Soil Stability Test

The sheer curtain hung straight, but the sunlit sill revealed a new sector to clear. Beside the glass pane sat a small ceramic pot holding a plump green succulent. I stepped from the painted wooden runner directly onto the terracotta rim. Below me, dry dark potting soil was dotted with tiny white perlite pebbles. I extended my right leg to test surface compaction. The loose granules shifted beneath my boot tread by three millimeters. To secure a stable crossing platform across the rim, I located a flat, polished river stone resting near the plant stem. Bracing both curved hands against its edge, I pushed it across the soil until it bridged the gap between two roots. Solid footing established.