So almost exactly one month ago today I began an arduous journey of self-discovery or, you know, a home improvement project in the form of painting our backhouse. Today, I am happy to announce that I am finished.
Well, technically I’m not completely finished because I still need to paint the trim and the door, but I’m finished enough to declare some sort of victory on what has become my nemesis. I can’t tell you all the things I’ve sacrificed over the last month to get this done. Let’s just say there have been a lot of naps that have gone untaken in the last thirty days. SACRIFICE.
About two weeks ago, I completely lost the will to finish. Then P made the comment that since I’d let the primer sit unpainted for almost two weeks I’d have to re-prime the whole thing. And I had to ask him why he wanted to send us into marriage counseling over the backhouse.
After extensive research (meaning I asked one person who gave me the answer I was looking for), I made the executive decision that there was no need to re-prime anything. My thought is we can just keep a can of paint nearby and touch up anything that starts to peel. That’s a much more cost-effective solution than this whole re-priming nonsense because there is no way we’d be able to afford all the therapy and medication I’d need to see me through that whole process.
Last week P threatened to let Shorty (he works for us and is a whole post unto himself) finish the job. There was no way I was going to let Shorty steal my painting glory after I’d already done most of the hard work, so with fresh determination I spent a good part of the weekend and all day yesterday finishing the whole thing.
I learned a lot about myself along the way and I can guarantee I’ll never be the same. I mean, look at this.
That’s my hand. And the other one looks worse. I’m not even sure a manicure can help me at this point.
My hands will never be the same.
Neither will our landscaping.
According to P, that paint is never coming off those leaves. According to me, that’s what pruning shears are for.
Here are a few other things that will never be the same.
My kitchen step stool.
My black Gap sweatpants that saw me through my entire pregnancy with Caroline.
The assorted paintbrushes that P bought for me when I announced my intentions to paint. Who says romance is dead?
My Diamond Darling Christmas Formal ’92 sweatshirt. It was probably time to let it go.
My knock-off Ugg house shoes. That’s right. I painted in my house shoes for that extra classy touch.
And, finally, Scout.
He stayed under my feet the entire time because he is my loyal companion. Everyone else abandoned me, which maybe didn’t have as much to do with avoiding helping me as it did the fact that I was wearing maternity sweatpants, a seventeen-year-old Christmas formal sweatshirt, and house shoes, but Scout stayed by my side the whole time.
Unfortunately, he never got the concept of wet paint and kept falling asleep right up against the house.
He and I now know the wisdom contained in the immortal words of Kermit the Frog.
It’s not easy being green.
But when will we get to see the backhouse itself?????
Glad you got it done! How does your accomplishment make you feel? Good? Elated? Really, we’re laughing *with* you.
I SO wish I could have seen you in that outfit.
I was holding it together until I saw poor Scout. I wonder how long it will take for the paint to come out of his fur. I guess that was a small price to pay for him giving you moral support.
That is great! Good for you in achieving your goal.
Love that last pics most of all. I was painting in our backyard once and our chicken got all painted.
I had my four-year-old looking over my shoulder when I was reading (more accurately perched in my personal space right beside me on the chair).
He liked the pictures:
“Is that a step stool?” (it’s just like ours/his)
“Is somebody wearing slippers?”
“Oh, what a cute doggie.”
First congrats on the painting, if I had pom-poms i would do a cheer for ya…
Your post had me laughing and Scout epitomizes the word loyal!!
Hooray! Can we see a final photo of your accomplishment???
This was a GREAT post…I loved it! I want to see! I want to see!! You are too funny…It’s not easy being green!! Laughed out loud!
This was awesome, especially Scout covered with paint. Too funny, I think we’d all like to see pics of the whole completed back house. And how about posting about Shorty, I think that would be interesting…….
Praying for your marriage!
And I want to see the backhouse.
And I also want to know what a backhouse is.
I commend your perseverance…and apparently the perseverance of your dog, too, and the paint to stick with him!!!
Show pics, please because we all want a newly painted backhouse, too!
Oh that is so funny. Way to go Big Mama for sticking with it. And way to go Scout for being best supporting dog.
