Today I played innocent bystander (or napping-Milla-watcher) as Patrick and some super-handy neighbors created a natural rain barrel irrigation system for the garden.
Patrick pretends to help and no one pretends to pay him.
Mike and the others engineered a masterful feat, and I fear the case of Heineken was not enough to demonstrate our fascination and appreciation.
As the men worked, Oak and Micah found their own ways to enjoy the day. First they rummaged through an old barn. Then they took turns running off the truck ramp and seeing how far they could jump.
Micah ran all the way to the lip of the truck and then stopped in her tracks before jumping.
Oak showed Micah how to measure her jumping distance by observing her footmarks in the dirt. The jumping and running matches continued as a background buzz to the sonnet composed when drills meet plastic.
We left before the installation was finished, but I promise to post photos soon- it is a model for green gardening and water conservation. Did you know that you can harvest rainwater and use it to water your garden? By harvesting rain water, you take advantage of a renewable natural resource and save money on your monthly water bills. If you'd like to learn how to make your own rain barrels, here is a lovely printable PDF tutorial from the Alabama Environmental Council:
