My Cottage Painting Project is Finished

Well, I had the window surround on the door and the muntins painted white. I think it makes a big difference. It's finally finished and I am very pleased. Don't forget, I have another little wing behind the picket fence on the left. I am going to run a hot bath with 2 cups of epsom salts added and soak my weary bones. I've been going full speed since before 8 this morning and it's 6:25 pm right now. This house painting/repair projected took 10 full working days and I couldn't be more pleased. The weather was fabulous with no humidity and not a drop of rain. I just heard the weatherman on the news say it hasn't rained here for 11 days. I cannot believe my good luck but I think I deserve it! My barn isn't this red but all of the other colors in this iPhone photo are true. 

Front Door Painted Yesterday

I decided to go with a neutral palate for my front door and shutters. This color scheme is throughout the interior of my cottage as well. White walls and Bennington Grey woodwork. I have worn a path going in and out to look at my front door to see if I like my choice and I do. The Shaker-style shutters were painted yesterday and they will be going up today. I was honestly tempted to leave them off but decided to put them up again after more agony and a sleepless night. They were custom made for my cottage with raised panels and they were expensive. They are still in great condition so up they go. Maybe I'll leave them off next go round since I was growing accustomed to the stark Shaker look. The company that made my shutters has a before and after gallery where you can see different houses with and without shutters by running your mouse over the images here. Once again, my fingers are in my ears and I can't hear you. When I want the stark look, I can just go around back where there are no shutters and the doors remain white. More pictures will be posted later. My outside paint/repair project is winding down. I have already started my winter list of inside jobs for these marvelous men to help me with over the winter. I'll be so sad to see them go. That's the thing about construction and I had almost forgotten how much I love it. There is real withdrawal when it's over. 

Wonderful Dining Nook

This is fabulous. I've never seen one with  table built around a single pedestal. "Mabel, Mabel, if you're able, keep your elbows off the table". Remember that rhyme from childhood? I guess the stability comes from the tabletop being attached to the wall at the end. Maybe Mabel can lean on her elbows after all. image source

Fall and Summer at The Same Time

Happy first day of October! The trees say fall but the thermometer later today will say summer because it's supposed to get up to 84° and it will feel more like August. I took this photo yesterday while walking the wonder dog in the lower forty.

Webster and The Muffin Pan

I made corn muffins for the workers today and they stuck to the pan. Webster was thrilled because he got the job of cleaning the pan before I put it in the sink to soak. 

Great Cabin

I think I have posted this photo once before. I just ran across it on my computer and noticed for the first time that it has a concealed sliding barn door with windows! The deck is built around a tall tree too! It looks very cozy inside, doesn't it? Wish we could see more. 

Groovy Chickens

Click here if you can's see the video below. It is amazing.

Watch it full screen if you can. Are all chickens this limber? I love ads like this!

Before/After Back of My Cottage with New White Paint

It looks less scary now, doesn't it? The white is only primer in the first photo. Trim around the two doors on the balcony is being replaced with Azek. The long board under the doors running the length of the decking up there has been replaced with Azek too. Luckily that area was well protected with flashing behind so nothing in the sheathing was damaged. I have to be more diligent in the future about not letting deep snow go unattended next to the house. I will have to get out on the balcony with my snow shovel a lot sooner instead of just waiting for it to melt. It won't be a problem now, but I still want to do everything I can to take better care of things around here.

I have some real estate appointments this afternoon. See you later.

I need a longer weekend.

Wouldn't it be nice to have an extra day between Saturday and Sunday? I felt like a zombie and didn't have a productive day at all. I went to the annual Fireman's auction and junk sale. I didn't buy much. Just two cookbooks ($1.00 each), an English muffin splitter (50 cents), 5 leather iPad sleeves ($1.00 each, real leather), and an orange plastic gutter cleaning scoop/shovel. I already have one of those gutter thingies and I use it for sprinkling grass seed in the fall. For 50 cents, I now have a backup. The iPad sleeves were in with the sporting goods and nobody knew what they were. I gave one to a friend while I was there. It's always a fun day.

View from my New Window

Pile of damaged wood from my cottage on front lawn. This photo was taken from the ground, not from the attic.

View from my new third floor gable window looking straight ahead into the woods. I pumped up the saturation a bit so you could see the fall color. The window trim is not purple (grin).

View of the window from inside the room.

View from the new window looking left towards the road. The new window has opened up a whole new world in the attic.

Webster and I are having contractor withdrawal this morning. He keeps looking out the window waiting for their trucks and he's worried because they are late. He will be so happy on Monday when they return and so will I. Have a great weekend. Sorry for the horrible pics.