Our first project

Fortunately, the house was in move-in-ready condition.  There were projects that needed to be done, but we could take our time.  What better project than painting something the color I choose?  I may have gotten teary eyed when we bought the paint.  The people at Lowes probably thought I was nuts.

Our front and back gates were in bad shape.  The wood needed painting, the metal was rusted.

What better time for a project than in July?  Surely this will only take a few hours.  Noticing a theme here of me underestimating things?

2 metal gate frames, 22 slats of wood, 66 bolts, 1/2 gallon of primer, 2 coats of cobalt blue paint + 6 hours = gorgeous new gates that really gave the backyard some color. We loved it!! Finishing when it was 108? Not so much.

Our joy was short lived when later that evening, one of the Valley's famous haboobs hit Chandler.

Yikes!  Fortunately, the paint was dry enough that the sand didn't stick to it.  First project, done!