It Just Fell Into Place - Literally!

Well, it may not have fallen into place exactly where I wanted, but the retaining wall project has come to a solid half-way point. Well...hopefully solid. Check out the pictures as I recount how the day went.

On previous days, I dug the trench for the foundation. Then I staked out the grade with some new stakes and mason line (all from Ashley's Dad as a gift to help me get this project started right). Ashley's Dad helped me level the line and set the stakes. He also dug in the trench in his nice clothes. Without his help and the materials he provided, this project would have taken so much longer.

That was a few weeks ago...well, I've been purchasing a few blocks of stone here and there. I'd purchase as much as I could fit in the van just for the first couple of rows. Then today, I made the big purchase of all the rest of the stone, and here's how it unfolded...

This is where I started this morning. I had done this much in the previous month. These first few rows were crucial. If they were not level or straight, then the top would look awful. The turn never did "turn" out as I had hoped. So, overlook the flaws if you will.

Look level? Well, it was! So, it was off to Lowes to get the rest of the stones. All I had to do at this point was lay the rest of the layers. Simple enough! By the way...wonder why there is cinder block down there? That's going to be the part of the wall that no one will see. This helped us shave some of the costs of building the wall, and helped me ensure a nice, level foundation.

Everything looked great! How does it look? Well, here's where I began to acknowledge the fact that God does have a sense of humor. You see, I had just completed the half-way mark on the top and last row (there are 9 layers) when I thought to myself, "Hey, maybe I should pack in some dirt to stabilize the wall since it is getting quite tall now." Good thought, huh? Well, I figured I'd finish off the row and then pack in the dirt since I only had about 3 more stones to lay. So I laid one more down and just as I turned to get the last few stones....well, take a look.
I had just thought that the wall needed to be stabalized, and I guess I didn't think fast enough. I probably should have been frustrated, but I honestly couldn't help but laugh. I was building the wall Jericho style...it's the newest rage!

Okay, so take two. I'll let these pictures tell the rest of the story. But wall 2 certainly wasn't as nice as wall #1. Just after the wall fell (without the aid of trumpets, priests, the ark of the covenant, or the children of Israel!) it began to rain (in more ways than one). Then Nathaniel woke up from his nap fevered, crying, and soaked in pee pee. And Micah was screaming because he would not go to sleep. So, all the attention, time, and care that Wall#1 received was definitely not granted to Wall #2. Here's the rest of the pictures...





I learned my lesson the second time around. I packed in the dirt as I went. With every two rows, I stopped to shovel and pack. And here's the final result! I'm glad that one's over...but there's still more to do. I need to brick up the back of the bed, fill it with dirt, then trasplant the rosemary bushes. After that...I'll take a break!