Monday, March 9, 2009

Painting the Porch

This early morning spell is a prelude to more painting. Time and season have overtaken us and a big job we were hoping would not be necessary--painting all the gingerbread on our front porch--announced itself ready to be done. Oh, it had been maybe five years since we'd touched the paint and it was beginning to peel and chip. But somehow when you're showing a house in the dead and drear of winter, chipped paint doesn't seem to matter all that much. Now, though, the days are brighter and longer, the birds are chirping, perennials are breaking ground, and the dowdiness of our painted lady couldn't be overlooked. And since we're trying to move this home improvement project along, and since Steve is occupied on the inside, the work fell to me, the non-painter.

Don't get me wrong. I'm overjoyed to be contributing to the sweat equity, and the look of the newly colorful pieces of wood is delightful. But the work requires me to assume positions I didn't know I could, using balancing and stooping muscles I forgot I had. I'm sore today. But the show must go on.

Essentially, this Gets broken down to this And I do this Note the gloves on the hands and the paint on the feet. The gloves were an idea I got after my first few hours, when my hands and fingers took on the look of an artist's palette. My feet got a few more spots on them and my knees didn't completely escape attention, either. But the job is moving along and I'm proud of it.

You see I'm sitting on a bucket. It's obvious that kneeling before the long slats would be the most efficient position to be in, but my knees object to that pressure. And the slats are so long that I can't paint an entire one from just one position. So I spent much of yesterday getting up and moving from one bucket to another, constantly re-positioning the pieces of wood, stepping between and over them, using balancing and knee-lift skills this out-size corpus of mine doesn't really like, never did.

The sacrifices we make for a few thousand bucks! But the work is moving fast and soon enough it will be done, never to be repeated, at least not by Ralph or Steve. And the porch will once again be gorgeous.

12 comments:

Salmon said...

That is quite the grand southern porch!

Ralph said...

Welcome, Salmon, and thank you! It has seen some grand times, too!

Anonymous said...

Hi Ralph,

You would have to pry me off of the porch! And don't you look all cute and spiffy sitting with your work cut out for you! I say that kindly and respectfully!

Again, I love the porch and again, out comes my wish list of I would love.

And yes, painting does remind us of those muscles that seem to appear when it comes time for painting. My last paint work was at the cottage when I decided I wanted to redo it Southwestern - please don't ask. Wonderful colors went into the living room and the fireplace became sandstone - except it was a cottage that was over 100 years ago. Sometimes I get overly inspired.

Ralph said...

Linda, that paint job of yours sounds very interesting! Southwestern can be 100 years old...

You are too kind with your compliments--you could pack for a week abroad in those bags under my eyes. I was tired. Better now!

Kat said...

Ralph,
Gloves? Nope, a painter you are not, but I do appreciate the effort.

Mim said...

Oh wow, that is one beauty of a porch. And you do have a task for sure.
The warm weather this wknd helped out a lot too didn't it!
Be sure and show us the finished shot.

Ralph said...

Will show the final product, Mim! I ought to be out there while the weather is still cooperating today to prime those balustrades./

Ralph said...

Kat, actually a body suit would have been in order!

Anonymous said...

And what is that little creature perched on the porch just above and behind you in the photo?

Regards,

Linda in Chapel Hill

Ralph said...

Oh, the little garden gnome, Linda!
Sometimes he's a great conversationalist, others a good listener....

Cuidado said...

I'm a day late but busy with a project too. Hope it w3nt smoothly. I'm sure it will be beautiful. Iheneses can't believe your green grass!!!

Ralph said...

LOL! We don't have green grass yet, Cuidado, that picture of the porch was taken late last fall. But it really was warm enough on Sunday for the shorts and bare feet. I'm back in jeans a hoodie today.

All the greens and reds are done, so I'm waiting for another warm day to prime the sanded spots on the balustrades so I can paint them. Maybe tomorrow.