I'm starting to stress now

Winchester

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The rain needs to stop! And stay stopped for quite awhile now.

DH's party is next Saturday. And the bar is not finished....I can't stain wood in the rain. And I can't stain wood outside, knowing that about the time I'm done staining, it's going to start raining again. The bottom is finished, but I still need to stain the roof pieces....I'm staining the lumber, two coats, then we put pieces together. I think I'm going to have to break down and stain in the basement. We have a dehumidifier and I can open the windows and run fans while I'm working. I'm afraid it won't dry right away, but it's a chance I'm going to have to take, I think.

It's not that we didn't start early enough....we starting working on this thing around the end of March. But we didn't count on having only 6 good days during the month of April. And May isn't much better. I did get a lot done last week, when it was so nice outside. But that only lasted for four days. And then the rain came back.

While I am managing to stay on top of mowing the yard, weeding is not going well. Nor is clipping around trees and such. I wanted to finish the fence around the pool.....it's simply not going to happen. Not by next weekend.

DH comes home tomorrow and we're going to open the pool on Friday night. And plant the veggie garden...that's not done yet.

We're getting an extra tank of gas for the grill, too, since I'm grilling both the pork shoulders and 14 pounds of chicken pieces. (Actually, the chicken will be done in the oven in the kitchen on Friday, then I'll reheat on the grill after we take the pork off and tent it for shredding.)

The cooking is not an issue. Over the weekend, I baked cookies: flamingoes and palm trees. The flamingoes made me crazy; those slender necks kept breaking off as I tried to get the cookie off the cutter and onto the parchment paper to bake. When the necks didn't break, the feet broke off.
I was not amused. Even with flouring the cutter well, the necks kept breaking. But I got an even dozen flamingoes; the rest of them are palm trees. My sister and I will decorate them next Thursday night. I also got two flats of Tuscan flatbread and 36 breadsticks (there were 38 breadsticks, but the baker ate two of them....they're good!
). The crab and muenster cheesecake is in the freezer with everything else.

I have all the groceries purchased now, except for the fresh produce and the dairy products that I need: cream cheese, other cheeses, sour cream, etc. I ordered two 7-8 pound pork shoulders from the meat market for the pulled pork. I will order the veggie tray and the fruit tray this Saturday morning. Went in town yesterday over lunch to order the birthday cake. Everything will be picked up next Friday for Saturday.

The decorations and the tablecloths are all back in the computer room. Our school's FFA club is making picnic tables as a fundraiser, so we ordered one (we needed one anyway as our old table bit the dust). That is supposed to be here by the end of May. My sister ordered one as well, so when we pick them up, we're bringing both of them to our back yard for the party.

We still need to do a dry run of putting the tent up, just to make sure there are no glitches there.

Both of my neighbors have agreed to loan me refrigerator space on Friday night. They're all coming to the party, too, so they can just bring the food over with them.

I am off work next Wed, Thurs, and Friday. Wednesday is for house cleaning; Thurs and Friday will be for cooking. I have my lists written out and know exactly what I'm doing.

So.....it's the weather. I'm telling myself that everybody is in the same boat, trying to keep up with outdoor tasks and that I shouldn't worry. That it will all work out in the end. And that people in the South are in much worse trouble than a birthday party! But yep, I'm starting to stress!
(And I don't know what I'm going to do with 50 people if it rains next Saturday! Pack them all into the tent anyway, I guess.)
 

Draco

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I think the weather is getting to everyone
it's getting to me today. Usually a portion of my parking lot gets flooded and I know to avoid that area when it rains. nope, this time, the ENTIRE lot gets flooded. Thank goodness for rain boots, though the water's nearly up to my knees.

I hope you can get the wood stained and set up in time for the party!
 

kailie

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I'm sure the party will be a BIG hit and you'll all have a great time!


I understand about the weather though, so depressing.
I mean, we're on vacation this week and are trying to make the most of it but we REALLY want to go camping, or at least get outdoors for some walks/hiking. I'm going completely stir crazy.
 

ldg

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You'll have a GREAT time (and great food!
) no matter where things stand with the preps! This rain is getting EVERYONE down - and at least you DO have the tent! I don't know where you are - but we're not expecting sun until Saturday.


!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

feralvr

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No matter what, your party will be a HUGE hit. It sounds just perfectly planned and the food, YUM YUM YUM
. I will send "NO RAIN" vibes for Saturday your way. Will be a great time for all, rain or shine...
 

pikachu

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aw don't stress man!
Rain can't ruin your party! Just be the ultimate hostess and no one will care.
I love the weather! : D
I'm sitting with the window open and its just making me happy.
 

GoldyCat

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I'd be glad to take some of that rain off your hands.
We haven't had any for at least two months, and the time before that was last fall. Just relax and enjoy your party. I suspect that everybody who's coming knows there's been a lot of rain and they won't be too worried about things that didn't get done.
 

natalie_ca

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Sending some strong vibes for better weather for you!!

Even stronger vibes for me in the hopes that my vibes for good weather for you, doesn't send it over my way!!!!
 

nurseangel

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Sounds like it's going to be a great party. And the food sounds wonderful!


Here are some no rain vibes for you, though I'm sure it will be a hit even if you have to involve a tent.
 

gailc

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You have done a lot of planning for the party and everyone will have a good time regardless if the weather doesn't cooperate and all the yardwork isn't done.

Several years ago I hosted a garden tour at my house and it rained 30 minutes before people were due to arrive!

Remind people to have a rain coat or umbrella handy!
 
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Winchester

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Thanks guys! I've already talked to people and reminded them about umbrellas, raincoats, etc. Lawn chairs. And we do have the tent as well.

My problem will be trying to grill the pork and chicken in the rain....and I have no place to put the grill out of the rain. I really hate grilling and shredding pork the day before because it just doesn't have the same taste as it would if I was doing it the same day. But, if it comes down to that, well, that's what I'll do, or just do it in the oven. The chicken is no problem as I'll be doing the actual roasting the day before anyway.....the grilling is just to warm it up a bit before serving. Thank god I have two ovens! (And bless my neighbor's heart, she called me last night, after the weather forecast, and offered the use of her oven, too, just in case the weather won't cooperate next weekend. My wonderful MIL offered her oven, too.)

DH called me last night and I was in the basement setting up sawhorses to arrange wood on to stain. He told me not to worry, that we will get everything done. Maybe not all the weeding and such, but the bar will be finished in time and we will deal with things as they come. And he told me not to stain in the basement.

He'll be home tonight and we can try to deal with rain and showers as we go.

So we'll see how it goes! Thank you for your vibes....you guys rock!
 

milk maid

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I am sure it will be a wonderful party, you have a tent if it rains, food and friends what more could you want, it will be great.

Please please send your rain to us we really need it.
 

darkmavis

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Well it sounds like you've got everything under control, regardless of what the weather may bring. Have fun!!!
 
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Winchester

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Originally Posted by CarolPetunia

Just tell them you weren't able to finish the bar because you needed more wood for the ark.
That works for me!!! Thank you for the chuckle this morning!
 

coolcat

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Originally Posted by CarolPetunia

Just tell them you weren't able to finish the bar because you needed more wood for the ark.




Pam, if this helping, meanwhile you´re asking for fihish the rains, I´m begging for a big torment around here...
is complete dry our lands, none rains since november of last year...
 
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