About a month ago, an “Unconventional” post examined our need to challenge ourselves, using the slogan, “If you don’t push your limits, you’ll never learn the true extent of your abilities and motivations and faith.” I firmly believe that, and encourage all to wisely and strategically push the possible. But that coin has a reverse side. Only when we push our limits can we learn them. Othewise, we guess, we act in fear or foolishness. And wise folks…
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25 years ago we put in a three foot high retaining wall with railroad ties to hold back a slope at the side of our house, and continued the wall in a single row at the bottom of a less steep slope at the front of the house. But even creosote-soaked ties rot after decades, and we replaced the retaining wall with landscape blocks, leaving the front layer of ties. However, the blocks and ties didn’t match, yet I didn’t want the extra work of removing and disposing of the ties, so I got some matching blocks to put over the ties from a neighbor (thanks Kurt!). Ice plant had grown over many of the ties, sometimes a foot high. More work to cut it back. So I got out my shovel to cut through it, then had an inspiration...
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