but first, let me paint a table

For my first project back in this game the plan was to do something easy, something attainable, something quick. So for my first order of business I settled on spray painting a bistro table for our backyard. It seemed like the logical first step in a yard that desperately needs mowing, massive weeding, garden beds, a new fence, a deck, a walkway that isn't broken or overgrown with grass. Because who would notice all those minor details when they have a bitchin' cute table to look at?

But here's the thing, you can't spray paint around a baby. And as my days lately consist of time spent almost exclusively with a near one year old, the process wasn't as easy or quick as I had hoped. In fact, what I intended as a two day project (with most of that time spent allowing paint to dry) became a week long venture done in many, short increments. Live and learn.

Here's the table in its uninspiring before state. Dingy and dirty but not entirely terrible, just blah. After a quick wipe down it was ready for paint (and new seat covers, but that will have to be a project for another day).

And here it is after. Just a few coats of blue Lagoon spray paint, pieced together during baby nap times throughout the week, and the table was lookin' pretty good. But, I was a little bored. I mean, spray paint a table, biiiiig deal. The table's purpose needed an upgrade too. And then as I was falling asleep one night, I realized: it could be a game table. It has to be a game table. Because someday, when my backyard resembles more of a livable space (for humans, as opposed to the forest creatures who currently enjoy its unkempt state) I am probably, hopefully, going to want to spend time out there.

As it turns out, purchasing chalkboard spray paint gave me a chance to practice another goal I have for all my future craft endeavors: follow the instructions. I am not very good at doing this. Because I like results. Fast. And in the past have regularly cut corners to just get a project done. So this time I read the instructions. And followed them. Almost. I applied the first coat. And waited the required time to do the second. And then I waited a bit more. It said to wait 48 hours to coat the area in chalk to ready it for future use. But. 48 hours is a lot of hours. So I compromised. And assured myself it was warm enough out, so surely it would dry faster. Maybe 48 hours turned into 4. Whatever man. At least I followed the instructions to chalk the whole area, which is a step that I would have skipped when I was young(er) and foolish(er). And now it's done. And I love it. And I get to share it with you.

I can just imagine sitting outside on a cool summer evening playing tic-tac-toe, hangman, or my own personal favorite...

So, please, feel free to come over and hang out in my backyard with me. Ignore the to do list yet to be started and we'll debate important life issues over lemonade. Like if you're meant to marry Bieber and have 143 kids while living in shack on Jupiter.