“It is both the grandeur and the pain of the remoter moods that they avoid the pathway of sound. ” Thomas Hardy.
Since the rains came I haven't seen much of our tall neighbors,
but Sunday morning on the back way into Nairobi I saw about a dozen of them headed to church.
Monday we started working on the pathways that will connect most of the buildings on the property.
We plot them out, set out strings 40" apart, make the curves we want, and then round them out in chalk the lines for the guys to follow.
This is quarry dust. More about that in a minute.
Fitting the mazerra stones together is the easy pat. Making the stones completely stable is the hard part.
We've decided not to use mortar between the stones on the paths. We used it for the three patio spaces and there are already some cracks in it.
This will require a little maintenance, but it's a much better method.
The guys stay ahead of the masons, digging the trenches and filling in the murram.
We put river sand between the stones and compact it with flat sticks. We'll have to add sand a couple of times a year, but that's no real problem.
Soon enough we had the beginnings of some gently curving pathways.
Ben jamming quarry dust under the side of one of the stones.
The main electrical panel box in the generator house. George installed it and will hook up all the armored cable strands we buried to it,and eventually the grid power cable too.
Th other wall of the house. Lovely in a family mausoleum kind of way.
Japolo our foreman for this job, playing drafts (checkers) with Juma, the mason.
I can't see who's at Joyce's now when I drive home. The maize is too tall. For the first time in three years. But I did find Agnes and the girls coming down the path to say howdy.
Nduko, Josephine and Ani. They are eating a divided up roasted ear of maize. Looks like our corn on the cob, but is about ten times chewier. Takes some dedication.
They decided goofy faces would be a nice touch.
This man and his donkey cart deliver water around the area. We have become waving friends in our frequent passings.
Day Two in the Trenches:
The first junction of our boulevard and an arterial.
You can see here the excavated black soil trench, although this will be cleaned up and the edges sharpened before we fill it with murram (the brown dirt here). The quarry dust is on top.
We had our system figured out today, and the masons were on a pretty good roll.
Benson has become the stone trimmer. He scores it where he wants it to break,
and then fairly gently whacks it with a triangular shaped hammer along the line until it breaks off.
On the boulevard, we use the biggest stones set sideways. It's broad shouldered.
We use smaller stones set together for some of the others.
And, in case you were wondering where Eskimo cyber geeks get their tech needs met in Nairobi, you can rest easy now.
We hope these pathways will serve contemplative as well as collegial moods.
Less talk. More rock(s).
David
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Chris L says
May 11, 2010 at 4:25 pmGreat work. Amazingly Debi and I (and friends) are doing nearly exactly the same thing here—except that our materials are base rock, DG, and fly-ash pavers to build the paths of a labyrinth. So for once I understand your tools and methodology. It’s great to see Joyce and the gang through the maize. And, of course, those long elegant fellows we love so much that no maize field could ever obscure…
Love,
Chris
Michael Edson says
May 12, 2010 at 7:18 amWell the distance from vision to paper to paver seems impossibly far, yet here it is! Given the opportunity I would run around and hug everyone and give them a big pat on the back for this incredible progress. I know that seen and unseen, there are many involved in this. Congrats on the collective effort. David, you have been on the front line of all of this. This is good work. No sandy foundation here. When the storms come the work will stand the test.
I love you Dave,
Ed
Barbara Redalia says
May 12, 2010 at 9:26 amHi David
It is amazing to see what is going on there in Nairobi! We wish you the best always, and if you wish to see what I have been up to you have only to check out our website to see our kitties, at
My work as a school psychologist for Santa Rosa City Schools has come to an end, but I am able to see a few clients as a licensed educational psychologist, (bilingual), which I especially enjoy.
On Mothers Day here we were able to have 5 of our 6 offspring and our one granddaughter, Lily, here with us, and we celebrated Sarita’a birthday a bit early, as well as her brother, Mike’s, which is May 9th. Lily is in grad school at Cal State East Bay in Hayward, and is close to completing her course work to become a speech and language specialist. After this year she will have an internship to do, but at least that will be paid. She and Sarita are very close, and often spend time together in old SF.
Best wishes always for the work you have chosen, but we wish you were here.
Barbara
Barbara Redalia says
May 12, 2010 at 9:29 amSome day, please come back; we’d love to see you!
