Helmet Urchins

Matte black looks better on helmet urchins than it does on sports cars.  Thanks to Echinoblog for a great post on these animals. 

2012 projects

Last year saw the completion of a few projects around the house, but this year I am even more ambitious.  I want to (in no particular order): 

1) Build hillside stairs to the house.
2) Upgrade the rainwater harvesting setup with a new pump, filter, and overflow barrel.
3) Put siding on the sauna and shed.
4) Develop a large compost pile.
5) Build a woodshed and greenhouse. 
6) Dump-and-run ten yards of gravel the length of the driveway to maintain a crown on the road.  Plant local saplings of alder, birch, and tamarack, on either side of driveway.  Remove felled tree trunks along driveway. 

Ambitious, and optimistic.  Oh, well, what isn't done this year will be tackled the next.