If You Have to Spill Paint...

...spill it on old dirty concrete. Last fall, I knocked over a can of latex paint on the patio near the back door. The lid wasn't on tight, so it spilled all over the concrete. I did nothing to clean it up then, deciding to wait until it dried so I wouldn't end up smearing it all over. Today, I started peeling. Most of it came right up! I'll still have a little work to do to get it 100% up, but it's a start. (My next step is to use a hair dryer to soften the remains up a bit.)

"It's a start" is my motto right now. Faced with an absolutely gorgeous pre-spring day today, I went out to continue my efforts to clean up the patio. The first thing that I did was go out to buy an outside broom. (The last one gave up the ghost last fall.) Thereafter, I just worked on one little spot at a time. I cleaned out the flower pots, swept up the leaves/trash, discarded stuff that had been ruined by two years of exposure to weather, and got rid of junk that had outlived its usefulness. I tried to take off the patio storm door which is probably a house "original" and will be replaced this season, but that will have to take stronger hands than mine. Strangers would probably be appalled at how messy the patio still is, but **I** can see a big difference today. It's a start.

I should/could be working on the INSIDE of the house or getting ready for the California trip, but I had to take advantage of the dry, sunny day to feel better about my previous source of relaxation...the patio. It's supposed to rain for the next few days, in spite of warmer temps, so I probably won't get to work out there again for awhile. I'm getting an earlier start than usual because there is so much more to do than usual! All tolled, I think the patio is one-fourth cleaned up. I will keep working as weather (and garbage pick-up) permits.

The plan for tomorrow is to shop for things for ME for the trip. I got the bills paid last night, finally. There is always too much month left at the end of the money, but I have been spending more this month than normal. I hope God gives me enough time to FINALLY organize my household and enjoy what's left of life in a good way. Pleeeeeeasse??