Next time I think I'll pay the $425.00!!

In Ypsi, probably just as everywhere and everyone else, I get a bundle of local shoppers adds in the mailbox, I think, on Tuesdays. Along with the various grocery store fliers are little cards roughly measuring 4x8 inches that advertise several local businesses, carpet cleaning, auto service specials etc.... And one guy puts out a flyer-card for his outdoor deck care/power washing service.

That's the one that caught my eye last month, because along with my weedy yard that I mentioned in my last post, my outdoor deck had really discolored and 'grayed' to a dull dingy hue... So a spring cleaning was in order. Yet, I, being always of the do-it-yourself stripe and a cheapskate to boot, balked at this guys listed prices for servicing decks. He ran a list/column of approximate deck sizes and a corresponding price affixed next to them. Although my exact deck dimensions weren't listed, I could extrapolate that servicing my deck would be around 425 dollars to clean and reseal. Ouch. Too much I thought. I'll just borrow the power washer from work, buy some deck cleaner and do it myself.

Well........ This was all fine and good, but even working in an efficient manner-- Let's just say I started this project Saturday around 1pm, and finally after 4 gallons of bleaching agent and 3 gas-ups of the power washing machine, I blasted the last stretch of decking just after 8pm. Yikes. My back was sore, my shoulder and neck developed a "kink" from holding the spray wand "just so" and........ In another 3 or 4 years when I do this again, and I'm feeling not so cheap, I'll painfully crack open my wallet and give that deck cleaning dude a call.... Of course, this year I still have a couple of hours spraying waterproofer atop everything I've cleaned (sigh).

Gardening...

After last year's crazy and hectic pace of work and marriage stuff, it seemed as though I didn't have any time to spare for work around the house. The thing that suffered the most from neglect were my gardens, which to my shame, resembled nothing more than weed patches with a smattering of color for the majority of last summer-- I didn't even set up my outdoor furniture or plant my flower boxes last year, so basically, I sum up my efforts last year as: Sad.

This year will be different-- I perceive that there will be more time for yard work and such, if for no other reason than I've no nuptial planning this year as well as the fact my company's work load seems to be following Michigan's statewide slide into the economic doldrums, at least to start... So if I do in fact, have more free time for myself this season, if you drive by my south side homestead this June, I hope to provide you with a tasteful display of color and foliage as you motor by. Now excuse me... I've a nice load of manure to unload this fine day!