Two weeks ago, before the heat wave struck, my husband devoted several days of washing down and soap-scrubbing algae from the vinyl siding of the shade-side of the house. We had noticed what looked like dark mould on the siding of some houses in the neighbourhood, most particularly on one of the houses that adjoins the ravine and thought that if it was mould it could eventually end up insidiously invading the house interior. In any event, it appeared very unsightly.

Over the years our house siding retained the pristine ivory appearance of its original appearance, but in the last several years we have noticed the creeping presence of faintly light green on the siding. Hardly noticeable, but my husband felt that if it was ignored it would simply grow and soon enough resemble the dark mouldy look of other houses nearby. So he set about putting up those tall ladders of his, extending the backyard garden hose, preparing large pails of soapy water and a long-handled car brush and went to the task of removing it all.

And then, as soon as he had completed that task, the heat wave moved in. Little sense in planning any kind of labour-intensive work to be done in the outdoors. Although he did tackle the never-ending task of cutting back bushes and trees to manageable and attractive proportions, along with a more general clean-up of the gardens. The large pine tree at the front of the house continues to drop its needles on a continuous basis. It always has, but the process appeared to accelerate as it reached higher toward the sky.

And then, several days ago, a ferocious thunderstorm helped to bring in cooler temperatures. Cool enough to require a light sweater when we go out into the ravine where the forested atmosphere is always cooler than out on the street. With the cooler weather came the irresistible (to him) urge to finally complete an exterior paint job he had never quite completed. And so, he set about scraping down the paint on the woodwork surrounding the windows at the front of the house.

Today, he's applying the base coat of paint, since he's anxious, after all, to complete the job that has been nagging him for so long. There's warmer weather on the horizon, come Saturday and Sunday. But it will likely be the weekend when he paints the finishing coat. Which will mean he will have completed yet another task associated with the pride and responsibility of home ownership. Just incidentally, our younger son in Vancouver is busy doing the very same thing with his house.