MET MONDAY/ THE HOUSE

Hi Everyone and Welcome to my 4th Met Monday. Met Monday is hosted by Susan at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ . After taking the tour, head over there and check out more before and after transformations! We moved into our present home/cottage in August 2007. With 2 kids starting their senior year in high school and the fact that my eldest son was married and a teacher in Tempe, AZ we knew we wanted something out of town and a bit smaller for two soon to be empty- nester's. We concentrated on the inside of the house first and below is a pic of our home the first winter we lived here. We liked the stone and we have 2 acres almost all yard surrounded by woods, but there wasn't much curb appeal. (click on any pic to enlarge)

Here we are, last spring 2008. The snow had just finally left us, things were turning green and we had 2 kids graduating in June. There is something about having a big party at your home (especially graduation) that can really get you motivated! First on my agenda was picking colors and shutters. I have always wanted board- n- batten shutters, but when I checked the prices I was taken back. My handy hubby said he could whip some of those up and so he did. Here is the first one ready to go, and painted an apple red. We chose that color because I like red and we have numerous apple trees on our property.

We chose spiced sugar for the color of the railings and trim. My hubby worked like a dog scraping, priming and painting. I kept busy planting flowers, planning a graduation party for about 100 people, cooking, sorting through endless pics, decorating our garage, you get the picture.

We needed a sign for our newly named property and hubby had just learned some new techniques on his computer aided cad/ drafting. I'm quite proud of the sign he designed and made for our home.

Then there was more painting,- a red front door.

Things are starting to come together, but graduation is getting closer.

More shutters to make, paint and put up.

Another door that needs some red and more shutters.

A view when the phlox are in bloom!

Some left over red paint, so why not paint the old bench and chair!

And the little planter. Here is a view after the garage doors are done, to see that transformation scroll on down to my first Met Monday Post.

Another view, you can see my talented hubby through the front window.

AWWW, the finished view. We are exhausted, but happy with how things turned out. Thanks for coming by. Cindy