Retaining Wall Progress

The wall project has been in full swing since the beginning of July, so we've officially been working on the wall for four months.  Considering the monstrous stumps in the way, I think we're making great progress!  I say "we", but honestly, when it comes to knocking the stumps out of the way, that's been all Doug.  With an ax.  Paul Bunyan-style.  I can say that I thoroughly enjoy working hard outdoors.  It makes me feel better to try to help Doug, too! 

I try to help where I can, so last week I dug out a "dead man trench."  It was six feet deep, eight feet long and three feet wide.  It felt good to see that hole, after it was done!  It's pretty sad to see a hole like that quickly filled back up with dirt in 30 minutes, knowing how long it took to actually dig the same hole.  But it's all progress!  :) 

I walked out with Ava last Sunday afternoon, since Doug was laying down with Liam taking a nap.  We had started out drawing the retaining wall on paper, when she asked about it.  I told her I could show her how the drawing would look, once the wall was built.  We brought our clipboard outside, to the wall.  I showed her where the steps would be built.  I think she really likes the visual aspect of drawing things like a retaining wall, and then knowing spatially where things drawn on paper will exist in real life.  I think she thinks it's pretty cool.  :)  We pulled a string and determined how many additional rows of timbers we will need, before the wall is finished.  We determined we are six rows away from the top, measuring from the top of the lowest step next to the creek.  So, in all, the wall will most likely be 12 rows high!  Monstrous!  But it is nice to have a number and know we can measure ourselves against that number, to know how many rows we have left. 

Our neighbor (Matthew Celender) has really been helping frequently on weekends.  We're so thankful for his help!  Doug is thankful for another set of hands, as well.  I think Matthew enjoys learning from Doug and watching how things get done the right way.  Looking at it, there's no doubt this thing is built to last!  Everyone seems so interested in this wall and how it's constructed.  Everyone has an idea of how to attack it, too.  We're trying to keep it as cheap as possible, so that means less equipment.  Equipment would make the job easier, but not on the bank account...

I can't wait to see how much yard we gain as a by-product of constructing this wall.  It should look so much nicer than our current yard does.  I know we won't put the landscape / fieldstones on the top path area until next spring, so it will be nice to give the dirt in this wall a winter to settle.

Now that we have the "lonely pine" and the "burly maple" out of the way, our progress should be fast and furious now. 

Peace, love and some serious dirt,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam

Starting to take shape...

Our front yard has looked better...

Six rows high and counting.

What remains of the lonely pine's roots.

My dead man trench before we installed the "dead man" timber.  8 feet x 3 feet x 6 feet.  It doesn't look like much from this view, but it was seriously hard work.  We have a rock layer and LOTS of clay in our yard.