Exterior - Before and After

We had a wet and very windy weekend!  The wind was so strong...it knocked my garden flag out of the ground.  The pool was full of leaves and pine needles...thankfully the furniture and barbecue were covered from the rain.  The potted flowers were tucked in under the eaves...annoyingly I lost three potted plants...they just up and died.  Next year I'm only going to do one or two pots.

Our Rhododendrons are absolutely gorgeous this year!!  First time blooming for this purple one...she is a beauty!

And this crimson one is gorgeous!  For many years it only had a couple of blooms...now look at her...( I feel they are girls)...

The photo shows up as have red blooms...but the colour is more of a dark cranberry...either way we are enjoying the clusters of colours....

Look what I came across...and old photo of our seventies split...in all her original non-glory!  The photo must have been taken after the leaking car port was torn down...and the driveway had huge tire ruts where a camper had sat for quite some time!  

The old aluminum siding...wood windows that had been varnished shut (who does that)...and those two ugly clumps of something growing on the lawn!  Mr. Seventies got out the chainsaw, then dug for hours to remove them and their roots!   Notice how small the tree on the left is...now it's up to the roof!  And who doesn't love that "faux rock" on the front...most of it was falling off.  Its difficult to see in the photo...but if we had left the current walkway in place...it would take you right into the tree!    Funny how people plant trees and shrubs and don't consider they are going to grow!

Yet, I knew we could turn this sow's ear into a silk purse!  That...and the house was within our tight budget. 

Quite a difference...the windows and siding have been replaced, new entrance doors, driveway redone twice ...and of course Mr. Seventies landscaping abilities.  The roof has been re-done twice since we purchased in 1998. as well.

There was no back deck...just a set of rickety old steps.  We built the first deck in August 1994...it is still there.  Not one board has required replacement...although the first set of steps Mr. Seventies built were torn off last year and a new set built.   Of course, then he constructed a pedway to the pool and completely enclosed the pool for privacy and safety. 

I have some photos to share from my day trip to the mainland.  Will do that tomorrow!  Have a great day!!