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gerisullivanI'm still a day short of being home for an entire week, but I'm nonetheless satisfied with the difference these last six days have made. No longer is the Zeppelin Hangar a complete disaster zone. Space and clean, flat surfaces have re-emerged in the kitchen and living room. There's visible progress in my office and the dining area, and upstairs in my bedroom as well. (Upstairs was in better shape to start with.) For the last couple of months, most trips away have been accompanied by a carload of stuff following me home. I'd empty the car, moving most of the bags and boxes into the house, though rarely up or down a flight of stairs. Then I'd leave again, only to return home with another carload....
The Candlewick crystal from my aunt is unpacked and on shelves. Twenty pieces of art are framed; 13 of those are now hanging on walls in various rooms. I think I know where the last seven are going. I still need to sand and stain the new CD shelf I bought from Len and Faith Berry's unfinished furniture store in Auburn this past summer. Len Berry as in John D. Berry's brother. That's likely to wait still longer; I just hope it doesn't take as long as painting the stairway and upstairs hall is!
Yarn from Rhinebeck is stored away thanks to new shelves and baskets. Must earnestly remind self that just because there's more space on the shelves doesn't mean I need more yarn. Various printer and DVD boxes moved to Flamingo Loft and garage. Luggage unpacked; bedding changed; laundry in progress.
Late this afternoon, I turned my attention to the leaf-clogged gutters. The forecast says we're in for two more inches of rain over the next couple of days. Clearing the gutters before it starts falling was more than just a good idea, especially given how easily I might have otherwise put off the task until after snow started falling.
Cleaning out the gutters isn't a hard task, it just involves carefully positioning the step-ladder, confirming solid placement, climbing up, scooping out all of the leaves within safe reach, climbing down, moving the ladder a few yards, then repeating each step. I worked my way steadily across the bit of the back that needed it, then across the front of the house. It was nearly dark by the time I finished the main house gutters and turned my attention to the last bit on the side of the garage.
About halfway along, I found myself questioning whether I had the stamina to safely climb back up once, twice, three more times to finish the job. Ahh. While that's always a useful question to ask, the fact that I found myself asking it was a strong indication that a break was in order. Immediately. So I took one. It didn't matter that it was getting darker by the minute, that rain is coming, that the job needed doing. Climbing a ladder when feeling tired, weak, or unsteady is always the wrong answer...well, unless the circumstances are such that you're climbing to immediate safety rather than away from it. This wasn't one of those times, and I'm glad I had the common sense to stop when I did.
It was fully dark by the time I went back out a half-hour later. And here's where the twist comes in, for I made those last three trips up the ladder and finished cleaning the gutters in the dark. On the surface, that doesn't seem so wise, but in practice, it felt reasonably safe to do so. The ground is relatively even there, I know what a secure, steady ladder feels like, and I'd seen the entire length of the gutter when I started the job.
Yeah, that's probably what people in Emergency Rooms say at least half of the time. Then again, I don't have much of a history of ending up in ERs myself (knocking wood), and I suspect that taking breaks when I need them has more than a little to do with that fact.
The Candlewick crystal from my aunt is unpacked and on shelves. Twenty pieces of art are framed; 13 of those are now hanging on walls in various rooms. I think I know where the last seven are going. I still need to sand and stain the new CD shelf I bought from Len and Faith Berry's unfinished furniture store in Auburn this past summer. Len Berry as in John D. Berry's brother. That's likely to wait still longer; I just hope it doesn't take as long as painting the stairway and upstairs hall is!
Yarn from Rhinebeck is stored away thanks to new shelves and baskets. Must earnestly remind self that just because there's more space on the shelves doesn't mean I need more yarn. Various printer and DVD boxes moved to Flamingo Loft and garage. Luggage unpacked; bedding changed; laundry in progress.
Late this afternoon, I turned my attention to the leaf-clogged gutters. The forecast says we're in for two more inches of rain over the next couple of days. Clearing the gutters before it starts falling was more than just a good idea, especially given how easily I might have otherwise put off the task until after snow started falling.
Cleaning out the gutters isn't a hard task, it just involves carefully positioning the step-ladder, confirming solid placement, climbing up, scooping out all of the leaves within safe reach, climbing down, moving the ladder a few yards, then repeating each step. I worked my way steadily across the bit of the back that needed it, then across the front of the house. It was nearly dark by the time I finished the main house gutters and turned my attention to the last bit on the side of the garage.
About halfway along, I found myself questioning whether I had the stamina to safely climb back up once, twice, three more times to finish the job. Ahh. While that's always a useful question to ask, the fact that I found myself asking it was a strong indication that a break was in order. Immediately. So I took one. It didn't matter that it was getting darker by the minute, that rain is coming, that the job needed doing. Climbing a ladder when feeling tired, weak, or unsteady is always the wrong answer...well, unless the circumstances are such that you're climbing to immediate safety rather than away from it. This wasn't one of those times, and I'm glad I had the common sense to stop when I did.
It was fully dark by the time I went back out a half-hour later. And here's where the twist comes in, for I made those last three trips up the ladder and finished cleaning the gutters in the dark. On the surface, that doesn't seem so wise, but in practice, it felt reasonably safe to do so. The ground is relatively even there, I know what a secure, steady ladder feels like, and I'd seen the entire length of the gutter when I started the job.
Yeah, that's probably what people in Emergency Rooms say at least half of the time. Then again, I don't have much of a history of ending up in ERs myself (knocking wood), and I suspect that taking breaks when I need them has more than a little to do with that fact.
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no subject
Date: 2006-11-12 04:50 am (UTC)And a very sensible attitude that is, too. I'm glad your housekeeping projects are going so well. Want some mice?
Clever mouse no charge!
Date: 2006-11-12 05:00 am (UTC)Re: Clever mouse no charge!
Date: 2006-11-12 05:51 am (UTC)But I had my own mouse issues today.
no subject
Date: 2006-11-12 07:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-12 05:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-12 01:39 pm (UTC)Since
Date: 2006-11-12 01:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-11-12 03:45 pm (UTC)