Had drama, clutter and confusion resided here, there's NO WAY i'd of been able to put that snow-rake together.

In this minimalist back room of this little house, i laid the five-foot box on the desk.  Carefully opened it, so as not to tear - in the case that any of the parts had not been packed.  Then sat and studied the instructions written on the inside flap.  Whenever they say "easy," i say, "oh brother."  Well, an hour or so later, had it properly assembled - the second and third pole, did that outside.  Btw, before going outside, took some (not alot of) olive-oil and a rag, and gave the rake and brackets a massage - that way, the snow won't stick. It's a 16-footer, enough to rake off the side somewhat flattish side-roofs of this little two-story.  

Then pretended there was snow to see what raking snow would be like.  It's now laying beside some boards in the lotsa-whitespace :) pole barn.  If the snow-fall is under eight inches, won't even bother.  Most snow-storms around here are like that.  Most - but every few years, we get hammered.  And since shimmying out the upstairs window isn't happening anymore - close call last year - needed to make a new plan.