Text Box: Owl HouseText Box: It’s a love hate relationship really. I love them, because they are so cool, illusive and amazing. I hate them because they fancy the fish in my koi pond. But, this year I decided to try and put up an owl house. I had found plans on line, and went down to our friends house to have her man cut the boards for me. And, I did intend for it to be a wholesome family experience...but somehow, when he brought out the nail gun and said “Do you just want me to put it together for you…” Well, it was the nail gun. I have to admit it, I have a soft spot for a man with a nail gun. So, in a total of 15 minutes, he’d cut it out, and put together the owl house which, in all reality would probably still be laying as a pile of lumber on my garage floor. Text Box: And, in reality, it did sit in my garage for a week. BUT it was really cold, and even though we are cutting the time line close, it was too cold (in my opinion) for owls to be house shopping. It just was. So, we had a beautiful day yesterday and I called Sandy and said “It’s time.” So, she came down promptly at 930 and we set to work. Text Box: We planned and we measured, and we thought about it a lot. The ladder was only 16 ft, and the house had to be a minimum of 15 ft off the ground, but I am 5’ 6” so seemed like it should work. We chose a tree and planned to make two boards like a little shelf—it was a good plan... Text Box: We measured and cut and screwed and nailed, and climbed...did I mention I have never climbed a ladder and I am afraid of heights. But, we worked...for three solid hours, and Sandy checked—she was the measure checker– Text Box: And we worked hard, for three solid hours...up and down the ladder, working out our plan along the way—when we decided we’d use L brackets to mount the house to the mostly level boards—but, since my man is tool challenged...well, Sandy had to run home and look thru her man’s stuff—and that was when it happened. Text Box: She came back...and didn’t even bring the L brackets...but, she brought reinforcement. And that is how my new owl house was hung with a 26 ft ladder, in a completely new location, 18 feet in an oak tree, completely visible from my house, but far enough away not to be disturbed... Text Box: Above, you see my view of the house from my kitchen. I can barely stop watching it. Not sure it is any indication, but there was a red shouldered hawk back there today...hmmm… To the left, you see Sandy took her measuring job very seriously—she even had to check the final height of the house in its new location! Thanks for the help guys! Me? I was the photographer. Somebody has to document these things! Text Box: HOME