Yeah, the deck staining took way longer than I expected, mostly because we had to strip the old sealant first. I ended up using that sprayer you recommended, which saved a ton of time compared to brushing everything by hand. We did a couple of coats on the main floor and the railing, and it looks pretty solid now. Just waiting for it to fully cure before we move the furniture back out. The weather held up nicely, which was a relief because the forecast was calling for rain on Sunday. I think we managed to get everything sealed just in time. The new stain color is a bit darker than the sample, but I think it works with the house trim. We are planning to do the shed next month with the leftover stain. Let me know if you want to borrow the sprayer for your fence project.

I finally tried that slow cooker recipe you sent over. I was a bit skeptical about adding the cream cheese at the beginning, but it turned out really creamy and flavorful. I used chicken thighs instead of breasts because that's what I had on hand, and it kept everything really moist. For the veggies, I threw in some bell peppers and onions, and they softened up perfectly over the six hours. I served it over some rice, and it was a hit with the whole family. The leftovers were even better the next day. Next time, I might add a little bit of smoked paprika for an extra layer of flavor. Let me know if you have any other similar recipes, especially ones that freeze well for busy weeknights.