While Son was ripping off old siding on the Little Bayou House, I was ripping out the old garden. We worked on opposite sides of the house...he on the west and I on the east. Every now and again, one of us would wander around to see how the other was progressing and offer a hand. Sometimes that extra help comes in handy. Then, at other times, we would just need a water break and sit and discuss what was being done.
At one point, I heard a "Well, now." and immediately thought that he had uncovered more termite damage. Son's "Well, now." could mean anything, however, so I went to investigate and was just in time to see him poking a spider. He, nor I, kill things needlessly but I have to admit that poking a spider with my fingertip is going above and beyond just letting it live. When I asked what he was doing, his reply was that he was just trying to move the spider from the work area. "Oh, by the way, what type spider is it?" he queried. So! You are poking a non identified spider with your finger??? To which he made some reply that I had taught him well.
Ok...so I checked said spider and ruled out the usual "villains". Ok, lets just move our critter friend. Knowing that all spiders can bite if they so choose, I was hunting for something to slip under it. The spider could then be lifted to safety. "There! Little guy, you will be safe on this side of the house." No need for my stick. Son had already scooped up the critter and moved it around to where I was working! Ok..so he is braver than I am but said spider is alive and well, Son did not get bit and all is well on the Bayou.
Home maintenance can be costly if you hire the professionals. Yes, they are excellent in their field and, yes, it is a LOT easier to let someone else do the work. I highly recommend finding someone that knows their stuff when it comes to repairing, replacing or adding on to the house. Your home is probably your biggest investment (other than kids). That said, we decided to let Son handle the work on the Little Bayou House. Is he an expert? Does he have years of experience? Is he even a carpenter? Nope to any and all of the questions. Is he doing a good job? Yes, indeed! So, there blows the whole idea of needing to hire a professional.
The home repairs that Son is managing range anywhere from rectifying termite damage to installing flooring. He has removed windows, put up walls, installed doors, replaced studs, replaced beams, built shelves, installed siding, replaced broken window panes and installed ceiling fans. How does he know how to do all of these things? Other than what Mark has taught him, Son tells me that it is all logic and, well, Son is the most logical person that I know. So, logically, it makes sense to let him do the work!
Others on the Bayou are building or doing home repairs as well. Upkeep of the homestead is highly important if you wish to withstand the elements. With hurricane season just around the corner, adding a few braces here and there can never hurt!
While on the pier this afternoon, I watched as an Osprey gathered material to either build a new nest or reinforce an existing one. The bird would fly past a dead branch in the top of the old oak tree and break it off in mid flight. He never wavered as he cracked the limb! Sometimes, the branch would be nigh on six feet in length and as big around as my wrist! With his prize in his talons, he would make a huge circle overhead then fly back to the nesting site which is in the far region of the Bayou. There, it is presumed that his ladylove was awaiting another piece of their home to arrive. She, then, would take the branch and arrange it to suit her whims. The male does most of the gathering of supplies while the female builds the nest.
It is good to see that the Ospreys are doing so well. With their nest building and chick raising, it means that the Bayou and Bay are healthy. The show that the male Osprey performed this afternoon was quite impressive. His stamina, precision and determination astounded.
