boys and their toys...

Last year, we noticed a few tiles coming up on the back patio. So we replaced, regrouted and got ready to seal the freshly done work....

Of course, because it's Washington, the rains came and the weather dropped by 30 degrees and we realized it would be six months before we could finish the project. When sealing surfaces like this, it needs to be dry and warm for several days in a row.

If you know Washington, you know how laughable that is.

Anyway, fast forward six months. The patio has been cleared of all the plants, the furniture, everything but the black plastic covering the back patio.

Yours truly (and Jack--based on my descriptions) were ready for some backyard bbq and entertaining. That meant that we needed to pull up the plastic, power wash the back patio and start the sealing process.

Being the dutiful husband who goes away every morning, I told Jeff I would rent a power washer so we could get the patio ready.

Saturday morning comes, I rent a gas-powered power washer from Fragers (founded in 1920) and headed back to the manse. I hooked up the hoses, powered up the machine, and started cleaning the back patio. 6 minutes later, Jeff shows up with a twinkle in his eye and says "Can I try?"

Knowing how this would end up, I laughed handed over the hose and headed into the house to take care of Jack. Several hours later, after Jeff had finished the patio, the patio furniture, the concrete sidewalk, and briefly considered power washing the fence, he returned. Covered in sweat and water and looking happier than a kid in a candy shop, Jeff told me he was done.