REPEAT!

A large limb fell on my clothesline last week and the tightener burst apart! Thank goodness the line itself didn't fall off from the pulley on the tree. If you have followed my stories, you will know that replacing the clothesline and the tightener is a major work for us; that is because the pulley is so high in the tree and we don't climb ladders anymore. We had to hang on to both ends so the rope doesn't come off of the pulley when replacing the tightener. The rope we use is window sash rope and it is very thick and strong but it gives us a hard time going into the tightener that has 3 ball bearings that separate to make an opening for the rope when the tube is pulled outward. 

Just go to a *previous story of only 6 months ago! Today we only had to replace the tightener but it still took all morning. Now I have to replace the broken spreaders. They are costly!

How lucky I am that my laundry can be hung out to dry and come in smelling like fresh air and sunshine!

*Link:  Clothesline Woes

Snafued By a Varmit

DANG! It was only 2 years old and now we have to replace it again. Major operation for old people. Necessary. Perhaps we'll wait until next spring.

This morning when I was enjoying the sun and my coffee, my excellent peripheral vision picked up a movement on the tree outdoors. AS I TURNED MY HEAD, I SAW IT HAPPEN! There was a little red squirrel on the tree pulley and the rope sprang away into the air just like a whiplash!

 Of course he disappeared immediately. They are fast little critters. I took pictures(above) of the results of his winter preparations that are a big deal for us to repair. He lost his bundle of bedding on the lawn. See below how important the clothesline is for us.

The good part is that it didn't chew through the power lines! They do tons of damage and we hope a natural predator such as an owl or hawk will soon disperse with this culprit! (Don't forget to click on an image to view the first three photos larger - the rest don't matter, they are examples of the importance of our clothesline.)

2014 Clothesline Story.

Springtime Changes

James is changing seasonal attire today. For eight months he has worn his wool hat with the red pom pom and his warm patch scarf. Today it is frogs and dragonflies. This is all because we had to put up a new clothesline. Well I couldn't put his winter clothes back in the drawer dirty, could I?

Click on image to view larger.

This winter took its final toll on my line and there was a really fragile section. It was definitely threatening to break. Have you ever changed a 50 foot long rope clothesline that is high up in a tree? With a pulley at both ends? One that is as old as the cabin? It is a major one man and one woman job. It's a bit tricky to keep tension on the rope while threading it through the parts in a way so it doesn't come off of the pulley at the tree. Have you ever had to buy a 200 foot long quality line when you only needed 105 feet? Ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Today was the day. It is sunny and fairly warm. It is time to do Spring things. The bed covers all need to be laundered and hung out and, for one minute, do you think I would chance the line breaking?  Mission accomplished. Done ! Everybody is happy.