Oh my…I was reading a long just fine and then saw the picture of the dog. I snorted out loud. And woke up my kids…cause I hear little feet pitter pattering upstairs. Whoops.
Oh well, they should probably be getting up for school anyway.
First, your shoes look REMARKABLY clean. Seriously.
Second, I primed my master bathroom in 1994 and still haven’t painted it. I said NINETEEN NINETY FOUR. I am not good with the math, but I’m pretty sure that’s a long time ago. More than two weeks at any rate. So P would say I have to re-prime, eh? Such a buzz kill.
And third….don’t you have FUR all over the walls now???
congratulations! i have never had to paint a house–just some rooms–but i can imagine what an arduous task it was. also, i can’t tell if this is worse for you or my husband, my 3-yr-old wanted to know if your hand was her daddy’s!
I’m just so jealous that you could be outside painting anything in February. LOL You’ll have to post pics of the finished product now. I bet it looks great.
Tell P that green paint on green plants equals camoflauge and you can’t see that anyway.
http://www.lazymoms.com
Scout is such a good dog! Tell him he looks good in green. Congrats on finishing your project.
Can we see the final product?
Hip Hip Hooray to you! You finished it, you may have lost a few soldiers, but the battle was won!
)
haha!!! too funny. Glad you are about finished with it, now you can move on with the rest of your life
) Have a GREAT day!!!
Well, I spit coffee all over my screen when I saw poor Scout! Aren’t loyal dogs the best?!
I am so happy for you!! I am glad that you finished your project! I recently painted our living room and used my FAV pair of velour pants to pant in… they are now ruined. Boo Hoo!!
That Scout! What a great dog! A great, GREEN dog, but a great dog none the less!!
THAT is the funniest thing I’ve ever seen! Your dog and your pants are HILARIOUS! Talk about ghetto MArtha Stewart!
Scout looks relieved. I’m sure he’s not nearly as relieved as you are. I hate to paint, so Kudos to you!!
The fact that Scout was at your feet the whole time and is now GREEN made me laugh out loud!! Pippin is CONSTANTLY at my feet! I’ll be doing dishes and trip over him because he’ll camp out beneath me. I’ll be watching tv and get up out of the chair and just about step on him because he’s camped out just under my feet! Too funny! I have to put him in his kennel when I fold laundry, because he’ll knock the laundry out of the way to get right up against me! It’s unreal!
Is it wrong that I was more upset over the black Gap sweatpants being ruined than the fact that your dog is GREEN? I literally gasped out loud. I mean, I know the value in finding a perfectly wonderful pair of sweatpants and now yours are just ruined. I’ll be praying that you find a replacement that will make you just as happy for years to come.
ROFTL! I was snickering the entire way down until I reached the part about Scout. Then, I laughed so hard. Is he part Australian Shepherd? I have two Aussies and they are nicknamed “Velcro Dogs”. They would be right there with me if I was painting like you. If Scout sheds as much as my dogs do, he’ll lose the paint in no time.
When I saw your pants my first thought was, “Did she rolled herself against the wall?”
I paint in Keds with the laces pulled out. I love my clogs too much to paint in them.
You should dedicate a small area in the back where you can put all of these things to rest. (NOT Scout, of course.)
OK don’t feel bad about the outfit, my daily outfit consists of Mike’s old shirts my hot pink reindeer PJ pants and day old hair thrown up in a crazy looking clip. And yes I have gone out in this to check the mail and even to the post office to send something off. My sister tells me I have let myself go but I just tell her she is jealous of my “new” style. Your dog is cute by the way. Have a awesome day!!!
~Molly P
so sad! i am glad that you were “styling” to paint, i style in a similar way when i paint. so much, that i get stares when i have to run to lowes to pick up extra accessories that never show the need to be had until you’ve already started!
and poor scout…………i have painted my labs before (not intentionally – but they too are my shadow) and it did take a while for the paint to fade. guess they wanted to “style” too!
I’ve been dying for a backhouse update but didn’t want to nag…
You and I paint the same, my dear.
We’d be good friends.
That’s my little step ladder – I swear. Mine may have more dirt on the legs from it sinking into the ground when I was trying to hang the Christmas wreaths.
I think you look pretty normal for after-painting. People who paint and stay clean are not human. I do admire you for jumping back into the ring and finishing the job.
