First Day Cottage Walpole

 Here are some updates on the house.  Firstly I can't stop looking at my awesome clothesline.  Isn't it a beautiful sight?!  So much sun out there.  It really makes me happy. Here is a hint at what's going down this week.  I think Jason will be setting the cobblestones which will separate the courtyard gravel from the paved (eventually) driveway.  They will also encircle the tear drop shaped island in the middle. Grass has been planted in the areas where we needed to fill in the bare patches.  Rain would be very helpful to get it going but it's been hot and dry. I am still painting.  It never ends.  I have stained one half of the long front porch decking.  I tried rolling it but did not like the coverage so brushing it on worked better.  Not easy on the knees! And here is the big reveal on our new stone steps!  I just love the natural look of them.  The stepping stone pathway has been started and will continue all the way to the driveway.  Love it!  The blue gazing ball

 I am not much for carpet, especially with two dogs.  But our wood stairs have proven to be quite slippery and we have had a few falls, and some close calls.  So I decided a carpet runner would be a good addition.  This is commercial carpet and in a neutral dirt hiding color so I am hoping it doesn't look too commercial.  I really wanted a striped runner but the stripes all come in tiles and not broadloom.    It makes the stairs quieter and much more safe for people and pets alike.  Monadnock Flooring did a great job of installing it.   Close-up and you can see that there are little flecks of color in the gray.

I am passionate about clotheslines.  I love everything about them and am a dedicated hanger outer through all seasons.  I can't get enough of that fresh off the clothesline smell.  So being without my clothesline for two whole years has been painful.  Not life or death but I really missed it!  It is where I breath deep and settle my mind and count my blessings.  I have had some nice clotheslines in my other homes but this one is going to be my favorite I think.  The same guys who did the fence made this for us and it is a beauty!  Sturdy and classy and stunning to look at.  I will eventually stain it a color when the wood has weathered enough but right now I am basking in its beauty!  Life is good. Going to have to tighten up those lines once the posts settle in a bit.  I have placed this clothesline steps away from our back porch so I can have access even through the snow.

We have a fence!  Bastoni Fence Designs came and put up our fence in a day and a half and it is a thing of beauty.  Sturdy and well made with three nice gates.  We chose black wire so it would "disappear" and it almost does.  I am very happy with it as I was worried it would really break up the view of the rolling landscape but it will define our mowed yard from the hayfield beyond plus the dogs are thrilled with their new backyard.  I can feel that they are safe and secure when I let them out.  Now I feel our yard has some structure and I can see where I might want to plant trees, shrubs etc... This is the street side of the house and we put in a twelve foot gate for access to the septic system or other large equipment that might need to come in. This gate takes you to the back of the garage. This back gate takes you to the Serpentine path which leads to the back of our property and the woods.  Earlier this spring I cut back the brush so that we have a nice trail which meets

 I am still working on the front entry.  The painting is all done.  I finished staining the decking yesterday with semi-transparent Behr stain in Stonehenge.  It took two coats.  It was a great improvement over the pressure treated raw wood.   This was after one coat Two coats and I was finally able to put out the welcome mat I purchased almost one year ago! A peek at my windows at night where they show up much better.  I am ready for the upcoming patriotic holidays.  This was taken before the floor was stained. The only thing needed now are the stone steps which should be done next month.  Now on to the other two porches.  Much bigger projects!

 Did a bit more work finishing up the display boxes.  Filled the nail holes and did the caulking and some of the priming.  The weather has not cooperated this week though with an April snowstorm.  My display for spring includes birds, nests and other bird related items that I have made.  These displays are fun to do and have attracted some attention.  I think the UPS driver is intrigued when he delivers the packages.   I finally was able to unpack and display my collection of vintage state plates.  This large wall in the foyer is perfect for them.  Unfortunately as I hammered in the last of them a few fell off and broke!  Now I will be looking for replacements along with the ones I have been missing to complete the whole USA. The bench came from the Bennington, Vermont railroad station.  My mom (who was a picker WAY ahead of her time) found it and it was stored in pieces in their barn for years.  My dad wanted to get rid of it but my mother had vision.  I put it together and refinished