Swarmhenge now at Empty Nest

Caden Hinkle did it again—he created another yard sculpture out of RR ties.  The first one was a raised-garden bed.  I had him notch the ties so they fit together like Lincoln Logs.  Snazzy. 
Ginnie and I had the most fun with that raised garden, more fun than with any of the other “normal” gardens we've had.  Heck, we're still picking ripe tomatoes, and it's the first of November!  The raised garden is right outside our kitchen door.  How handy.
There were a few RR ties left over from the raised-garden project, and I started thinking (which can get me in trouble).  I texted Caden and said, “Hey, Buddy, what would you think of making a replica of Stonehenge in our old garden space, using RR ties?” 
Caden didn't hesitate.  “That sounds like fun.  I'll jump right on it!”
And he did, like he goes for Ginnie's home cooking when we feed him, which is about once a week because he mows for us, also.  At 22 and 6'5”, he's a growing boy.
The project was sort of delayed because Caden had a hard time finding RR ties.  He finally wound up going all the way to Muscatine.  And then the dump trailer he used to haul the ties to our property got stuck in the up position.  Oh, my goodness!  It was on a Sunday afternoon.  Even Ginnie trooped out to take a look at the spectacle.  Caden's dad and                           brother, plus Caden, were all working on it trying to get it to release.  They finally got'r down after a lot of cussing, but no one got hurt, so it was a win.  A faulty solenoid was the culprit, or maybe it was a finicky dump trailer balking at having to haul RR ties. 

Then came the day for setting the ties.  Caden had the use of a post-hole digger, so that helped.  He set the ties 18 inches deep, which should have been plenty.  The only problem was that Caden had tilled that old garden spot a couple of times this year to keep the weeds down.  Therefore the soil was loose, and a couple of the ties kept falling over like they fainted.  Not to worry.  Caden dug the holes deeper and we now have a replica of Stonehenge at the Empty Nest Farm.  It's probably the only one in Iowa.  A simple Google search reveals there are others in the US, but not made out of RR ties.  
We're going to call it “Swarmhenge” and Caden is making a sign out of RR ties.  I notice our Swarmhenge has the same feeling about it as Stonehenge in England.  Ginnie and I were there on our honeymoon 11 years ago.  Little did she know what lay ahead.  Ha! 
We're going to put a bench out by it for people to sit on if they want to stop and view our Swarmhenge.  It's just a peaceable place for people to pray or meditate if they want.       
Stonehenge, in Wiltshire, England, is thousands of years old.  Its construction began around 3,000 BC, with the famous stone circle taking shape in stages over the following centuries.  Some of the large stones weigh around 25 tons, and how in the heck they were moved there and why is still a mystery.  Nobody knows for certain, but archaeologists believe Stonehenge served important ceremonial and religious purposes.  It may have been a place to honor ancestors, bury the dead, and gather for important events tied to the seasons.  Its stones line up with the sunrise at the Summer Solstice and sunset at the Winter Solstice. 
Caden's next project at the Empty Nest Farm is three crosses made from RR ties, like the three crosses on Highway 218 on the way to Iowa City.  I don't like to do anything halfway, as long as Caden supplies the brawn and brain.
Caden Hinkle likes these types of creative projects.  It's a good break from his normal job of landscaping and mowing for his brother, Collin.  Caden's phone number is 641-980-5569 if you have some type of unusual project.  Have plenty of food ready.
Have a good story?  Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526 or email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com.  Curt is available for public speaking.