This is how I view working on Sundays.
I do enjoy baking cookies. So although baking is part of my work, it also is something that brings me joy. So I do bake cookies or pies or make dinner on Sundays.
I don't particularly enjoy painting the deck railing. So in this project I have never spent a Sunday afternoon painting.
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| the completely finished part of the deck railing |
I do, however, enjoy looking at a finished painting project or a partially finished one.
I'm a bit behind where I thought I'd be in this project. I "lost" 3 days to painting this last week. Last Wednesday it rained. (I was secretly gleeful over not being able to paint that day.) Sunday I didn't paint. And then Monday (yesterday) I was too busy to paint.
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| The next section needs top coats on 4x4 posts, and their finials need sanding and painting. The section beyond that needs paint on all 4x4s, top coats on balusters in between 4x4s, and finials sanded and painted. |
But I'm making slow but steady progress. Fortunately, we have about a week until the next rain is in the forecast. I'll be working as hard as I can these next few days. I hope to get everything done that is on the deck level and not worry about the stairs this year.
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| The far, far end hasn't been touched, neither have either of the railings down the stairs. |
I still haven't done a major grocery shopping. This will be 4 weeks without a stock-up shop. I've made a couple of runs to the neighborhood Walmart for milk, cheese, coffee, and bananas, and one quick run to Grocery Outlet for sausage and bacon for yesterday. But no other grocery shopping. I'm surprised we've made it this far. I will have to work a WinCo run in later this week. We need a few items that I only buy at WinCo (freshly ground peanut butter and bulk bin items).
If I found painting deck railings to be a source of joy, I might be further along in this project. As it is, having a break day and doing more enriching things gives me a peace that's more valuable than finishing the painting.
I think that's a good rule. It's so easy to get caught up in all the work that needs to be done, and forget to rest. BTW, the railing looks great. What inspired you to go from white to black?
ReplyDeleteHi Live and Learn,
DeleteThank you. The white to black and gray is mostly a practicality thing. In our very wet (10 mos of year) climate, here, we get a lot of moss/mold/mildew combined with splashed back grime on everything outside. The white paint showed all of this dirtiness and it looked unkempt. In addition, all of the rain caused paint to crack and peel a lot, and it showed more with white paint than with darker colors. The color scheme is gray on everything horizontal and black on everything vertical. The gray is opaque stain and the black is paint. Stain has less upkeep in my area than paint. But stain required us to sand off the previous paint to the wood to apply. The horizontal surfaces cracked and peeled more than the vertical, so stain was a better option for the horizontal. There was considerably less cracking and peeling on the vertical surfaces, so we figured they'd continue to do well with paint, which meant I didn't have to sand off all of the paint on balusters and posts. For the colors, the stain's black was slightly off from the paint's black, so we went with something contrasting between railing and balusters, and the gray matches the deck flooring. Besides practicality, darker colors for exterior surfaces are trending in my area right now. Perhaps everyone else has figured out that dark color schemes hide the yuck and grime that comes with living in the PNW.
Very long explanation, sorry.
None of my business but couldn't the rest of the family help you to do this?
ReplyDeleteHi Cheryl,
DeleteThat's a fair question as I perhaps don't share all of the details of everyone's lives on my blog. The three of them all work. My husband works full time at one job and part time at another. One daughter works at 3 jobs, while the other works at 2. Everyone is busy. But they have helped me. My husband and one daughter have washed balusters and railings for me. And the other daughter has had time to help with painting the last 2 days. She had a portrait she had to finish to get to the client, and was working doggedly on that for weeks when she wasn't working at either of her other jobs. She's the artist and has the ability to paint neatly. She and I can both paint using minimal painter's tape and still manage very clean lines. (The other two family members don't have the same abilities.) But her own work has kept her very busy this summer.
Finally, the upkeep of the home is largely my responsibility as the homemaker. I do this end of things so the rest of my family can focus on their work for pay. I do what I can to save money for our household. For now, that's my financial contribution. Although I have ads on this blog, it earns very, very little, enough to buy 1 coffee for myself and 1 for my husband each month. So, my dollars and cents financial contribution is minuscule compared to the others.
I hope that answers your question and gives more insight to the financial arrangements in my household. I'm happy to answer questions. :)
I didn't realize how much the 3 of them worked. There would be no sleeping if they helped.
DeleteHi Lili, your deck is so beautiful. A luscious green view too. We're done with painting and other home projects for the foreseeable future. Our daughter and her ex husband moved in. It's a bit crowded and know our home would not be Lili approved :)
ReplyDeleteHi friend,
DeleteThank you! The green view -- we do have a lot of shrubs and trees, here. When our son was in 4th grade, we were doing a project on our state (Washington). One of the books we referred to stated about Washington, "trees grow well." When we've traveled, I find myself astounded by how green my area is upon return.
Your home might feel a bit crowded right now, but that's only because it's bursting at the seams with love, with your daughter and your former son-in-law moving back in. Enjoy all of this family coziness while you can!
Have a nice evening,
DeleteLaura
Sorry, I forgot to sign off.
DeleteHi Laura,
DeleteIt's good to hear from you. Have a nice evening, yourself!
I'm a huge fan of Sunday afternoon naps, so I heartily approve of your plan. We all need breaks from time to time.
ReplyDeleteOur home improvement news here is that the grass covering our new septic tanks is coming up! It's straggly looking now, but hopefully it will fill in.
Hi Kris,
DeleteI've wondered if your grass was in yet. I'm so glad you can see it coming up. It will fill in, and all will be back to normal in your yard very soon..
I think that is a good way to view things done on Sundays.
ReplyDeleteI know this painting has been long for you, but what you have done looks very attractive. So cheering you on!
Thank you, Lynn!
DeleteToday I felt like I turned a corner in progress. I finished up another section and got the finials sanded and first coat of paint on. I like how this is looking. The dark color sort of blends in with the background shrubbery, instead of standing out.