The aerating, lime, seed, and fertilizer all paid off. The yard looks great. I’m most proud of getting a thick stand of grass to come in under the southeast Bradford Pear. The leaves are off almost all of the trees. The Bradford Pears and the Willow have yet to change color. I guess the Magnolia stays green year round.

An invasion of dandelion weeds has crossed the border between the up-hill neighboring yard. The results of the surgical counter strikes with salt spray will not be known for a couple of weeks.

Bob E. and I worked up the latest plan to attack the gutters. Three approaches have failed thus far. The latest idea is to place two screw eyes into the joists of the roof. Tie a rope between them, and then hold onto a rope that will slide along that one as I go down the length of the gutter.

Later I realized I don’t have joists, so that could make placing the screw eyes tricky. The 32 foot ladder I could buy would be $189. I’m not sure where I would store a ladder this high, though.