It’s spring and that means lots of outside chores as I try to get the house, yard and patio ready for the new season. So far this week I have washed windows, hauled patio furniture, and power washed our patio, all tasks we would have taken on as a team in the past. My body is telling me that I may have overdone things a bit, I think today is going to be an easier day.

What I tend to forget is how physically taxing these jobs are and that they will take longer than they did when there were two of us working. Whether I was leading the task or acting as the helper, it always went so much faster and was more fun. Added to that is the complication that I occasionally need to take breaks to check and make sure my husband is okay. Taking breaks is good but it slows the process down and makes what may once have been a 1 hour job into a much longer task.

I miss the days when we would get up in the morning, work together all day, and have the house and yard ready by nightfall. We’d go out and grab some dinner and all was well in our world. Now, however, one day has turned into a full week of half days and I’m doing it on my own. Getting it all done always gives me a such a sense of accomplishment though, as does the knowledge that once I finish we can sit out back together and enjoy our lovely backyard and patio.