Well hi from paradise it has been a long time since I blogged.  This winter has been very mild here.  I say it is because I bought a wood splitter last year and was ready for winter.  The weather gurus will give you a more technical answer for the mild weather but I still think it is the wood splitter.

To me the mild winter has also lifted the spirits of the folks around me.  I live in a fairly depressed part of the state of Virginia that was hit pretty hard by the present recession.  A mild winter with a lower power bill has helped as had the return of some jobs.  A few factories and plants have opened back up in the area so people are starting to feel a little more optimistic.  The optimism is guarded but it is still there.   

I am feeling the effects of spring fever. I have project plans for the spring starting with a retaining wall in front of my deck.  I want to fill in the slope and terrace it.  That will allow me to walk on the area and get the mower around to the side of the house. It will also allow me to better entertain.  I won’t have to worry about people falling and rolling down the hill.  I’m only raising the area about 2 feet but it will give me about 10 to 12 feet of usable space in front of the deck.  This terrace will step down to another terrace that will hold my bench swing; it should turn out really nice.  It is a lot of work but I enjoy getting out there and working in the fresh air and open sky.