While out and about with #5, we explored a part of the property we hadn't previously ventured. We found a bit of a treasure. A big stack of what I at first thought were large cages. Several of them, all in a neat arrangement, hidden away in the brush. Clearly they'd been long forgotten, as there were more than a couple saplings growing up and out of the cages between bars. There were also rolls of chicken wire and other fencing in, on, and around the cages. When I was finally able to dislodge one from the brush and drag it out to get a better look, I realized these are not cages at all. They appear to be some kind of large home made live traps. One side has inward pointing fence with the prongs pointed in at the narrowest point, and the other end had a door, presumably to remove the trapped animal. I tried looking online for something similar, but couldn't figure it out. The one I pulled out was stacked on top of another cage and I had to use my pocket knife to hack apart a 1/2" sapling that was growing up through it. The other cages remain stuck in place as the ground there is wet and thoroughly frozen still. One of the cages contained several small cylindrical wire things with metal caps. They almost remind me of a bird seed feeder, but they appear to be made with 1/2" hardware cloth. I was not able to get closer due to the way the cages were frozen in place, but I did snap this photo.
I got notice today that half of our other order shipped out today from another company. The Viking Potatoes are en route, but the Anne raspberries have not shipped yet.
With snow in the forecast, I took the opportunity to go grab some rocks for the boot planter project I've been planning. Unfortunately I could only carry a few rocks and hold #5's hand and carry the mail in at the same time. I guess the kids had the same idea because when they got home from school, two of them presented me with handfuls of rocks, saying they could go find more if it wasn't enough. Wow! Must be a sign it's time to work on that project.
Tonight I drilled the drainage holes in the bottoms of the boots, #4 stuffed rocks into the toes of the boots, and then we put the PVC pipes in (I had drilled holes in those a while ago). I added a few rocks to the bottom of each tube just to help with drainage, and then used a metal shower curtain clip to attach the two zippers together to help keep the pair a little more stable. Really, I don't think they need it, but depending what plants get put in them, if they're tall or heavy they may benefit from the additional support.