Post by fernwood on Mar 24, 2023 22:20:27 GMT -5
On Tuesday, I was talking on the phone with a cousin I have not seen or talked with since the 1990’s. Was on my front porch, so I could have cell phone reception.
Note that my front porch is not insulated or heated. There is a secure door leading from that to my house. The screen and indoor door for the porch are not that great.
The main entrance to the basement is from the porch. 9 layers of concrete block steps, about 4’ wide with 1900 era stone and lime mortar walls.
While I was talking with my cousin I felt something on my feet. Looked down and saw a rat. I jumped.
Ended up on the concrete floor below the steps and next to the basement door.
I am really thinking that a guardian Angel carried me down the steps.
I only ended up landing on my bottom on the concrete floor below the steps. A minor scrapoe between a couple fingers, a bruise between a couple fingers on my other hand and a broken pinkie ring.
The broken ring was a wore wrap one I made, so easy to replace.
I have had time to digest what happened.
I am very lucky to still be alive. Had I hit my head, broken some bones or had internal injuries, I do not know what the outcome would have been.
I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. The trap door to my basement steps is now closed. I was leaving it open, as it is heavy and I cannot open it when my back/neck are sore.
That is my only access to basement.
Oh, I caught the rat on a sticky trap. Think it came through the screen door and then the gap between that and the interior door. Wind had caused the screen door to partially open. The interior door to porch has a gap in it that the rat could have gotten through.
As soon as I feel better I will be attaching weatherstripping to the interior porch door. I did not want to do that because the door is a 1920’s door with lots of character. I guess ruining a 100 year old door to prevent rodents in my porch is more important than keeping a valuable door original.
I am just thankful to be alive and not injured worse.
Note that my front porch is not insulated or heated. There is a secure door leading from that to my house. The screen and indoor door for the porch are not that great.
The main entrance to the basement is from the porch. 9 layers of concrete block steps, about 4’ wide with 1900 era stone and lime mortar walls.
While I was talking with my cousin I felt something on my feet. Looked down and saw a rat. I jumped.
Ended up on the concrete floor below the steps and next to the basement door.
I am really thinking that a guardian Angel carried me down the steps.
I only ended up landing on my bottom on the concrete floor below the steps. A minor scrapoe between a couple fingers, a bruise between a couple fingers on my other hand and a broken pinkie ring.
The broken ring was a wore wrap one I made, so easy to replace.
I have had time to digest what happened.
I am very lucky to still be alive. Had I hit my head, broken some bones or had internal injuries, I do not know what the outcome would have been.
I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. The trap door to my basement steps is now closed. I was leaving it open, as it is heavy and I cannot open it when my back/neck are sore.
That is my only access to basement.
Oh, I caught the rat on a sticky trap. Think it came through the screen door and then the gap between that and the interior door. Wind had caused the screen door to partially open. The interior door to porch has a gap in it that the rat could have gotten through.
As soon as I feel better I will be attaching weatherstripping to the interior porch door. I did not want to do that because the door is a 1920’s door with lots of character. I guess ruining a 100 year old door to prevent rodents in my porch is more important than keeping a valuable door original.
I am just thankful to be alive and not injured worse.