A Fortified Perimeter

Clear footing across the brick pavers revealed a new tactical advantage: the dark sheltered alcove beneath an outdoor metal patio table. I marched beneath the crossbars, surveying the weathered flagstones. Right in the center sat an overturned ceramic saucer, rimmed with dry garden soil. Leaving a sturdy structure unpurposed is an unacceptable waste of real estate. I set my wooden popsicle stick against the rim, braced my heels against the gritty stone, and leveraged the dish upright with a firm heave. Clean, dry, and elevated off the damp patio floor, it makes an ideal secondary outpost for surveying the yard.