Are you sure that’s not Shorty’s hand?
I bet that one felt good to mark off the ol’ to do list.
I call them my ‘horrible clothes’ and I use them for painting, or washing away gray in my hair
And my houseshoes are red, or at least they were. The dogs – they get locked up because if they were to run through a pan of paint, we’d be having dog meatloaf. Good for you for finishing. I keep saying when I do I’m going to go have the manicure of all manicures, but I never seem to pull off actually being done.
Too funny. We painted our daughter’s room lime green and my step stool looked about that bad when we finished. I was pretty crushed about it.. but I used this stuff called Goof Off 2 and it took all the paint off! Yay!
All those pics and not one of the backhouse.
I loved the picture of Scout. What a trooper to hang with you and sooooo close.
This is hilarious but I’m so glad to find a kindred soul when it comes to painting… which is probably why my dh leaves the home when pain comes in! Lol.
Great job for finishing! I think I would have let Shorty do it…We have a Shorty who works for us, too (in fact, we used to have two Shorties), and he has definitely done some painting in his time!
I’ve awarded you over at my blog =)
You are too funny. I think your painting outfit should appear in next Friday’s fashion post. Seriously.
Yay! Congratulations!! And you are just so funny!
I agree that those clothes should show up in next Friday’s fashion post. Hmmm, maybe a “What Not to Wear” of sorts.
Getting that done is a HUGE accomplishment! You deserve chocolate and Mexican food!
so fun that you were a Diamond Darling…so was my roomie my freshman year!! As was her sister, Amy!
Can’t beat Aggie baseball!!
Poor Scout!!
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Way to go! You did pay a high price by surrendering your sweat pants and Christmas formal sweatshirt. I would have embraced Shorty, but you are a stronger woman than me!
Reminds me of my dog after a great paper mache incident…
I seriously do not know ANYONE who has a clean looking kitchen step stool. Mine has paint on it and I’m not sure it’s even been around paint. It’s just a must-have. Really, count yourself lucky. You’re like in an inner circle now. That’s right.
Bless Scout! That was too funny!
Good job, Diamond Darling (I can’t even type that without giggling)!
i read your blog faithfully. i’ve never commented before, but after the green dog- I just have to say THANK YOU for painting your backhouse and for sharing it with me. The laughs from this post made my day!!
My stepstool looks strikingly similar with the same shade of green and splatterings of tan.
I hear ya girl! I somehow manage to paint everything in sight when I’m doing this type of project as well!
You deserve a dozen manicures!
Yah, I’ve got Havana Cream stained slippers, Cotillion stained college sweats, and Sage stained red fleece pull over. I feel your pain. BUT I bet the backhouse looks awesome. I bet it is easy for the backhouse to be green.
Between you and BooMama Tuesday after lunch is rockin!
I am sure that it looks great! I ruined my most favorite pair of sweatpants from high school basketball painting! That was 10 years ago, I still wear them to this day, they are the most comfortable things, and sometimes in public, but only like Lowes! Not very attractive to fit in with other men and their attire.
Oh mercy me, you don’t even have to post a photo of you all done up because the clothes give us enough of a visual to keep me chuckling.
And I still have my hole-y dorm sweatshirt from 1991 that I wouldn’t give up for anything, so I actually admire the sacrifice of the Christmas formal sweatshirt.
The dog, however, I’d keep.
I cannot believe you even got paint on the DOG! That is so sad- you absolutely stink at painting. I mean seriously. If you were a painter for a living no one would hire you. LOL. I was married to one for 10 years, so I know these things.
HA HA HA I love your blog, so much. You always make everything so hilarious. : D
As the old saying goes, “You deserve a BREAK today…”.
I know you are glad to have this BIG chore behind you.
Blessings always,
Kaye
Matthew 21:22
Wow! So reading your entry today was like reading about myself. . .except without the green paint, and backhouse for that matter! But, I too have painted kitchen step stool, sweat pants (mine are Old Navy), plants, and loyal companion. (Except that my loyal – and very smart (?)- companion ate the paint!
Thanks for sharing your life with us!!
Oh, your poor dog!
I just hope you didn’t get paint on the camera with your other hand while snapping that shot!
