More of an observation, or series of rhetorical questions. But is there any worse task than cleaning gutters? I used to think so, but after doing it for the first time I'm wondering. Standing on a ladder with a high-pressure hose in your hand, manually removing compacted Douglas-fir needles with your sopping wet-gloved hand. Just waiting to jam your fingers in that one spot where the wasps decided to over-winter. I was lucky enough to not strike wasp when pulling that muck out of there, but when I swung around the front of the house to clean them I was swarmed by wasps and wisely decided to come back another day. Maybe after the first hard frost.
I finally discovered why my drain system wasn't working, and also discovered why that big tall strong Douglas in my backyard isn't such a wonderful thing afterall. Those things shed needles like MAD.
Uggghhh, maintaining the gutters before the Seattle rains come is probably the only important thing I need to do this year.