If you're a regular reader of ours you know how much we enjoy working on our home and doing things ourselves. Sure, I enjoy watching baseball, going skiing, doing a little programming, watching TV, taking vacations, and lots of other masculine and awesome stuff like long walks in the park with my dog and wife...but if there's one thing I get an itch to do more frequently and intensely than anything else, it's the simple desire that can only be fulfilled by a little DIY. I realize my particular brand of entertainment and engagement may be some people's view of "personal hell," but there's something about building or making something yourself that you either get or you don't. That's all there is to it.

However, lately I feel like we've been doing far more planning and thinking than actual doing. I guess it's coming down off of the high of our unplanned kitchen renovation, or maybe it's because we're just distracted with life for a little while, but I feel like I need to really get back on the proverbial DIY saw horse.

The problem with this hobby of home DIY is that it's time consuming, tiring, and can seemingly zap the life out of you when you least expect it. Beyond the money, effort, and need for creativity, time has been our primary limitation of late, and it's been extremely frustrating. We're both working a ton at our day jobs and either have too many chores or obligations after work to get a decent amount done. Add to it that when we do have time we're just plain tired and end up watching Downton Abbey or New Girl on TV! Oh the perils of being a gainfully employed adult. Woe is me. I know, life's so hard for us, and we don't even have kids, so do we even know what busy is? 

Now that I'm done spouting off like a moron I can say that I expect my slight DIY funk to change this weekend! Yes, the long President's Day weekend is upon us and we have a few goals and plans. Among other things, I want to install our WaterCop, do some work on the storm windows (I'm only 13 months late delivering on that project), and pick up a whole bunch of lumber from the home improvement store. I know Wendy is looking forward to a trip out to Leesburg at some point this weekend where we will hopefully reap the rewards of some home decor spoils. And we have a few small projects and things to do we've been meaning to take care of for a long while.

But we can't forget the main event for this weekend. Yes, it's parade season here in Old Town, and this weekend we'll be treated to the George Washington Birthday parade. This year the city will celebrate George Washington's 281st birthday with our annual romp through the streets of Old Town. Quite honestly, nothing puts a smile on my face like colonial soldiers...

...Shriners in tiny cars...

...and a hodge-podge of other marchers, sometimes including real live Alpacas or Star Wars characters. The parade takes place between 1:00 and 3:00 pm on Monday, February 18th. So if you're looking for something fun to do on your day off and you're in the Alexandria, VA area, you should come on out. We'll probably be tweeting or vine-ing the event too, so if you can't make it in person, you won't feel like you've missed out on all the fun.

What sort of things do you have planned this weekend? Have any home projects you are going to tackle? Or do you have Monday off and are using the free day as an excuse to get away for the weekend? We'd love to hear what you're gearing up for.

Comments 12

Comments

Jan
2/15/2013 at 8:21 PM
Your previous post on the awesome jewelry cabinet has inspired me to clean out my junky jumble of a jewelry drawer and buy some organizers for my costume baubles. I'd love to have the in-wall cabinet, but no wall in our master bedroom would accommodate it.

And a resounding Yes to the joy of making something yourself. This is why my house is bursting at the seams with fabric and yarn and the things you can make with them, like dog beds, quilts, and sweaters.
Wendy
2/16/2013
We're so glad you're inspired! Good luck with your organizational efforts this weekend, Jan!
kim
2/15/2013 at 10:15 PM
This weekend we need to install a garage door opener. One of ours broke a couple of weeks ago and with the super bowl, then the blizzard we haven't had time. I am so excited, I hate getting out of the car to open the door, especially in bad weather!
Wendy
2/16/2013
Good luck with that, Kim. I'm sure it will be a welcome addition once your garage door is back up and running!
2/16/2013 at 9:03 AM
Oooh, lumber. Makes a girl's heart skip a beat, I tell ya.

Been DIY-ing my butt off this week, so I look forward to a day without projects hanging over my head ... probably not going to happen this weekend ... I need to reclaim my dining room from a painting project.
Wendy
2/16/2013
Good luck! It's always so nice to reclaim a room after a project, and I hope your painting project was a success!
threadbndr
2/16/2013 at 9:52 AM
Hopefully getting to the point of priming on my granddaughter to be's nursery. I swear, Alex, my son is almost as plaster repair obsessed as you are! He says to say "thanks" for the source for plaster buttons, by the way.
Tee
2/16/2013 at 9:17 PM
Are the colonial soldiers from the 1st MD?
Alex
2/17/2013
I'm not sure. There are a few regiments that march each year. I'll keep an eye out for their banner tomorrow and will try to snap a photo.
2/16/2013 at 9:25 PM
We just wanted to say congratulations on Old House Journal! It just came in the mail today and we are getting ready to sit down and read it tonight. Way to go!

Oh - the weekend. We are trying to draft up a plan of attack for the bathroom and come up with a budget that we actually stick to. There's talk of cutting back everyone's time(and pay) at my job, so this can may be kicked down the road even further.
Alex
2/17/2013
Thanks! It's very exciting to be in the magazine, and completely unexpected that we're on the cover. We had no idea before it arrived in the mail.

Good luck on the weekend projects. The plan is usually one of the hardest parts of any projects, we know! I wish that all of our old home DIY friends (and us too) could just win the lottery so we wouldn't be bothered by work or the need to worry about money when it comes to working on the house. I'd reserve the lottery winnings for all of the people that would still work on houses themselves even after they are filthy rich.
2/19/2013 at 4:11 PM
This week, I’m planning to fix the cabinet in my room. It is probably the oldest furniture in the house but it would be a waste to just throw it away and replace it with a new one. Since I love DIY projects, I guess I could fix the cabinet myself. You are right in saying that DIY work is really time-consuming and sometimes stressful. In the end, it’s pretty rewarding, right? I guess this week I DIY-time for me.
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