i just read this story to hubby and we shared the laughter. you are so talented in doing things and writing about them. loved the story and that you are safe from the roof and wasps.
Yeah, I would have backed away from the wasps too and loved the story - you tell it in such a way Gail, that one feels like they are up on that hot tin roof right alongside you :) Hope Hubby's back is feeling better from that "High Lift". ha,ha
No way do I do heights EVER! My house would just wash away or I can usually get one of my grown sons to do those things because I HATE heights. I am so impressed by you though : )
All the time while I was reading I was afraid you were going to say you fell from the roof. Thank goodness you got down safely. I too am scared otta my wits from heights but I also climb high places just because I have no one to do those things for me. It made a great story.
I cleaned out the gutters a couple of weeks ago and fire ants had moved into one area. they swarmed up me and in my hair and clothes in a nanosecond. you should have seen me scrambling off that ladder stripping as I went.
Gail, I just love your tenacity and grit. But I love your humor more. A keen eye for detail, a strong consitution for getting the job done and all that is wrapped up in a good woman with a warm heart. Yep, I'd say that was a high lift for your husband.....he's a lucky guy.
I’m amazed that you got up there to do the repairs despite your fear of heights. I guess that’s the whole “brain going from A to Z” that you were talking about. :) Back to your roof repair, it was good that you didn’t settle for the caulk that was meant for indoor repairs. Settling for that just to cut on the time you spent up on the roof for a few minutes could have ended up in more trouble in the future. Good DIY job!
That’s one Friday adventure you had there. You did everything -- conquering your fear of heights and climbing up the roof, enduring the scorching heat, getting face to face with wasps, and fixing the leaks on your roof. You did a smart move in using the appropriate type of tube and not settling for what you have in your tools box. Here’s to the future resident handywoman of Arkansas!
Who would've thought that a leaky roof can help you conquer your fear of heights!? If I were you, I will just let our expert roofers fix the problem. What else can I say, Gail? Congratulations and job well done!
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I've been planning. You know that is the most important part of any job. You gotta have a plan. Since my tractor tire water garden and this water garden need some repairs and cleaning. I've been planning how to combine them and add a pump.
Both water gardens have been pet friendly and have developed a couple of leaks. Through foster dogs, my dogs and horses I need to reshape and redo. I started picking up the crystals from Mount Ida because you have to pick up every thing to change it when I decided...now stay with me...to repair the roof...of the house!
Don't ask me how my brain works. I have lived with it all my life and still can't fathom how it sometimes goes from A to Z in a split second.
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Hey, I'm flexible so I flagged down Hubby to use his tractor bucket to get me on the roof. I had noticed a small leak on our screened porch during the last rain. This time I wore my Timberland lace-ups instead of my Fat Baby boots These were much better for roofing, I'm raised in the bucket with roofing repair supplies.
I climb out carefully from bucket to the roof because I'm afraid of heights...then why am I up here?!
I spot the problem right away. A roofing screw had loosened near the spot of the leak. It's seventy degrees, I have two shirts on and the tin is hot to the touch. Doesn't take me long to lather up like a work horse and that in turn almost blinds me. I am scooting across the roof with caulk gun in one hand and the thing that smooths the caulk out...I forget what it called...putty knife, that's it, in the other hand. I'm caulking, I'm smoothing, I'm eye to eye with a very unhappy red paper wasp! I'm allergic! I scoot backwards 'cause I'm not standing up. The wasp decides I'm not the enemy, thank goodness.
I run out of caulk and poor hubby has to bring me more. He brings me a tube of acrylic caulk, paint able for indoor use. I said look at the old tube, bring me one just like that please. I have them obsessively lined up in the tool closet like kinds together.
While he's looking I'm looking. I discover the chimney needed the flashing caulked. The place where one roof line meets another needed caulking and I found a stash of leaves where two roof lines angle into each other. Got all those leaves out, finished another caulking tube that Hubby tossed up to me and decided not to caulk the chimney today. There was another wasp looking at me and I would have to go up another level so that is postponed for a cooler day.
