Over the weekend Clause was surprised on his way out the back door…
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- Uh-Oh…
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- Who did this?
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- Can’t go this way!
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- Guess I’ll try the front door!
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- Finally getting that new deck off the mudroom! ‘-)
Last weekend, after dark, Bob stepped out the back door to get the dog. His foot hit the second step and kept going. He then pitched right off the left side and landed on a plastic storage bin I hadn’t put away. It’s been sitting there for ages and I just never put it away. Thankfully, the bin broke his fall and he is fine, though perhaps a bit stiff. Poor Bob!
No longer feeling guilty for leaving the bin sit there!
😉
A word to the wise: Never stain or seal fresh lumber that has been pressure treated. Pressure treated lumber is very wet inside and when you seal it, then it stays wet and rots. You must wait at least 4 to 6 months before you seal your wood. OOPS!
Life on the Farmlet 
Oh boy, it IS a good thing that bin was still there! You have my sympathies Bob (been there): Chiro time?
Other than sealing the end cuts, up here they recommend you leave PT to air dry for one year before staining… Me? I like it left to go silver grey like barn boards: ) (And a whole lot less work too; )
Thanks, Deb! We knew this would need to be done to sell the house. (safety issue) but had hoped we could wait till after we were done on the Mountain Farmlet. 😐
I’m just glad that Bob didn’t get hurt, and he feels fine now. (BTW: I got sidetracked with a video at Vigen’s site) 😉
I recently stumbled upon your blog, and must tell you how interesting you, and your articles are. Looking forward to befriending with you. 🙂
Thank you, Vigen!
Aw, poor kitteh 😉
That Kitteh is spoiled rotten to the core! 😉
And that’s just how it should be!
Agreed! 😀
Clause on pause. Poor thing and poor Bob!
Claus has springs and he can leap, therefore he has no excuse! Bob on the other hand does not have springs. I am glad for procrastination, but will never reveal just how long that bin sat there!!! 😉
I’m glad he didn’t get hurt 🙂 I’m excited for you and your new deck! I can’t wait to see how it turns out!
Thank you, Ginger! Neither can I. 😉
Yikes, I am glad Bob is OK!
OMGoodness, Me too, Diana! You have no idea how scared I was. I was coming down the hall to the mudroom and heard it happen, but didn’t realize the potential of the incident until he showed me the damage with the flashlight. There was a collective “Whew!” to be heard at that moment!
I can’t imagine Lynda!
Oh gosh, thanks to that bin…Bob could have been hurted!!!
Your cat is watching is keeping an eye to see if work is going well.!!!.
have a nice week Lynda
Thank you, Chantal, and yes, Claus is an ever-present overseer to any work or task here!
You live and learn about things like treated wood. If I ever move house, I will bear your advice in mind. Having seen your adventures I am more firmly glued to my sitting room floor than ever.
Your home is very lovely, Tom, and your gardens are divine! It seems as though you are located exactly where you need to be. Close to music and entertainment, birding and biking too! So, why would you want to move? 😉
Mrs Tootlepedal loves the sun.
Me too! 😀
Falls are nasty after you hit four feet tall.. i tell people all the time to let the wood dry.. but thats ok.. all is well. .. slow down now.. I KNOW how long that bin sat there.. Good bin… making itself invisible, i have a number of those! c
You just made me feel heaps better with that bin confession… 😉
And yes, we will have to build the deck, and will put it to use, but come next spring or early summer we will put the water seal on it.
As for falling, I remember lots of scraped knees and bruised buns, and they were quickly gotten over in our early years. Now when we fall I get scared! 😯
I’m so glad Bob’s ok. It does happen fast, and when it does, there isn’t a thing you can do but go with it. In my twenty-plus years of varnishing I’ve gone in the water twice. POOF! Just like that!
Actually, the most damage I’ve ever done to myself was the day I hooked a foot in my messy garden hose and twisted a foot pretty badly. I think I may have torn a tendon. But the good news is we do recover! Hooray, human bodies!
OH! So we share something in common, Linda. You and I can fall great distances and not be injured (I fell 30-40 ft on a mountain and bounced) but just try to walk across the grass and WHAMMO!! You’ve sustained an injury! 😉 I broke my foot at school just walking across the lawn. One of the little darlings had dug a hole and the grass grew in to disguise it. I stepped on the edge, rolling my foot into it, and down I went… 😯
oops! i did not know that about pressure treated wood! thanks for passing that tidbit along!
i’m in town at a friend’s hostal and will be leaving really early in the morning on a fast road trip. it’s great to have a fast peek at what’s happening in your life… i’ve another month of helping my friends, and i’m not sure when i’ll have dependable internet, but you’re there in my thoughts!
happy autumn!
z
Lisa, we bought those steps from someone on Craig’s list as a “temporary” fix when we turned the nursery into a laundry/mudroom. The steps had already been stained and sealed. I wanted to stain/seal the new wood before we built the deck. However, when we bought the lumber for the job I asked the guy at the hardware store which was better, “…to water seal the wood or stain it?” That’s when I found out about how wet pressure treated wood is. Our summer here was as wet as it is for you in the wilds of Central America. I’m certain that didn’t help either.
No doubt you are already gone this morning, but… I hope you have a safe trip, and take lots of pictures! You lead a very interesting life and I want to see what you’ve seen while helping and traveling.
I am a horror for not clearing things away that i pass every day.. but now i have an excuse.. maybe they will break someones fall one day! Works for me!! c
I agree, quite logical thinking, Celi! 😉
Why must we always learn things the hard way? Glad Bob is ok.
Well actually, Patti, this was second hand learning. We bought the steps from someone on Craig’s list and they had already been stained. They were supposed to be a “temporary” fix to get out of the new door off the mud/laundry room… 😉
I had no idea, so I’m glad you shared your (or Bob’s) experience.
Yes, it is good to know these things! Although, I am sure that Bob would have preferred learning by word of mouth rather than by experience! 😉
Excellent photos! and so glad Bob is okay!! The adventures you two are having … oh my!
LOL! I think this is one adventure that he will not want to repeat!
Ach! I did not know this! You are still teaching, Lynda! I’m always learning something new here! I am also glad to know Bob is ok. He seems to have had a lot of unfortunate accidents lately!
Only two, Lori! However they have been pretty close together.
It is the teacher in me. I just have a need to share what I learn with whoever will listen! 😉