I had to give the pond wall building a break yesterday, my hands were red raw and my jigsaw had been put up and taken down a number of times.  Lying in bed last night, all I could think of was different ways to make it work.  I figure the top rocks need to push on the ones below them in the right way to hold them in place and those ones push on the ones below them in the same way, etc.

Rob gave me some gloves to wear to help with my hands and off I went to get another three loads of rocks.  I wanted to make sure I had enough variety of size and shape to make it work.

I originally had a couple of pot plants with the straw bales and decided they should form a part of the wall.

As the pond gets closer to completion I walk around it and check my work, looking for areas that need correcting…

At last I’m in the final stages and I couldn’t be happier with the way it’s shaping up.

We decide a bike ride is called for to end this constructive day, so end up riding along the Reisling Trail for a round trip of about 25km.  All in all, a wonderful but tiring weekend.

We had put pea straw bales around the sides of the fish pond to give them a little bit of thermal mass to keep the fish warm.  I decided the fish needed a rock wall instead.  I think I just wanted a project really to use some of the million or so rocks on the property.  I know absolutely nothing about building a rock wall, but how hard can it be?  I figure I can only give it a go and if it falls down, I’ll just put it back up again.

Before starting the wall, Rob and I go to the Sevenhill Markets for a look around.  It’s quite cool at our place but not too bad.  There’s no frost.  When we get into Sevenhill, not far from where we live, everything is white with frost and it is bone-chillingly cold.  It bodes well for our vegie garden if our property stays warmer during winter.  The markets were interesting but we didn’t stay long.  We had things to do and wanted to get home.

As Rob was making another garden bed, I asked him to use the bales around the fish pond so I wouldn’t be tempted to just end up in the hammock with a book but do something constructive with the rest of my weekend and make sure the fish are kept reasonably warm.

I had been collecting some rocks from here and there and ended up going for a walk with the wheelbarrow to gather a good pile.  After getting a couple of loads it’s time to begin…

As I know nothing about building a dry rock wall I end up experimenting a bit, putting bits up then pulling them down.  I’m trying to treat it like a jigsaw puzzle.  It’s a lot of fun!