ART & TOIL

Good news! It took an entire week of back breaking labor - working even on Thanksgiving day - but our stone masons finally managed to get the tiers built on one side of the garden. They had to dig out more stone than they put in, but I love it that, other than the one small pallet of smooth stones that they used to surface the bridge and pathway, the rest is coming from right here on the property. There were a couple of chunks that were so huge they just couldn't remove them, but they will make perfect spots for the placing of a pot or birdbath, or even a bathtub madonna grotto perhaps? This isn't just manual labor, though. The main guy is truly an artist. You should see the way he can eye a slab of stone, and then tap it in just the right spot for the perfectly shaped piece to break away and fill in the puzzle he is working on.

Bad news. That was the small side of the garden, and the weather was perfectly gorgeous last week. The side they are working on now is twice the size, and the weather has turned frigid and wet. Every time I glance out the window my stomach twists with guilt for making them do this. We are in no rush. I'd be happy for them to knock off work until the weather improves, but I expect they are in a hurry to finish up before they head home to Mexico for a month long holiday. Like I said, whatever we are paying them? It isn't enough!