Rock Wall Has Begun

After 3 years of Dreaming and Planning, the construction of the Rock Wall and Hearth began today. But 1st a little background:

I am the Daughter of a Stone Mason of the old school. Over his Lifetime Career and his 60 years as a Proud Union Member, my Father, Jack Felix Bloskovich, completed some pretty amazing projects in these parts. Those projects were large and small, from custom built Fireplaces, to Homes and large Institutional Complexes. Ever since I was a little Girl, I have been surrounded by the sights, sounds, smells and rhythms of Masonry in construction and complete.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I always knew that I would live in a house in which my Father had built the Fireplace. To my Family's delight, Dad built a beautiful Field Stone Fireplace in our home in North Dakota in the early 1980s. The Rocks were gathered from the area where we lived, plus a call went out to Friends and Family who added to the Stash. Dad, Mom, Bransen, Richard, Melanie and I were all involved in its construction, which made it just that much more special. We enjoyed that Fireplace for a Quarter of a Century and it was with some reluctance that I left that House.

In Summer of 2006 when our purchase of this place was nearing completion, Dad was talking about building a Fireplace here. He was 88 and not nearly as sturdy as had been his signature so many years before. Could that be possible? By January 2007, he knew he couldn't. Could he train Richard and Hollis, he pondered? A few weeks before he passed, he put us in touch with a Retired Mason with whom he had trained and worked. After Dad passed, I was on the phone to ask Dick what we might work out.

After fits and starts these last 2 years, we were in touch with 3 Masons. All had known Dad. None really worked out due to a number of reasons. So Richard went back to Dad's original thoughts. He picked up some books. He spent some time recalling assisting Dad with the project in North Dakota. And with Richard's leadership, we 3 C's decided to do this ourselves.

Where did we get the Rocks? (Photo 1) The 3 of us have always loved and collected Rocks where-ever we go. Some were from our collection from North Dakota. Geologically, they would have been called Glacial Eratics, coming down from Northern Canada on the Glacier some 11,000 years ago. Adding to our Stash, Toby and Kendall Baker gave us a considerable number from their Collection when they left the State.

As this Project came on the Horizon, we queried Friends and Relatives as to Rocks they might want to share. When we arrived here, we had 17,000 pounds on the Semi. While a considerable portion was household stuff, we were loaded with Rocks and Books.

The previous owners of this Home, Brett and Wendy had Flower Beds lined with Rocks. They were from the Collection of Wendy's Grandmother, who was a long time Friend and Neighbor of Richard's Family when he and his Brothers were growing up. Wendy's Grandmother Vernell had attended Richard's Mother when Richard was born. How cool is that? Although she has passed, I think she would be thrilled to be a part of our project. I can almost hear her glee.

Rock by Rock, we just kept adding to the collection. People kept bringing us Rocks and they had amazing stories to share. The Rocks brought their own stories too.

(Photo 2) Mother gave me the 2 Rocks on the left side of the Top Photo last Summer when we were out in her lovely yard. Both would have been a part of the construction of their house. In that same Photo on the right is a Missouri River rock from Arnie and Joni. (Photo 3) My Brother Brian loaded into his pickup the collection of Rocks that Mom, Dad, Brian and I would have gathered on Family Vacations in the 1950's and 1960's. Our Vacations took us often to Colorado and the West Coast, but also to Florida and south Missouri. After years of enjoying these rocks, the Folks were ready to give them up and Brian took them. Now they wait in cue for projects here.

Earlier this Summer, Richard and I traveled around Adair County seeking out Rocks from special places that have been important in the History of our Families and ourselves. That was an amazing trip back into places which had held great meaning.

I am warmed to the Core when I think of these Rocks and our Little Rock Wall Project. This afternoon, Richard started the process and then all 3 of us had our hands "in the mud". It seems to me that the Rocks and Wall are a "housewarming". On this day, I think our Little House became our Home.