Now – what could Mike be doing that would require a rope tied to the 4-wheeler and a kiddie fishing pole? Could it have something to do with the roof? Yes, it could! A vent had to be replaced at the back of the house, and Mike wanted to be the one to do it. When he wasn’t successful in tossing the rope over the roof, he cast weighted fish line over, tied the rope to the line in order to pull it over the roof to the front of the house, then tied it to the 4-wheeler. 
I watched nervously from below as he climbed the ladder and then used the rope (securely anchored to the 4-wheeler at the front of the house) to pull himself into position on the steep-pitched roof. At one point the vent popped out of his pocket and rolled off the roof to the ground. I had to climb the ladder to give it to him.
Bracing himself by means of a loop he tied in the rope, he replaced the vent . . . .
. . . then sat a spell in order to set it with glue.
A “not-so-nervous” Nellie enjoyed a doze in the sun during the ordeal.
Warnock children might remember a trip to Arkansas c.1991 when Grandma Bennie climbed onto the roof at “Boiling Pot,” the family cabin on the Ouachita River, and proceeded to sweep leaves and debris. She saw that as an important part of roof maintenance and admitted that she did it often -- even if there alone. No one thought that was a good idea. Aunt Carol was horrified.
Dad sent me an e-mail recounting this adventure as if no big deal. I could just hear you shouting, "Mike! You be careful up there!"
ReplyDeleteNick and I enjoyed the sunshine on Saturday by visiting the Arboretum near UW. It was beautiful!!!
P.S. Cute doggie!
As I recal, grandma Bennie was cooking dinner at the same time, remarkable woman.
ReplyDeleteYep, that's how ya do it Dad. With the right shoe's I've seen them walked, but wouldn't suggest that to anybody.
What's an Arboretum Hallie. Is that like an indoor botanical garden? - mvw
Hi Milo!
ReplyDeleteThe Arboretum is an outdoor land preserve owned by the University where they plant a variety of different trees and maintain nice paths for recreational enjoyment. There is a visitor center, a nursery where you can buy plants, and a Japanese garden you can visit for a small fee (next time!). Many plants were in bloom and it was lovely! So yes, basically a botanical garden...not sure the difference.
The U of I has a much smaller arboretum on the way up to the water tower from the south end of town.
I bet SOMEONE will tell us the difference between an arboretum and a botanical garden!
According to my resident expert on things plant, an arboretum is a subset of a botanical garden (botany being *all* plant life) specializing in trees.
ReplyDeleteGotta go--I'm at school and should be preparing for the short people who will be arriving soon.
I love the pic of Nellie. It reminds me of a poem I learned as a kid. This is it in part:
ReplyDeleteLazy dog sleepin' in the sun
How ya ever expect to get your day's work done, sleepin' in the sun...