Oh man, that's a good reminder. It makes me think of my old rooster, Bert. He got a cut on his foot I didn't see for ages because of the mud. By the time I found it, it was a whole mess to clean up. I felt terrible. Now I try to do a quick check when I put them up at night, even if it's just a glance.

Tell me about it. My oven's so old I have to manually turn it off and open every window when something bubbles over. Last time I made a casserole it set off the smoke alarm so bad my neighbor came to check on me. At this point I just accept the kitchen will smell like burnt food for a day.

Oh man, that's so cool! I had a similar thing happen with a single worn-out leather shoe in a midden. You're right, it totally flips a switch. Suddenly you're not just looking at layers of dirt, you're picturing a real person who walked around and wore out their stuff. Those tiny finds make the whole place feel lived in, not just studied. It's the best feeling.

That "perfectly good leather work glove" was probably left by a plasterer or carpenter, not just forgotten.

It's funny how the most real learning often happens outside a classroom. I've seen friends become amazing carpenters or chefs after leaving school, and their hands-on knowledge is deep in a way books can't teach. People finally give them respect when they see a finished deck or taste a perfect meal. That comment from your roommate cuts to the heart of that shift.