Saturday, with the help of gypsy_raihana and cairech, I got a good start on the fountain area in front of the house. I tried a few times to get out there and work today, but it's hot! What the hell?? So I went out for five minutes at a time and moved the concrete stones from in front of the door, and took a pickaxe to the walkway area. I need to level it out, which means I need to dig down, and of course it is a nearly solid mass of old gravel and stones underneath. I can swing that pickaxe about ten times before I have to come inside, I can hardly beathe from the heat and I guess I'm not used to swinging a pickaxe into near-solid ground!


It made me remember though, how I used to have to chop wood when I lived in Texas with Jerry, an oil rig worker. He was gone for three to six months at a time, and so I had to fend for myself, which I guess I still do to some extent, but since the trouble with my knees, outside work has gotten nearly impossible. I used to chop wood until my hands bled, make any repairs around the house, take care of the pets we had, mow the lawn and burn the trash. I still didn't drive then, so I was stuck out there at the house, his folks would drive out every week or so and take me to the store. Once, I took apart our Harley and replaced the head gaskets, using a repair manual. Jerry was shocked as hell when he came home. That was the first and last time I worked on an engine--I did a good job on it, but I just never had reason to again, I guess. I used to think I would like to be an auto mechanic, though. Which is odd since I have no urge to drive!

Anyway, the heels of my palms are bruised from digging in the dirt with a screwdriver, and my back hurts from swinging the axe, but I'm not sure how much progress I've made. maybe it will be cooler tomorrow.