Winter Chimney Cleaning

I thought I noticed a fall of ash in the chimney, so I climbed up and cleaned it, the weather being relatively mild today (about 0). I mounted the short ladder (10') on the oil tank box, setting a brace into the frame to ensure it did not back off the edge, and then dug the ice out of every rung of the roof ladder. The chimney itself was not bad--a modest amount of creosote, and when  I looked up the smoke pipe from below, it all seemed quite clean. That should hold it until Spring!