When we first moved to our new house, I noticed a large pile of bricks and cinder blocks sitting just beyond the fence line. I was curious about them but didn't give it too much thought because as they were on the other side of the fence, they weren't mine.
Every so often over the course of the past year, I'd give them a glance and sigh because if only I had those cinder blocks I could do so much good in the world...well, in my yard at least. Specifically this - a raised garden bed made from cinder blocks. But alas, with out the cinder blocks, I went ahead and repurposed my old milk crates into a a container garden. Still...I yearned for the day when I would make a "real" garden.
It wasn't until my landlord came over to supervise the recent yard work that I made a startling discovery. The cinder blocks were actually on this property! The previous tenant was the one who put up the fence for his dogs and, being sort of lazy about it, just fenced around the brush and pile of cinder blocks instead of following the property line.
I asked my landlord if I could use the bricks and cinder blocks and after he looked at me like I was crazy said he didn't care at all what I did with them!
So I have started harvesting the bricks. They are easy to get as they are lighter than the cinder blocks. In order to get those, I need to disassemble part of the fence and I haven't gotten to that point yet.
Here they are...just waiting for me...waiting to fulfill their purpose.
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| See how sad they are behind the fence? Poor things! They long to be made into a garden! |
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| These are some of the bricks I was able to save. A sad little pile now, but when I have some more, I plan on making a couple flower beds with them. |
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| It's hard to see in black and white, but the sun filtering down through the branches above really made the cinder blocks pop out. It was pretty in a creepy sort of way. |
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| I love the vines that crisscross over, around and through the pile as though trying to hold onto them. |
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| The bricks are in the best of shape and I have no idea how long they sat neglected, but it will make an interesting juxtaposition - old bricks, pretty flowers... Nice! |
Why are they in black and white? Is that an artistic choice or is there something wrong with my computer?
ReplyDeleteThe raised garden is a good idea. So is a Cinder Block Harvest Fest (great name for a modern folk band). Good luck!
I like the black and white look. It seemed appropriate for a lost and neglected pile of bricks. Also, when I convert the images to black and white the schmutz that is on my camera lens (that I tried cleaning but just won't come off) is less noticeable. Because, trust me, I freak right the heck out when I take an awesome photo and all *I* can see is the camera blemish!
DeleteI can't wait to see what beauty you make out of this forgotten treasure.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I hope I'll be able to get started this week...but weather seems to be against me.
DeleteLove these pictures. And I agree the branches in the one photo make the cinder blocks look amazing and creepy.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't it though? I really love photos like that. That have that slightly creepy vibe but are also really beautiful.
DeleteLol, loved this post!!! I don't know how you meant it to be exactly - but the fact that you've made poetry about cinder blocks and bricks is just brilliant and made me laugh :)
ReplyDeleteHave fun with them! ;-)
Poetry about cinder blocks...clearly, I am amazing! :) I didn't intend at all to write so well about them so thank you for your very kind words!
DeleteOH!!! I can't wait to see the finished product! :o) I heart cinder blocks. My mom always said that there's nothing you can't do without a good cinder block.. Or something like that.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
Valerie
Thanks. I can't wait to get started on my project and finally have a real...maybe I should say decent sized garden! Your mom sounds very wise!
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