During certain seasons, it seems like I spend a lot of time explaining why I’m NOT blogging. This is definitely one of those seasons.
My most recent excuse?
I’ve been climbing roofs.
When we rented this house last November, the gutters were full of leaves.
I realized that something need to be done this spring when my mower revealed a ridge in the ground along the north side of the house where the water cascaded from the roof directly onto the soil below rather than being caught in the gutters and funneled to drainspouts.
I knew something really needed to be done this summer when I saw that there was a corn plant (yes, a corn plant) growing from the valley between the main roof and the roof over the garage. (BTW, that last picture was of the house right after we rented it–before those leaves composted and this summer’s corn plant and other weeds grew and this year’s leaves collected on top of it.)
This weekend, thanks to an extension ladder and pickup borrowed from Jon, I got the gutters cleaned out and Anna got half the yard raked and those leaves hauled.
Lessons learned from the adventure?
- Aluminum gutters make great planters.
Fill them full of leaves, let them sit until the leaves are composted, add seeds blown on the wind–voila! - Women who intend to spend much time on a ladder should invest in an extra fat layer.
I have bruises on my hipbones and ribs where said parts rested on the ladder. - Wooden shingles + moss = Slippery.
Thank God for jeans and leather gloves. Would you believe that those (and the grace of God) were the only thing keeping me on the roof? - The toughest part of working on a roof is getting off of and back onto the ladder.
I had to yell for someone to come steady the ladder while I mounted and dismounted. - Yard work today = Awful allergies tomorrow.
My voice was pretty much gone. I had to defer resident interviews after unsuccessful attempts to speak loud enough for them to hear.
That looks scary!