This is pretty much our summer to do list this year. I am happy to say that we have been able to check a few things off over the past few weekends, however the biggies are still in the works.
Last weekend we installed a small pond and fountain in the spot where the old oak tree stood. We had plans to remove what was left of the tree stump but that proved impossible. We are guessing the tree was over 100 years old so the root system was massive. The bottom line is....that thing was not coming out of the ground!!! Therefore we decided to disguise it a little by installing the pond above ground and surrounding everything with the large sandstones that used to line the driveway.
Now to some the stump probably looks like an eye sore but I think everything turned out beautiful! I love the sound of the water. It's so serene and peaceful and the best part, I can see and enjoy the fountain from the screened porch. It's picture perfect....WAY better than looking at just a burned out stump and hole in the ground! We will be adding a few fish soon and I will be adding in a few flowering plants later on too.
The next thing we checked off our list was installing our new front door. The new glass storm door will come soon.
Now there is a story about this door that I just have to share with you. We had been wanting a door with a beautiful window every since we moved into this house. The old door was shot. It was 75 years old, had cracks and fractures everywhere and was not insulated. It didn't keep out the elements very well, but doors are EXPENSIVE and we have just not had the extra cash, if you know what I mean. However, this door was extremely affordable. It was FREE!!! Yes, that's right we got this gorgeous door....the exact one we had been wanting...for FREE (well almost). You see, our new pastor is a contractor who works with Lowes to install windows and doors. He just so happened to have this brand new door leftover from a job sitting in his garage and he said we could have it. He also installed it for us at no charge.
Now we are not the kind of people who could ever just take a gorgeous expensive door like this for free or have it professionally installed without paying something but our pastor would take NO money. He did however suggest that if we just had to pay something for it, that we could make a donation directly to the church and that's what we did.
It was a win, win situation. Everyone benefited from this door. We got the door we wanted, the pastor got rid of the door that was just taking up space in his garage and the church got some extra money to use to check a few things off their summer to do list. Truthfully though I think we were the biggest winners of all to be blessed with that beautiful new door.
The best part....it lets in TONS of light. Our entryway before was like the black hole but now it's so bright. I LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!!!
Now I know you are wondering if am going to be painting this door black like I did the other one. I'm not sure about that yet, but the trim will be getting a much needed fresh coat of white soon. Speaking of trim that's one more thing I have been working to check off our summer to do list.
All the doors, windows and base trim in the dining room now have a fresh coat of white paint.. I finished that up this past weekend...and boy, what a difference a fresh coat of paint makes. The room looks much cleaner, newer and just plain prettier with fresh white trim.
We still have much to do this summer, but to tell you the truth....I am ready for a vacation. All this work is wearing me out!
Maybe I'll just take a little time out to smell the roses....uh, I mean day lilies...
Well, until we meet again...have a GREAT summer and....don't work too hard! CIAO
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