out there were 24! We had taken some to our house to use in our garden at the same time that the rental place brought these to Maine for us so we knew how heavy they were. This load at the cabin did have more of the smaller sizes though and those I can move by myself, but the ones that were left were bigger and heavier than any that we had at home. It took us awhile, but we moved all 24 into position. 

     It nearly killed us, but we did it. When we picked up the first trailer load for our house, the guy had told us that he hoped we had some sort of machine to help us move them. We're proud to say that we used nothing but ourselves. When you have no options, or very limited options, and want something done, you find a way to make it happen. That's just how we live. Having machines are a good thing though, don't get me wrong. Working smarter, not harder is also how we live, but the machines don't always cooperate. That's what happened with Frank's Sunday project. He had a pile of stones that needed to be spread out for an extension of the driveway.

 He was going to use the plow attachment on his garden tractor to make it a little easier. It would have been easier if all the parts were there that he needed! So, once again, human power won the day!

     The man is the hardest worker I know. He even went the extra little bit and made a walkway out front.

     While he was tinkering with his stones, I was tinkering with my walking stick, keeping the fire going and getting water for washing. I didn't get too much done on my stick, but I think it's coming along well.

     Just a cheap little knife from Wal-Mart but it's doing the job. I have an actual whittling / carving knife that I keep forgetting to bring with me but I've added it to a list that we have for the next trip up. I've also added sharpening oil to my list. When I took a break from carving to go get water, I found a couple of treasures in the river. I found a piece of glass from something old. I like the looks of it and it said "Boston". How could I not bring it back? I also found a cool rock that looks like and ancient, cliff-dwelling civilization.

     One thing that happened, though, had us floored. We know that there's a lot of water in our yard. But this time, it looked like there was an awful lot of water a lot closer to the cabin than normal. Turns out, beavers have decided to turn our back yard into their new bog. About 100' or so from the cabin, they have set up housekeeping! I put on my waders and took a stroll down there. I wasn't sure how much water would be there. It wasn't too bad; I could walk right up to the enormous damn that they made.

     Speaking long-term, they can't stay. It's going to be something we tackle at a later date and probably until then, we just manage them as best we can. In the meantime, we actually enjoyed watching them. There looks to be two adults and two babies or young beavers. They are cute, I won't lie, and it was funny to watch them smacking their tails on the water and squeaking to each other. 

     All in all, it was a good trip. We worked and we enjoyed the good weather and the quiet surroundings. We're already making plans to go back up in a month or so. The rest of those stones need to go under the cabin and more supports need to be put under there too. There's never a shortage of work to do, but it's all worth it.