Protecting the Homefront

Now here is an unlikely picture, but somehow chosen on this Memorial Day.  I'm not a gun person.  I was even surprised to find it among the boxes I'm going through in the rec room.  My dad took me to Clear Lake when I was about twelve. . .to shoot ducks. . .I cried so hard he never again asked me to shoot anything.  And he didn't hunt anything either. 

We talked about going to the cemetery today.  Tomorrow is Memorial Day.  If our son needs our help tomorrow, that's where we'll be.  Protecting the homefront, the family.  No guns, just loving hearts, puzzling over some of Life's events. 

"Cottage" storage shed??

Back yard. . .winter time. . .place for a shed.  But I don't want it to look like a shed.
      So we talk to Andy and Dan. . .I want a "cottage" look because this area is visible from the kitchen and living room.   I want shakes, a curved roof, stone, shutters, a pointy/cute door and a brick path leading to the door.  Andy and Dan don't blink an eye, but get right to work.

Though I'm nervous. . .not knowing how all my ideas will come together. . .I take them pink lemonade cupcakes, chewy brownies, chocolate chip cookies, coffee and milk. . .biting my lip and crossing my fingers it turns out close to the picture in my mind.  More pictures soon to come.

And now, a month after the above picture. . .though it still needs a doorknocker, doors adjusted and a brick pathway. . .a storage shed. . .uh, cottage. . . . . .

Can a refuse "blind" be charming?

The alley entryway to our backyard is through a gate alonside our brick garage.  A large flowering plum tree sits just inside the fence giving us a pink lawn when the wind blows.  An arbor with wisteria and climbing jasmine stands over an outdoor fire pit.  Up next to the garage for the last 30 years, right in the path to the entry of our back yard sits three large city refuse bins.  Our favorite contractors, Andy and Dan, just finished replacing cross bars on our fence.  I asked them about throwing up a couple boards and a door to hide the refuse bins and move them around to the back side of the garage.  They said they'd be glad to build us something. . .well, build something they did!  It's like a little cottage, complete with curved beams, shakes, and black iron hinges.  They are starting on a larger shed on the other side of the back yard.  Can't wait to see what it turns out to be. 

Now, thanks to Andy and Dan, the entry into our back yard is clear and Zen.