More Chores

The mother-in-law’s house has a lot of white pines. When it comes to cleaning gutters over there, it’s all needles all the time.

One day strolling through Home Depot I noticed these new gutter guards. Unlike the typical metal mesh ones (which won’t stop needles), these were plastic mesh with a screen-like material over top.

Hmmmm. Wonder if that would work?

For $2 a piece, I figured what the hell, so I bought a box (even cheaper).

After about 22 of these things, I noticed a weird sensation in my thumbs as I snapped the lips over the gutter edge.

That sucks, not to mention I was about 10 pieces short.

Fast forward a week, the blisters sort of healed, and I got the last 10 pieces. After everyone telling me the first week I should have worn gloves, I tried gloves this time.

Uh-uh. Bad idea. The gloves get wet after first cleaning the gutter. While trying to snap the lip over the gutter edge, the wet gloves tended to slip. Having both your hands slip over a gutter edge twenty ft. in the air is a little un-nerving to say the least.

Whatever. All is done. Now it’s a matter of waiting to see how long it takes the screen material to deteriorate and the needles to proliferate. I’m giving the ones on the front of the house two years since they face south and get constant sun. The ones in back will probably last 2 or 3 times the front ones.

I also hauled the tractor over to get the grass and leaves taken care of hopefully for the fall.

Damn trailer is really earning its keep.

– b