East Boothbay Wall

  Here are a few images of the wall we did for Jeff at East Boothbay Landscaping.  These were actually taken a few weeks ago and I haven't got back to take any of the finished product.  This was a fun wall to built--the rectilinear stones made for easy building, the atmosphere was quiet and peaceful, and everyone involved in the project was happy.  If only every job could be so straightforward and rewarding.

Some Shots From Norumbega

  Here are a few shots of the work we did with Paul Belcher at Midcoast Masonry a few summers ago.

Norumbega Carraige House Patio

  We have finally gotten started on the Norumbega Carriage House patio.

  Note the wooden blocks we have nailed in along the edge.  The patio has a large pitch of about 3 1/2 inches over 12 feet, so the stones just start to slide down the slope after we lay them.

East Boothbay Retaining Wall

  Here are some shots of the wall Damon and I have been helping Dan Ucci of Ledge Hill Creations with:

  Joel Oyer on the left and Danny Harrington in the center. Damon, of course, on the right.

  Working on the cap...

  Randy Edgecomb back-building, one of the most integral and unappreciated aspects of wall building. The back of the wall must be constructed as sturdily as the front, the center packed tightly with stones, and the whole thing being interlocked with stones extending throughout the structure. None of this is ever seen once the wall is back-filled with soil, and the tender's work is hidden for all time.

Standing Stone

  It didn't take much effort, just planted one end of a long piece of granite in the ground and positioned an egg-shaped stone on top of it, but it sure looks great in the front yard.

Finished Drew's Wall

  Yesterday, Damon and I finished the wall, back-filled it, straightened out the steps on the left side, and built a small set of steps on the right. Damon also set the bird-bath he made and gave to Drew as a gift. Filled with water and positioned atop a large upright boulder near the wall, it seemed to somehow add a feeling of naturalness to our backyard project.

My New Ride

Getting To Cap Height

  Damon and I decided to go ahead with a round-rock cap, which he has been working on and which looks amazing thus far. The round-rock cap is always more difficult to place than flat cap, but Damon is rising to the occasion, as usual, with wonderful results.

  The stones we are using in this wall are particularly round and sometimes hard to lay, but having hand-picked each one, it is worth the effort when you stand back and see them all together.

The New Wall

  Damon and I had a few good days on the new wall we started in Camden. It was nice to spray it down with the hose at the end of yesterday and see the colors pop out in the stone.

Pratt's Island

  Congratulations to Dan Ucci, owner of Ledge Hill Creations, on the completion of one hell of a big three-year stone project. The landscapers, stonemasons, carpenters, and designers were all there last week putting on the finishing touches before the Down East Magazine shoot on Monday, so I sneaked in for a few shots of my own. I only worked there for a few winters--the majority of the credit goes to Dan's full-time crew; Danny Harrington, Richard Ware, Lance Carlezon, Joel Oyer, Jesse Casas--but I felt privileged to have the hand in it that I did.

   Richard Ware

   And Danny Harrington

Boothbay Veneer

  Damon and I finished the wall in the front of the house yesterday.  I have to say, I was satisfied with our work. We both were. We are pretty harsh critics, especially of our own product; but that little wall looks damn good, if I do say so myself.