rainy weekend

We've abandoned some projects, begun and completed others. On the holding side is the guest room which once must have seemed like an easy "do." The walls behind the white and crayola print wallpaper were in rough shape, like those in the upstairs bathroom before the stripping, sanding, and so on. In some areas the paper actually seemed to be load bearing. We're leaving the room in its partly ruined state for the time being, looking faux classical -- a bit like an Olive Garden.

The dining room promises to be easier, so we'll give that a go. Ted installed a spark screen in the fireplace and replaced a faucet today. It turns out that drilling into brick is enormously statisfying, especially after hours of trying and not managing to drill into brick. As every job goes, though, the small improvements tend also to make something worse (the sink leaks) or reveal a bigger problem (the chimney leaks).

Happily, Scout reminds us to play.

fall planting

A good portion of the front landscaping is done. Now that the house is painted and extremely bright in the fall sunlight, we've had trouble getting a properly exposed picture. As soon as we do, you'll see from left to right: china boy holly, coral bells, blue rug juniper, cotoneaster, another holly and a different holly, a peony, blueberries -- one low and two highbush, a space for poppies and a chinese juniper on the end. Soon to follow, naturalized daffodils.

primer white

In the next few days we should have the house painted, just in time to get the holly and blueberries we bought for the front yard in the ground before it freezes.

After all the consideration of color for the exterior, we're going with the same light grey that was on the house most recently. In Sherwin Williams speak that's a Repose Gray body with what else but Dorian Gray trim. (If that means we keep a grotesque painting of the house in the attic in order that the paint actually last its guaranteed 25 years, so be it.)

abraded house