rocks

Connecticut has lots of them.  Take a walk in the woods almost anywhere in the state and you will find remnants of the old stone walls, when Connecticut was mostly farmland and the rocks found abundantly in the soil were used as fencing for livestock.

 

This Old House has many walls surrounding the fields and along the road.  Mike is Type A squared, if you know what I mean… and so the crumbling old walls drive him nutz.  It’s important to me that we don’t ever sterilize this place, as I am much more bohemian than he… so I have fought against rebuilding them all.  However, with the expertise of Steve, (who long time readers of this blog will remember as the guy who rebuilt all our fireplaces and chimneys and foundation and porch floor)… the stone walls surrounding the fields are getting put back together the way they were 100 years ago… and that’s OK by me as long as we’re keeping it authentic.

 This morning after a winter hiatus, Steve returned with his side-kick, Cooper… and will finish the front roadside wall.  This is a section already completed by Steve a few years back…

and this is the section across the driveway he’ll be taking down and putting back up.
It was a portion of wall that someone had re-done in the past forty years or so,
but not in keeping with everything else.
I think Mike actually loses sleep when things don’t line up. 
Every now and again I notice just how very ugly all those power lines are overhead. 
Some day perhaps they’ll all be underground.  Not here, yet.

 Coop could care less about symetry…
Hey, whatever puts milkbones on the table, says he.

Speaking of rocks… my little perennial rock garden at the side door is starting to shape up.
During this winter that wasn’t a winter
I’ve been able to walk Ben at the beach more often,
and I’ve gathered treasures along the way to fill it in.

It’s a beautiful day here in Connecticut.
Last year at this time we were buried in snow and many had no power.
Life*is*Good
I hope you’ll take the time to get out and enjoy it some.

17 thoughts on “rocks”

  2. Karen, you are right, Steve is a stonewall master. The job he has done on all you walls is fabulous. One of my favorite things about living in Killingworth is driving around and seeing all the stone walls. I wish someday we could have a "Killingworth Uncover Your Stone Walls Day" or week or month. So many of them are cover with nasty vines, prickers, and weeds….it would bring them back to life!
    It's so nice today, I think I'll take my dogs for a walk at Parmelee Farm.
    Keep up the stonewall revitalization,they look great!!!! tell Mike I said so!
    Tim

  3. Karen- I LOVE your stone walls. They are just beautiful. I grew up in PA and we had a lot of stone walls on our farm. I remember, as a kid, thinking how funny it was that they would run right through the center of a wooded area. Happy Thursday- xo Diana

  4. I love rocks. It's a crazy obsession, one of many.

    While thrifting with daughter #1 I nearly bought two separate rocks. Bella exclaimed, "Momma! You can't buy a rock!"

    I'm sorry I didn't though! Rocks have stories to tell me!

  6. Stone walls…how beautiful! And what a lot of heavy work! I love that you care so much about it being done authentically. I would, too.

    Your rock garden is very cool. My hubs has a small one at the lake. I love that you have shells in yours, they are so pretty. I can't wait to see what you have blooming in there this spring.

    XO,
    Jane

  7. I love the walls! !!! Who am I kidding I love everything about your house! ! I hate power lines there ugly I hope one day ours is buried too. But I guess its better than lanterns! ! Have a great day

  8. Your property is surrounded by so much natural beauty and those stone walls…just beautiful! And yes, Steve Seeley is a true artist for sure!

  10. Stonewalls have always been one of my favorites. We have one here but it needs work but so worth saving! The treasures you've acquired on your walks look great, Karen!…:)JP

  13. aren't we all just amazed by what winter has given us this year….or should i say what she hasn't given us….you know. that word i don't like saying 🙂
    xo

  14. Oh those rock walls….I can't believe how talented your wall builders are. I have various walls around various gardens, no more than 2 feet high, and doing that drove me absolutely crazy. I think you either have it or you don't. They do, for sure.

  15. My grandparents place had a rock wall in the front. Road construction over the years has completely buried it! Makes me sick.

    Is that an open door in the last pic? My house would be full of skeeters and skeeter hawks if I left the door open. We can hardly get in and out without letting those suckers in.

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