Rima Barkett says
May 12, 2010 at 9:32 amImpressive work! I can’t wait to see it in preson!
Ed Richardson says
May 12, 2010 at 2:39 pmDave,
You’re incredible! Each time I read an update – it’s magical. What you and the crew have accomplished is unbelievable with the tools at hand.
The buildings look great and the pathway is remarkable..
When do you think you’ll have you first parade around the property with your “tall friends”?
Wouldn’t that be cool…..only a few more months before the “group arrives” Be well and enjoy their visit.
Ed Richardson
migdalia says
May 12, 2010 at 4:03 pmThat looks so fantastic. How I wish i was there!!! Just wonderful.
David—Thank you over and over again….also, got into MSW at
SF State…in part, because of you. Thanks. One day I hope to
come visit there again. Much love
Bob says
May 12, 2010 at 7:05 pmHey Mon, it looks like things are fine in Mt. Idy, he goes on. Highest marks for diligence, creativity & perseverance…”“Many of the great achievements of the world were accomplished by tired and discouraged men who kept on working. Winston Churchill…This week’s selection is “The Adventures Of The Felice Brothers.” I can’t get it off my ipod…More to come in an actual email…All our love…Patti & Bob
david says
May 12, 2010 at 11:26 pmCL,
Your labyrinth is at Rocky Creek or SJ? DG must act like quarry dust here. Fly-ash pavers – sounds like a hip hop description of a nice looking female road worker, but I’m guessing they’re paving stones I’m unfamiliar with.
Here maize, there maze. Keep an eye out for the Minotaur, and sequester the virgins.
All the tall ones say hi, and so do we short ones.
Love,
David
david says
May 12, 2010 at 11:35 pmHi Ed,
Apart from the subterranean trickle we have been tracking down, the foundations should still be doing their job when the 2061 Halley’s dance card fills up, and maybe the next go round, too. All of us will have a different seat for that showing.
I’ll pass round the back pats and congrats to all. Thanks. Let’s hope you and Nena get the opportunity to squeeze them in person next Valentine’s Day.
Love you, too, brother,
David
david says
May 12, 2010 at 11:44 pmDear Ed,
Great to hear from you! A giraffe parade. Now that is an idea whose time has come! The logistics and negotiations may be a little challenging, but I’m going to put my best man on it. A trail of fresh acacia leaves all around the circuit just might do the trick.
Looking forward to the group arriving. I’d be more pleased if you and Dottie were among them.
I’ll send parade photos. Love to you both,
David
david says
May 12, 2010 at 11:50 pmDear Migdalia,
Big congratulations on getting into the MSW program at SF State. Fantastic!
Our first little dirt trails through the five and three acres have grown up. You and Janine saw them as babies and now as grown-ups. Your imprints are still in the soil here.
You will always have a place to hang your hats here.
Love,
David
david says
May 13, 2010 at 12:05 amHello Bob,
Sometimes I look like Charley Weaver, an feel like the guy Churchill was talking about. I’ve got the Felice Bros on now. Tough dudes. Think Helen Fry might consider a trip over here?
Are you all healed up? And by the way, can you get the Pads to throw at least one game against Los Gigantes? Holy Mackerel.
Look forward to hearing from you. Love to you and Patti and the kitty.
David
Bob says
May 13, 2010 at 5:18 pmFor all I know she might be there now, she being a master of disguise & all…Bob
david says
May 17, 2010 at 10:28 amHi Barbara,
For some reason, your comment just got posted. It was lovely to hear from you. It sounds as though, in spite of your job ending, you have managed to stay quite busy, which doesn’t surprise me at all. I imagine Sarita’s birthday fest was a lot of fun. And, today is her birthday. The website for the cats didn’t come through in the comment. Probably some kind of filter, but I’ll get the info and check it out. Very glad to hear all’s well with the family.
Please send my best to Richard and all the offspring. I’d love to get up your way next time I’m back.
Love,
David
david says
May 17, 2010 at 10:30 amHi Rima,
It’s here waiting for you. Hope to see you soon. We’ll keep a light on.
David
Joy says
May 21, 2010 at 5:26 amHi David ,
I’m all booked for June 22 and cannot wait to get out there to see first hand the amazing work you have done . I am counting the days .
Love Joy
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