After tossing me another caulk tube I empty that and call it quits.
On the bright side of all this work the tractor did not tip over with my weight in the bucket nor did I fall through or off the roof. Hubby did get me up and down safely in his handy dandy tractor bucket. No one yelled at each other. Two empty caulking tubes, one pile of trash.
I opened the windows because Friday was summertime. I had an ice drink and Hubby told me how his back was hurting because he had to "lift" me so high!
And some say women don't do hard labor!!! I was through for the day.
18 Comments
Close this window Jump to comment formi just read this story to hubby and we shared the laughter. you are so talented in doing things and writing about them. loved the story and that you are safe from the roof and wasps.
March 16, 2013 at 5:11 AM
Yeah, I would have backed away from the wasps too and loved the story - you tell it in such a way Gail, that one feels like they are up on that hot tin roof right alongside you :)
Hope Hubby's back is feeling better from that "High Lift". ha,ha
March 16, 2013 at 6:07 AM
Great story Gail, your a wonderful story teller that's for sure, Francine.
March 16, 2013 at 6:26 AM
Holy smokes, you're fearless, woman! I wish I had half your courage.
March 16, 2013 at 7:30 AM
No way do I do heights EVER! My house would just wash away or I can usually get one of my grown sons to do those things because I HATE heights. I am so impressed by you though : )
March 16, 2013 at 8:16 AM
glad you (both) survived. :)
March 16, 2013 at 9:36 AM
All the time while I was reading I was afraid you were going to say you fell from the roof. Thank goodness you got down safely. I too am scared otta my wits from heights but I also climb high places just because I have no one to do those things for me.
It made a great story.
March 16, 2013 at 10:24 AM
I cleaned out the gutters a couple of weeks ago and fire ants had moved into one area. they swarmed up me and in my hair and clothes in a nanosecond. you should have seen me scrambling off that ladder stripping as I went.
March 16, 2013 at 10:38 AM
Gail, I just love your tenacity and grit. But I love your humor more. A keen eye for detail, a strong consitution for getting the job done and all that is wrapped up in a good woman with a warm heart. Yep, I'd say that was a high lift for your husband.....he's a lucky guy.
March 16, 2013 at 10:42 AM
Good story! Lucky you, the only thing I can plow right now is snow and more snow! Grrr!
March 16, 2013 at 11:37 AM
Your husband is a lucky guy, and he had best recognize it!
March 16, 2013 at 3:55 PM
I was holding my breath all the way through your story; I was so afraid that a fall was coming!
March 16, 2013 at 4:29 PM
I don't do heights very well...shoot, I don't do ground too well either!
March 16, 2013 at 4:55 PM
My Friday can't compare to yours and being lifted up in a trailer bucket. Damn!
March 17, 2013 at 6:40 PM
I’m amazed that you got up there to do the repairs despite your fear of heights. I guess that’s the whole “brain going from A to Z” that you were talking about. :) Back to your roof repair, it was good that you didn’t settle for the caulk that was meant for indoor repairs. Settling for that just to cut on the time you spent up on the roof for a few minutes could have ended up in more trouble in the future. Good DIY job!
Mariam Freame
March 19, 2013 at 3:38 PM
What a picture I have of you up zooming up there on top of that tractor bucket.
Only you, Gail...
;)
March 19, 2013 at 5:06 PM
That’s one Friday adventure you had there. You did everything -- conquering your fear of heights and climbing up the roof, enduring the scorching heat, getting face to face with wasps, and fixing the leaks on your roof. You did a smart move in using the appropriate type of tube and not settling for what you have in your tools box. Here’s to the future resident handywoman of Arkansas!
Karen Burgess
April 5, 2013 at 8:46 AM
Who would've thought that a leaky roof can help you conquer your fear of heights!? If I were you, I will just let our expert roofers fix the problem. What else can I say, Gail? Congratulations and job well done!
-BarnHouseExteriors
June 5, 2013 at 1:00 PM