Today was a monumental day. We moved ole Earl, the elk, from his lofty spot in our den. He didn't come down easily, in fact he put up quite a fight.
My husband, Ray, scampered up an extension ladder like a mountain goat to around 19 feet above the floor, while I held the shaky thing steady. Ray connected two vices to the beam above ole Earl and let down rope. He wrapped one end around a column across the room and handed me the end. He tied the other to the leg of the pool table. To make circumstances more complicated, the nail that held Earl was bent. Ray wrestled with Earl for over an hour, but ole Earl clung to the wall, staring at us like we'd lost our minds. It was obvious he wouldn't give up his spot without a fight. Who could blame him? He'd hung there for over 18 years. All that time, his noble head and gentle eyes looked down on everyone that entered the house.
But so prospective buyers wouldn't freak out over dead animals on the wall, we had to remove Earl, along with the deer heads in our home. (Fun having your home on the market.)
Ray made so many trips up the shaky extension ladder that at one point I thought blasting ole Earl with a shot gun might be the best means to loosen his hold on the wall. Before Ray freed Earl, he told me that he didn't know how much Earl weighed, so I needed to brace myself. I clung to the rope and envisioned being yanked from the floor and dangling in mid air along side Earl.
Ray pried him from the wall and Earl swung free, I was relieved to find my feet still planted firmly to the floor. But another dilemma loomed over head. Earl swayed back and forth and twirled around. His gigantic antlers lunged toward Ray on the ladder. I feared Ray would be gored by those massive antlers. But as usual Ray persevered, and wrestled Earl gently to the floor. His ingenuity never ceases to amaze me. Really wish we had taken pictures or better a video, but all hands were busy holding onto precious Earl and the rope.
It's sad to not see Earl in his rightful place, but we have no plans to put him back. We will hold a quiet vigil as we place Earl in the garage until we can find him another home. We will make a toast in his honor as we pay respect to this beautiful, noble creature that kept watch over our home for the past 18 years. So long Earl, we'll miss you.
My husband, Ray, scampered up an extension ladder like a mountain goat to around 19 feet above the floor, while I held the shaky thing steady. Ray connected two vices to the beam above ole Earl and let down rope. He wrapped one end around a column across the room and handed me the end. He tied the other to the leg of the pool table. To make circumstances more complicated, the nail that held Earl was bent. Ray wrestled with Earl for over an hour, but ole Earl clung to the wall, staring at us like we'd lost our minds. It was obvious he wouldn't give up his spot without a fight. Who could blame him? He'd hung there for over 18 years. All that time, his noble head and gentle eyes looked down on everyone that entered the house.
But so prospective buyers wouldn't freak out over dead animals on the wall, we had to remove Earl, along with the deer heads in our home. (Fun having your home on the market.)
Ray made so many trips up the shaky extension ladder that at one point I thought blasting ole Earl with a shot gun might be the best means to loosen his hold on the wall. Before Ray freed Earl, he told me that he didn't know how much Earl weighed, so I needed to brace myself. I clung to the rope and envisioned being yanked from the floor and dangling in mid air along side Earl.
Ray pried him from the wall and Earl swung free, I was relieved to find my feet still planted firmly to the floor. But another dilemma loomed over head. Earl swayed back and forth and twirled around. His gigantic antlers lunged toward Ray on the ladder. I feared Ray would be gored by those massive antlers. But as usual Ray persevered, and wrestled Earl gently to the floor. His ingenuity never ceases to amaze me. Really wish we had taken pictures or better a video, but all hands were busy holding onto precious Earl and the rope.
It's sad to not see Earl in his rightful place, but we have no plans to put him back. We will hold a quiet vigil as we place Earl in the garage until we can find him another home. We will make a toast in his honor as we pay respect to this beautiful, noble creature that kept watch over our home for the past 18 years. So long Earl, we'll miss you.
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