SHARON

Whoever said elderly people shouldn't do strenuous work never met Carl and Ida Marcus of Sharon.

Marcus of 658 Thornton Ave., Sharon, is 82. Mrs. Marcus is 80. Recently Marcus decided their white two-story home with black trim needed a new paint job and Mrs. Marcus couldn't agree more. But instead of hiring someone else to do the deed, they decided to do it themselves.

"We're very active and we don't like to sit around," Mrs. Marcus said.

She said Marcus, who is retired, "wanted something to do" and decided to "tackle" the much-needed paint job.

Besides that, she said "it's very expensive to hire someone to do" something that they could do themselves.

Not that it's an easy job. Mrs. Marcus said she and her husband are slowly completing the process and careful not to overexert themselves. They only paint in the early mornings to beat the summer heat.

"By the end of the summer we should be done. We do a little each day if it's not too hot," she said.

So far, the Marcuses have completed the front of the house and half of one of the sides. Mrs. Marcus said they have two more sections to paint in the back and opposite side of the house. Then they'll be done.

Marcus paints the white clapboards while Mrs. Marcus slathers blue paint over the black trim around the windows and doors. Both take turns climbing an aluminum ladder to reach the upper portion of the home.

Mrs. Marcus said she doesn't mind doing the painting.

"I cannot sit, I have to keep moving," Mrs. Marcus said. "I feel better when I do."