Small steps, long journey

It's official, we've owned this house too long.  It just doesn't seem right that I should have to mow the grass.  On the one hand, I guess it's good, because it means that the sprigs that we planted way back are doing their thing and haven't died.  But, at the same time, it would be nice to be, like, fo' real done.  It's still nice to make progress, even if it's kinda boring and more maintenance than "progress".

Figure 1.  Mowed grass sprigs and burn pile ash.  Cast iron is still alive and kicking

Proof that the hydrangeas are alive and well:

Figure 2.  Pinkish/purplish blooms.  Ignore the conduit please, it will be removed, we're not that trashy.  ...maybe

Also that weird fern thing that Ma Steele brought down did in fact come back.  Witness its new growth through.  Thought for sure these were toast:

Figure 3.  Even more conduit.  Yup, we're trashy!

In addition to verifying living things were alive, actual work was performed today, as alluded to above.  But, a lot of it will look pretty boring and be quite the let down.  That's why there are other pictures of things, to distract you, dear reader.

Of no particular note are our new numbers which are loosely adhered to the exterior of the home.  They now match the handrail and door hardware.  Fancy!  ...until they fall off again.

Figure 4.  Well, now you know the address, you're not getting an SSN, sorry.  That's a mighty fine mower, ain't it?

After having picked up the mother lode of paint yesterday, it seemed prudent to actually finish up the painting of the exterior trim on the front windows.  If this looks any different from previous pictures, then you're paying attention waaay too closely.  But, the trim is really painted.  All the way.  It's done.  I'm not painting or caulking that any more (on the outside).  (Probably not true).

Figure 5.  See, looks the same, doesn't it?  ...'cept the weeds are shorter

Figure 6.  Since you didn't believe me, you can see it now.  It's all white.

Next, work shifted to the backside of the house.  The door got rehabbed today with a few (ok, three) coats of paint to the outside and BRAND NEW HARDWARE!  Ok, it's not technically "new", but it's been spray painted to match the stuff on the front and that's as new as it's going to get until the bosslady comes home and tells me it's wrong (hi Wife!).  Behold the beauty!

Figure 7.  Yup, it's a white door.  Not very exciting.  However, we are soliciting opinions as to how to spray paint that rail without making completely painting the house and ground.  It's not flanged pipe like the front door.  You've got the address now, so feel free to mail in your responses stapled to a $20 bill.

Since leadership wasn't there to veto it, I put in a lock and reinstalled the old door handle on the new screen door brought to you by Steele North:

Figure 8.  Yeah, that counts as a lock.  I mean, it's a screen door!

Figure 9.  How long before I have to paint the handle?

Well, there you have it.  I'm not showing you any pictures of the caulk on the interior windows because that's just boring.  ...and it was shoddy work.  Also, don't tell Kelly, but I think we may be SOL on a doorbell due to my cutting of a wire while attempting to enlarge the hold to accommodate the new one.  Oopsie!