Improvements

Particularly in the spring and summer, Mike is kept busy just maintaining this place.  Each week, he has to mow the lawn and maintain said mower, water and feed the chickens, water and feed and exercise the dogs, rake moss out of the pond, feed the catfish, etc.  As a result, I hesitate to bring up other tasks that I think need to be handled.  However, once I get his attention he finds time to manage these problems and often very creatively.

1.  Prevent Blackie from escaping the backyard.

This has been an ongoing problem ever since the fence went up.  Its main purpose is to corral the dogs when we are gone for long periods of time.  Using the dog door in the basement, they can get in and outside of the house but still remain safe.  Except for Blackie.  He crawls under the gate and seems unwilling to return that way.  We find him when we get home sitting on the front stoop or laying in front of the garage door.  This is particularly worrisome when the weather is at the freezing level.

Mike solved that problem the other day.  We have a puppy exercise pen that folds flat for storage.  It has been in the garage for the last few months because Emily had borrowed it for Dana's dog Rosie.  I was noticing that the gate was scratching up the walls in the garage because I had to move it to get into my recycling.  Mike must have noticed this problem because he took care of it.  He placed this sturdy metal gate against the back fence gate resting on the ground.  He tied it off with zip ties.  Houdini Blackie can no long get out of the backyard and my garage walls are not being scratched.  Very efficient problem solving.  Of course, mowing the back lawn is now a bit of a problem.  He will have to cut off the zip ties and fold the dog pen just to open the gate to get the lawn mower in the yard.

2.  Need a light bulb replaced in the basement stairwell.

Changing a light bulb is not usually a problem unless the light fixture is in the ceiling and above a non level ground such as a staircase.  We just discovered in the last week that we had such a problem.  It is the first time this light has burned out since we moved in the house nearly two years ago.  Mike tried to reach the light fixture on a ladder in the mudroom but that was a no go.  Then he remembered the extension ladder we had stored in the basement.  While I was gone, he used this to change the light bulb.  I nearly had a heart attack when I returned to find the light on and the ladder positioned on one stair and leaning on the wall above the door.  Anyway, problem solved.  At least for the next two years.  

3.  Install a ceiling fan in the new gazebo.  

While Mike and the girls were installing the new gazebo over spring break, I decided the time was right to order a ceiling fan for it.  It just seemed the final crowning touch on such a perfect resting spot.  Of course, Mike was ready for a break from the gazebo once the roof was installed so I refrained from pointing out that the fan was ready any time he was.  Instead I kept placing it where he might see it.  It was in front of the front door for awhile and then in the gazebo and later in the garage where we both would see it every time we went in and out of the house.  While I was gone wine tasting the other day he installed it.  It works great and just as I thought is a wonderful addition to the gazebo.  I am sure the wedding party will appreciate it.