Before and After

Before our savings account got that big hole in it.....

(Close up - to show what it really looked like.)

And after the bank the called to make sure the uncharacteristically large check we'd written was legit...

Vinyl siding. It took about 6 years and three forays into the quote process before we finally took the plunge. Apparently we were happy with the original color, because it looks pretty similar. Now if only the doors matched the shutters....

Oh, the Diderot Effect. It never ends. The list of things that now stand out against the newness of the siding is lengthy indeed. The porch railings and steps must now be painted. The window frames look old and outdated. The doors are the wrong color. The bushes look pathetic. There are no gutters. And thus, the rain has washed away the porch stain. Mulch? What a grand idea! And wouldn't that look good next to new flowers and a newly mowed yard?!

Kinda reminds me of a little ditty that goes like this: "This is the song that never ends. It just goes on and on, my friend. Some people started singing it...."

Yeah. Sorry. ; )

I must say, though, the guys worked hard for that big paycheck. There were two of them - Adam and Daniel - and they were great. I felt completely safe with them working here while I was home, and I never once heard a bad word or anything else to give me cause for concern. They gave us two weeks - which would've only taken one, if there hadn't been so much rain. In fact, the one afternoon they were working away and a hail storm came through. Two nights before that, strong winds blew their supplies right off the pile, tumbling across our yard. Michael and I had to chase it all down. In order to finish, they worked some long days and even came on a Saturday.

Daniel loved having "the guys" here working. He would watch them out the windows all day long, updating me frequently on where "the guys" were working and who he could see. Midway through the project he located his hammer from the Home Depot toy set and started banging back at them. They loved it. And for a week after they left, I constantly answered the question, "Mommy, are the guys coming today?"

So despite the hit to the savings account, we're pleased with the results. And thankful we didn't have to scale a ladder and paint it ourselves.

But most of all, I'm thankful that the loud, obnoxious woodpeckers are no longer interested in the side of our house.