Deck Done

 Well,  that was relatively painless.

I remember the trials and tribulations of the last time I stained the deck, about a year and a half ago.  (full story here: https://returntotheswamp.blogspot.com/2022/06/deck-finished.html )

Back then, at first I couldn't get the lid off the stain, I tried using the spray gun that was in the barn but it sputtered and dripped, so I finally gave up and did the whole thing with a brush (hence, a lot of bending).  According to the can, a gallon should have been enough.  According to the wood on my deck soaking it up - it wasn't.  Then Lowe's didn't have anymore of that color, which was discontinued, so I had to buy a different color and do the entire deck again.  I did it in one day - which was hot and buggy, so I was tired and sweaty and sore and bug chewed.

Hence - I was not looking forward to doing it again.  But this year?  First - I bought enough stain (duh!) The lids are different now, and possible to easily open.  I broke the job down into two parts - yesterday I painted the front steps and the railings, which was the fussy part.  Today I used a paint pad on a long handle, and did the rest of the deck in a little over an hour.

But, of course, things get added onto the things-to-do list.  I have most of a gallon of stain left over - and the two small decks at the cottage really could use it.  I'd have to pressure wash them first, then stain.  Also, even though I pressure washed the front of the house when I cleaned the deck, it's still mildew stained and I really should repaint it.

I've lost my procrastination excuse - that the hardware store is out of the way, and I'll get whatever I need if I'm ever near it.  But I've started going to a new chiropractor recently - and his office practically shares a parking lot with Home Depot.  There goes that excuse.

So as soon as the deck dries (because I can't go outside until it does - lack of back door on this house) I'll go to the barn and really hope I can find that paint sample with the color formula on it.  Which means that I'll probably end up cleaning up the paint supply area of the barn.  It's loaded with bent rusty roller holders and brushes stiff with dried paint.  And a lot of cans of likely dried paint.  Sigh.

And just to be able to put in a picture (and because I'm fascinated with it) here's my latest X-ray.  I've started seeing a new chiropractor lately, having not taken care of my back for the last few years.  I had been going to a chiropractor that was on the way to see my father - but after Dad died, it was, obviously, no longer on the way.
But I would go get cracked whenever we were running errands in town.

And there's the thing.  It would be a "we" thing.  We'd run errands, then he'd wait for me to get adjusted (which doesn't take long) and maybe go to Zaxby's next  door for a milkshake afterwards.  The one time I went after I lost Bob, I came out, somehow still expecting to see him waiting for me, and it was just too hard to handle.  Sometimes it's just easier to go somewhere else.

So here I am - not quite Richard III, but pretty funky.