I took off this evening to Montague to check out the prospective source of patio stones. I think it will work beautifully - the stones are a little uneven, being natural unfinished rock, but not in a way that would be unpleasant on the feet. As an added bonus, I was charmed to discover that the stones are coming from the tumbling-down wreck of a 200-year-old dry-laid stone wall and from cairns piled up in the fields around the same period. HOW COOL. In addition to being easy on the feet, my rocks will have character!

Of COURSE this weekend it will be pouring rain, but next weekend I will muster the brute squad and some babysitting and go get a truckload.