This isn't for everyone and it was costly; but if you have a friend or family member who is offering help; this may be something you could consider.

Bruce and I had a small Cape, but it is on an acre of land. This was a farm community and after WWII, farm was subdivided into rather large lots. In my home town, subdivision post War was as little as 1/4 acre plots, but not so here in North Haven. Milford was up and growing as a city faster in its relationship to Bridgeport and New Haven, its shoreline and the proximity to New York City. North Haven is inland. We have the Housatonic River. And while close to New Haven, it is on the Interstate to Hartford, rather than along the shoreline. From North Haven to Hartford growth was slower, no major corporations until the late 70s.

Being a post war home, it lacks one foot on all levels for head room. They threw them up fast and cheap. One bathroom and one small closet. We realized in the late 80s that this was not good for resale. A new family had no room for family growth and the yard is too big for retirees to handle.

Our ultimate goal, prestroke, was to retire to upstate Vermont where Bruce grew up. He planned to teach part time and write and I am a Nurse. We agreed on five acres-with little lawn care and a house large enough to accomodate family, but small enough to manage with offices for both of us, which could be used as guest rooms. We also knew we would get more bang for the buck up north.

So in preparation for this we added on to our Cape. It took ten years, but there were no loans or debt incurred. We could not go up with the foundation being underbuilt, but we could go out. We added on four bedrooms, two baths and a one car garage with access into the house without going outside. We had just contracted to take out the living room wall to open up the original bedroom into a large living-family room with larger access to our deck when stroke hit. Since we are now back to the original house, Bruce can not do stairs, good thing we didn't do it.

So Bruce has been here 31 years Halloween. Our little property that was landscaped for sale in 1940s has grown up. You all know of our problems with Hurricane Irene. Our pear trees had died, a little fir grew up under a huge maple, our tiny Red Maple is all grown up and our beautiful Butternut, while rare now in CT, needed serious work. The CT Agricultural Experiment had DNA tested it several years back but would not care for it. I find I am cleaning out my gutters almost every two months.

At first I called friends to help. The addition is way too high for me, but the real issue is the short main house where they fill up so quickly. I got tired of waiting for help, everyone always too busy and tired of being scared that the water was running into my new windows. When we had the 30 inches of snow in that 24 hours last winter and the back gutter froze due to lack of sunlight and then the two trees going down during Hurricane Irene, I decided I was tired of being afraid.

I am totally responsible for everything here now. Bruce is supportive, but the stuff he used to take care of so regularly and without discussion is now on me. With Mary Beth's help and support, I have learned to climb a short ladder-8 feet max. I can now do this with any of the caregivers who come daily. They hold the ladder and Bruce has 911 on hold-lol. And while none of them like it, it is done when I want.

I had my new winter contractor come in and price pruning the trees. Several were taken out without fear of the house. They were dead and needed removal. He sent an Arborist for the remaining trees and Saturday was the day. It was eight straight hours of chain saws, chippers and stump grinders. The clean up alone was worth the price. Every inch of the yard was raked. There are no limbs close to the house, all power lines are cleared and every tree was "lifted". Bottom branches and dead growth cut and removed.

The yard looks huge. When we put up the side yard fence, we had it built around a huge fir that we think nests an owl family just to avoid taking it down. Neighbors closed in their side with meshing to avoid their dog roaming, which is their right. Personally I think they did it to keep Kira out as the dog is kenneled outside and doesn't roam the yard. But the tree was saved then and the Arborist did the pruning himself asking if it was OK to bring in his professor to grade it as he would like to use it as part of his current Master's program-lol. I explained the value of a Butternut to him and he did the pruning on that one as well.

So, for those people who always ask and you do not have something on your list, ask them to get up and prune your trees away from your house and clean out your gutters. If I can climb a ladder, anyone can. Just have a spotter and cell phone on their body. Yes, this just adds value to the resale of the home, but I do not want to relocate Bruce until I absolutely must. His soul is in this house and yard. He is a Yankee through and through. He understands that when I can no longer manage the New England weather, we will have to move. If I can get through a couple of winters without fear of something landing on our roof or power lines it is well worth it. Snow and ice removal are tough enough, not to mention driving.

I am also thinking that the maintanence of the yard, the stuff I do to keep my sanity and peace of mind will be easier. I so do miss not working in the yard. It was always my time out. I am not a house cleaner, but can work in my yard for hours on end. My goal is to simplify and have a manageable yard, but still have some time outside for the work I love.