Have spent a lot of time with Bob (cat) this month after having fixed a intermittent wiring short – runs like a top now.  Our good friends from Ottawa are moving to the Okanagan in September and will be sending out a 20′ sea container with their goods that we will be storing for them.  I had to dig out dirt and rocks and level the area for the sea can which will be positioned between the two stakes in the foreground and will run up against half of the last gabion.  This generated a fair bit of new rock and dirt, and opportunities. 

On the right in this photo was an cut in the embankment that I had dug out to get gravel I needed during the house construction. Have now made a rock wall and backfilled with dirt to make a terrace. Still some final work to do but largely done.

There has been a 2 to 3 meter wide strip of bumpy crushed rock beside the lower part of the driveway for the past five years.  I am now putting dirt on the rock and leveling it.  Looks much better and should become a grassy verge in the years ahead.  Perhaps a few shade trees as well. 

I had a tarped pile of 10 yards of road crush for the past few years at the first curve on the driveway.  I had planned to use it to level the driveway and to provide grip in the winter if the steep part of the driveway got icy.  After two years I had about 9.5 yards left as I have not really needed it and thought it rather unsightly.  So I decided to build a shelter for 1/2 of it.  The 2x4s will be cut down to make supports for a roof that will slope front to back.

Last year, broinlaw Steve and I brought down the loose rock from this rock face at the switchback.  I then power washed it.  Have finally begun to clear away all the loose rock at the base (piled up to the right of the photo) and also made a 20′ long rock wall where the face is dirt and rock (to the far right just barely visible).  When finished, it will look much more finished. 

Had a delightful 2 week visit by Mizuho’s mother from Tokyo – lots of gardening, fruit picking, cooking and talking.  Great fun and a delight to have her visit.  The strawberries had just finished, the blueberries were out as were the cherries.  We picked several pounds to eat, freeze and make pies.

And Coop and I managed to squeeze in an overnight camping trip to Kettle Falls Washington.  Great trip and a successful test of our ability and desire to camp.

All in all, a rather good  month.  Last Thursday, we saw a Shakespeare play outside at the Spierhead Winery – Twelfth Night – excellent.  Next month should see dealing with some rock, dirt, and fallen tree trunks and branches, and a return to inside work.  Also had another 11 yards (tonnes) of mulch delivered that will need to be used.  On va voir.