Night time got down into the mid-thirties, but it warmed up fast once the sun rose – for a certain value of warm: we’re almost out of May and it’s 64o at nearly noon. But no wind, so it’s Painting Day!
…after it warmed up a bit. I spent an hour in the boonies in a hoodie, a good month after such things have normally been put away for the season. But a cup of tea on my nice porch…
…and then it’s time to pay the piper and starting painting my nice porch. I certainly won’t finish this week, which means I won’t finish before July since I’m leaving in a week for three weeks in the big city. But I do want to get the gutters up, which means that at least the ends of the eaves must be painted a couple of coats first.
Then a much easier job, getting a first coat on the gutter, caps, coupler, and downspout.
It occurred to me this morning, probably not for the first time, that this last bit has become something of a tradition: sit on the berm of the gulley ditch carefully cleaning the brush. This is the fifth painting season on the Secret Lair and I haven’t ruined a brush yet. My ex-wife would be so shocked – but while painting will never (ever) be my very favorite thing I’ve learned it makes a huge difference whether you’ve been dragooned into the chore against your will on your only day “off work” or you’re doing it to maintain and improve something you built and love.
Who’s gonna feed the girls and collect all those eggs while you’re gone?
Neighbor L.