Glad you asked!
We’ve been following him and Carol as they expanded their small house and garden into what our family now calls “The Shaw Estate”.
And I promised you that I’d revisit them when the Coach House interior is complete. (He plans to do this in cooler weather.)
But our family has known Wayne and Carol for many years and I should have known that Wayne is always up to something.
“I came up with the idea about 3 months ago,” he says.
A neighbour bought the property next door, and made changes that affected Wayne and Carol’s use of the back of their property. Wayne decided they needed a water-feature there.
“I started looking around for the ideal rock fountain and finally found it in nearby Campbellford. I took Carol up to see it, and we decided on it that day. While there, I made an appointment with the gentleman (Jim Spencer) who builds and installs all their water features. We came up with a final layout (in our heads).”
Q: Did you make a sketch, Wayne?
A: “I did not. It was a vision/plan in my head, and when we met, he and I understood each other within minutes. No plans were drawn!”
Jim, whose property is fully landscaped, has been doing this work for 40 years. He and colleague Wayne (yes, another Wayne) arrived weeks later with backhoe and fountain boulder.
“As you can see, the 6,000 pound fountain boulder was a little too much for the small backhoe to manage! They had to bring in a heavy duty boom truck.”
This wasn’t just a fountain, however. They built a patio, a stream and three ponds and planted a cedar hedge as a backdrop.
Q: How did Carol react when she saw the finished product, Wayne?
A: “She was elated, as are all of those who have come around to see what we are up to out back!”
Jim allowed Wayne to operate the backhoe one day, but mostly, Wayne designed and supervised the project.
Q: So are you and Carol lounging about, having drinks and admiring the new water feature?
A: “No. But we do go out at least once a day and admire the work the boys did!”
That’s because Carol is busy working in the garden and Wayne is now building an office inside the main house.
Meanwhile, Jim Spencer, pleased with the collaboration, asked Wayne to assist with a future project, and he agreed.
And double-meanwhile:
“As soon as I’ve finished the office, I hope it will be cool enough to go back and complete the interior of the COACH HOUSE!!!”
Yes, and we’ll have pictures!
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Photos by Wayne Shaw.
Cynthia Reyes 