Pedro

Although the decision was made quite awhile ago to take out the tiny patch of swamp  lawn and continue with Dana's excellent landscaping, I thought we had decided that we would wait until Spring to avoid turning our patio into a mud hole. I was not privy to his decision to have Pedro go ahead and take it out today, until Pedro showed up with wheelbarrows, buckets, a truckload of dirt and two helpers.

While they carted heavy buckets of sod and dirt hither and yon (but particularly up and down steps) I marveled at their strength, agility and efficiency, and made them two plates of lemon squares. Although I am considerably more organized than I have been the last couple of years, I seem to have fallen short in the holiday gift wrap department (even every single festive red paper plate purchased for our party is gone) so I put them on very utilitarian white plates, covered them with plastic wrap, and tied them with some very ornate gold ribbon which I found in the bottom of my used paper gift wrap drawer. 

Judging from the interest Ozzie showed in the ground behind where their truck was parked, OilMan speculates that the lemon squares made it no farther….

Dana will be here tomorrow to mound the dirt and place the rocks she  carried to our back gate in a backpack. The dry creek beds, which we all explored for the most colorful and interesting rocks meeting Dana's specific stipulations, are now running with water, which makes Ozzie happy and the rocks look even better. I can't wait to see her "rock ribbon" outside our living room window.