You should have attached a paint brush to tthe dog’s tail and he could have helped you with the bottom couple of feet of the backhouse. Just a thought…. I know, too little too late.
Oh my heavens, I’m about to PEE I’m laughing so hard!! I was doing well until the dog … ROFL ROFL ROFL!!
Glad you got it done!
Mercy.
House shoes. Now there’s a Southernism. In Seattle, we call those slippers.
WTG in finishing the back house. I too want to know what that is.
I’m so stinking proud of you! You finished painting the backhouse! Way to go!
The paint will wear off the plants. The step-stool will be your trophy. The dog needs a visit to the pet spa. And your hands need the day spa.
All of that and no picture of the backhouse???? Don’t leave us hangin’
Whoo-Hoo! Good for you, Big Mama! What an accomplishment. And…as always, left me laughing.
My favorite is the sweatshirt and the shoes. Don’t know why….Just thinking of you still having a sweatshirt from 1992 makes me so happy. I don’t have one thing from the good ole days.
Horray for you for finishing that job!I am so proud!I am actually wearing a pair of track pants that have their fair share of paint on them.I am contemplating wether or not to wear them to the grocery store.I think I will give it a go.
Just hearing the phrase ” Diamond Darlings” yanks me right back to Aggieland! Got a bathroom that still has painters tape from last spring break. Proud of you for finishing! Cooking up some elk backstrap tonight (chicken fried). Upon remembering your elk experience I tenderized the mess out of that meat. We shall see!
Glad the job is done! And thanks for the laugh – I love the green dog
.
You make me giggle (a lot- well, cackle ,more like it) to myself, alone.. with no-one else around. I am sure that’s the first sign of madness?
I loved this post…..I could have written it (if I had any writing talent) I painted my husbands bathroom in almost the same identical outfit…sooooo.it must be the “official” artists atire. Unfortunately no dog in my story….
For the rest of your life you will be able to say the immortal words, “Remember the winter I painted the backhouse?”
You rock girlfriend! Now here is a handy phrase in espanol – “nunca mas.” For you gringos that is “Never Again”
I’m sitting here laughing at the classy picture I in my head of you painting in your Ugg slippers and dripping paint on the dog. Oh my gosh, you are hysterical.
I don’t comment on very many of your posts, because well, you get plenty of comments. But I’m just absolutely cracking up over this!
The dog!
And my paintbrushes always look like yours did when I finish painting. My husband nearly convulses when he sees I’m letting the paint go more than halfway up the bristles…which is why he is so romantic to buy me my own brushes before I begin. But he buys me cheap ones since he knows I’ll ruin them.
How about sharing a pic of the entire finished backhouse!?
Awesome post!
congrats on (almost) finishing!! i will join the rest of the commenters in adding pressuer on you to post a pic of the finished backhouse. but also – forgive me – what IS a backhouse? it is a texas thang? a shed? a garage? do tell.
YAY Melanie!!! I am SO proud of you!!
If it makes you feel any better, I totally paint like you do–the cat, the children, etc…
And your arms? Are you on the way to Nicole C Mullen greatness??
I BURST out laughing when I got to the photo of Scout. I mean, the Geezer Laugh, as my daughter calls it, where you can only wheeze. Thank you!
How about a photo of the backhouse?
Just this morning I admitted to a friend that I read this blog about a woman just like me. Meaning you. Except you finish the projects that you start!! You are a great inspiration and a blessing! I love your writing and recommendations!
I am so proud for you. You go girl! I have to admit, I was on the hire the painter side. Now to just get the trim done, that’s the fun part anyway and the garage door, no problem.
Great pictures. The step stool, mine has yellow paint on it, it can really hurt to lose a good pair of sweats and how sweet, your honey got you paint brushes, really is romantic, I literally gasped at the shoes but when I saw Scout, priceless.
Sweet.
I have taht same step stool, I thought mine was one of a kind! My husband took it to help friends paint one time and brought it home looking like that.
Congratulations on finishing!
You inspire me, I am not sure to do what yet, but I am inspired!
Diamond Darlings, ehhhh? I was a Disch Falk Diamond at UT.
I think the picture of Scout is hilarious! Too cute…