Material Delivery
Tuesday, February 24, 2004

As things ramped up to the big day, material for the project was delivered. Susan oversaw the delivery. She was also busy at the quarry finding something to place in the center of the labyrinth.

In the meantime, John, Bill, Mike and Susan were again heating up the internet discussing just how they were going to physically pull this off. The main topics of discussion:

• Should we put down the weed block a piece at a time so that we minimize damage to it or should we put it down all at once and hope for the best.
• Should the bobcat be used to move material? If yes, how can we minimize the damage to the weed block.
• If the stones are to be placed on the outside of the circles, what of the turns within the labyrinth? If the stones are placed on the outside of the circle on one circuit, and follow it on the turn, then they will be on the inside of the circle when the turn completes.

There was also the matter of the labyrinth’s Dedication Stone.

Email Report

Susan writes:

All the crushed granite and half of the limestone blocks were delivered today (I hope the rain doesn’t wash away the granite)…the rest will be delivered by Friday (the quarry is closed until the rain stops). I had them dumped in different spots around the labyrinth to make it easier to work with and one load of granite in the back area of the church property where the pathway will start. The grass did get a bit torn up with the wet ground on the third load.

I did a wonderful blessing of the stone and crushed granite taking one stone first and then 2 handfuls of crushed granite and walking the labyrinth with them asking their blessing on our work and conveying how important they are to it. The sun was shining brightly until the last load was dumped and then it began to rain. It was a good day!

So, here’s where the decision making comes in:

There had been some discussion on having ‘sitting boulders’ placed around the inner circle. I found 3 beautiful red granite sitting boulders (they feel SO good when you sit on them and they are beautiful with moss and lichen growing on them) that we could place in the North, East and South points of the inner circle (the entrance is the West). Two of them are approximately 2-1/2 feet in diameter (give or take) and one is more rectangular probably 2X3 ft. If we want them we need to decide now so I can arrange to have them delivered along with the bobcat on Friday. They will need to be placed in the inner circle before the outer circles are started.

I think they would be a wonderful addition to the center to have a place to rest. They match the crushed granite paths and the red granite dedication stone and I don’t believe they are so large that they would impede any ceremonies or celebrations held there. Nor do I think the center would become too busy with the addition of the ‘mandala’ of the aperiodic tiling in the center of center…so, now that you know MY preference, let’s hear from you all!

Of course, everyone said “Yes!”

As to how to lay down the weed block, the sitting boulders certainly added a new level of complexity to the project, as they were going to have to be moved with the bobcat. No one wanted the bobcat driven over the weed block, so that gave weight to the “Lay down the weed block as we go” argument. They finally decided to lay down the weed block, draw the pattern on it, and then use plywood to build a land bridge out to the center for the bobcat to drive on.

On the subject of moving the granite via the bobcat, Susan nixed that idea: “The more I think about it, the less I want to use the bobcat to move the granite. I think the labor of building the labyrinth is part of what makes it so special. That kind of extra work seems meaningful.” And that was that. (Or was it?)

Anne came to the rescue on how to lay the blocks on the turns: Simply have the blocks cross the line of the turn so that it remains on the outside of the circle.

Lastly, Susan gave Mike the text to be placed on the Dedication Stone, and he began working with B-Remember Monuments to get it ordered and delivered on time.

Next up: Land Clearing! (Oh boy!)