We rarely use our front yard. No one even uses the front door to get to the house, I think it has now officially become the back door. The ex-front yard is just for the Dorkies to play in now. And it tends to get neglected, see how back the picket fence needs painting? I try to call it "charming" but its really just ignored and peeling.
But since Agnes Rosebud is so tiny, we've had to line the fence with chicken wire to keep her in, which makes it extra hard to paint. All that would have to come down before I could scrape the peeling paint off. So, I think I'll stick with fooling myself that it is charming and rustic.
Same thing with the deck out there too. I don't even attempt to keep flowers planted there, I know they'd just be dried up and forgotton. This could be a cute area, but if no one ever sees it, does it matter?
I've learned over the years that sometimes, you have to pick your battles. There is only so much time in the day.
But this was way beyond ignoring. This was some major repair work that needed to be done, not just cosmetic stuff. Our ex-front door way was rotting away. While we were having other stuff done, we decided to have the guys repair this too. We are getting better guttering, and had this siding ripped off, flashing installed under it, and then replaced.
See, better already! Now, I need to repaint this corner of the house, and my son is rebuilding the dog door area. We have ordered an energy efficient one that should help our problem with drafts (and snow blowing in on blizzardy days!)
This is another problem area that the guys handled for us. A weird gap between the new addition and the deck, that leaked water into the breezeway. More for me to paint….
Sorry, these aren't all that interesting are they? I shouldn't show the ugly side of the cottage. But its there. Every house has issues of some sort and the older the house, the more there are. It felt good to have a crew here working on stuff and fixing problems. Repairs are not as glamorous as remodelling, but probably are even more important!
Well, I for one appreciate the “ugly” side . . we all have them in our homes, well I do, LOL!! Although I don’t think your fence is ugly, I think it’s charming!
We had to put chicken wire around our fence in our other house when Hannah was still with us. She wasn’t tiny like yours but she was a digger and would pull the fence boards away if any of them were just a wee bit loose! She wanted to roam the neighborhood and play! We would find her toys scattered throughout our neighbors yards, LOL
We have a window that needs replacing as it leaks when we get heavy wind and rain and after just typing something about leaky windows and MOLD it’s on the ever growing list of things to do in our home!!
xxoo
Marsha
I’m not sure there IS an ugly side to your cottage! Charming and quaint it is!
We are having a paint job done on our house and getting some of the trim re-done, also. I can’t wait! The hardest part is deciding what color to paint it. We bought it in 1997 and it hasn’t been painted since way before that. Hah! Maybe it will keep the neighbors happy, too!
I love the Dorkies and enjoy the pics when you share them.
Enjoy your weekend and soon all the re-model will be finished!
Kate
oh thank you for sharing the truth!
We do all have things that are not finished or leaking or something. I should post the big pile of limbs that need to be hauled off, replace the boards under the guttering above my bedroom windows, re-pour the front porch that has a crack that is growing, finish the ugly floor in the family room that i have lived on for a year now because I can’t decide if I want wood or tile or carpet. So…it is just part plywood and part linoleum now. Do I need to go on.
I take a day and look at all my blogs, and I am just amazed at the way all the beautiful people live. Now I can relax and know someone else is just now getting things done. hahahah
Your work is great and the kitchen is a love.
Boy oh boy can I relate to your posts! We have an old house too and I have yet to show my ‘ugly’ stuff’ in my new blog! Lots of work to do but like you I too believe you have to ‘pick your battles’ ( a favorite saying of mine as well!) Probably like you I find that work on an old house can be hard, long, frustrating, satisfying, creative, intensive, trying and just plain a joy when you have something you’ve done yourself and it’s like no one other’s! Please visit me at
http://lifeinthepiedmontvictorian.blogspot.com/ Hope to see you there and thank you for your posts!
We might as well show it. Don’t we all have an “ugly side” on our property?
Brenda
Thanks for sharing… Come over to my blog at oatmeal and whimsy to see my latest battle with nature!!!
Karla, I just see shabby and very chic. 🙂
I totally understand what you are saying, but when there’s time, you will transform the area into something so beautiful. Until then, it’s shabby cottage and very chic, Char
it’s not ugly…it’s character. We all need a little of that!
I have a very ugly side! And it’s a big side! Thank God you can’t see it from the front or the road or the back and the other side! Lol. I think I covered it all?
Nice that you are able to get repairs done as well as remodeling. It’s rather more satisfying knowing a spot is well-cared for than being able to ignore it.
A home is a constant commitment of upkeep. It’s seems like something always needs fixing.
~elaine~
Even newer homes have issues. But old ones have even more.
Sent from my iPad
I don’t even remember seeing that door! It isn’t the one you had the vine around, is it?