A Haven for Vee

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Disguises and Close-ups


Flowers often look fine in close-ups. Take the humble kalanchoe that actually has far more presence/oomph in a close-up.



Usually, I am trying to disguise the less than pleasant around here. However, I've never minded showing the view out this window, though I most certainly have avoided the close-up in the opposite direction.




This was taken after the siding was finished, but before the window fix. (I'm not sure that I should say "siding" anymore. I was visiting a blog recently where the blogger described all siding as "ugh." ♪We are old; we are poor; we don't want to paint anymore♪)



A lonely lily... Yesterday afternoon, I played carpenter's helper and spent a lot of time trotting back and forth. 

Have you ever helped your husband with a project? Seems mine had a few minor complaints and wished to tell me about them. Seems he thought I should be able to figure out exactly what he wanted and when. Finally, I told him that I was busy with many things besides being his helper. I was taking photos, looking for squirrels, wondering where all the acorns went, checking the light, shooing turkey vultures off. Right. I had a lot to do!



In the end, he finished it up. And now I've only thought of one more thing to add to our list. We really need to get that mold off our shingles! 


Thanks, John! It looks great! You worked hard and have paid a price in aches and pains. I can probably handle that roof if you show me how. ;>


No need for clever disguises...well, I am NOT showing you that garden!


How about a close-up of a geranium? 

Enjoy this final weekend of September! Where did it go?

35 comments:

  1. Mornin', Glory....
    First off, one of the very best things we ever did was to put siding on our sweet cottage. It looks amazing, we've had it 25 years....never anything to do other than give it a good power wash every spring (after our many sandstorms) so, SIDING...WAY TO GO!!
    Love all your pretty photos. You're becoming a rock star with that camera of yours.

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  2. We went with siding this time, too! We also have vinyl flooring in our kitchen & bath because it is so easy to keep!!! Your home is lovely and John did a great job. The only time my John and I have words is when I am his helper...he seems to think I am a mind reader!!! Love the closeups of your plants. Wishing you a very nice Saturday.

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  3. You have a charming house, Vee, siding and all!
    It always looks neat as a pin. And it's apparent John is
    an A-1 carpenter.
    Have a good weekend-Kimberly

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  4. I've always loved looking out your window at your view through out the year. Your home looks beautiful and the improvements will be so nice for the coming winter. Pretty flowers for the end of the summer...you take very good close ups! Enjoy your weekend and tell John he deserves the day off! (he probably needs time to write poetry) Hugs!

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  5. Vee,
    Your house looks lovely! Isn't it amazing when we stop and look closely, the beautiful details in an apparently common blossom? Beautiful.
    Love your description about being a carpenter's helper. Delightful. Gonna read it to Mister now!

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  6. You (and John) have done so much work on your house. It looks wonderful Vee.

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  7. I helped my husband build a shed one summer. I felt wonderful from all of the exercise. I only remember falling down the stepladder once. LOL

    Your house looks great with the siding.

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  8. The bay window, and your entire home, look wonderful! I think the two of you should have a restful weekend! Paul and I didn't work too well together. He tried to help me hang wall paper a few times. I decided we instinctively rotated in different directions and that was the problem....;->

    And that mind reader thing is a real problem!

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  9. Your window looks great from both directions. The plants in the window seem to be thriving there. Are they Christmas Cactus?
    I had to laugh at your description of helping John. It's been my experience too that the husbands think that mind reader is part of the "helper" job description. At any rate, job well done at your haven. I hope you both can relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor this weekend.

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    Replies
    1. Easter cactus, which reminds me to look up the care and blooming of same. Sometimes it blooms for Christmas. If you have a Christmas cactus, don't forget to put it in the basement or someplace dark for the month of October. Don't water or fertilize for the entire month. It should be set in buds by the time you bring it out on the first day of November. You can start watering and fertilizing through blooming season, which should be through the holidays, if all goes well.

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  10. ♪We are old; we are poor; we don't want to paint anymore ♪

    Hahaha!! I am singing your song, Vee! When we painted the front porch and picket fence earlier this month, I was wishing that it, too, was vinyl! Oh, I appreciate the look of clapboard (love it, in fact!), but these days I wouldn't want the painting that goes along with it.

    John's and your improvements look great...you did a remarkable job as his assistant! Somebody had to take those photos and find those squirrels. :D

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    Replies
    1. I love that quote....♪We are old; we are poor; we don't want to paint anymore ♪...my sentiments exactly!!!!

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  11. Three cheers for the handyman and his helper! And I agree with you on the siding. Folks who think differently can take a long walk off of a short pier. We had wood siding on our former cottage and finally got tired of the maintenance chores and costs. So we put on some very lovely vinyl siding instead of continuing the money drain. I love your view out the bay window and your cottage is looking mighty spiffy! Just show us what you want, my dear. That's the beauty of the internet, LOL!

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  12. Loved all the pictures ~ especially the one with the view out your window! What a spectacular view! And the house just looks wonderful! And the song?! Loved that too! haha Enjoy your week-end.

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  13. The winter scene of your home is beautiful! We have siding too and have heard that comment many times. We don't want to be painting the outside of our house at this age either. Love your sence of humor!

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  14. John sounds like Tim - but usually he has kid helpers! Emma is his best helper over all. She sticks right with him ;)

    Siding is a blessing. I love the look of real wood, etc, but it takes constant maintenance. We sing your song too!

    Deanna

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  15. You have a lovely home, and I'm sure it would be equally as lovely if you pointed your camera in the opposite direction from the bay window. Your busy "to do" list while John was working, reminded me of a song sung by about a certain bear.....

    "Help me if you can, I've got to get back
    To the House at Pooh Corner by one
    You'd be surprised, there's so much to be done
    Count all the bees in the hive
    Chase all the clouds from the sky
    Back to the days of Christopher Robin and Pooh."

    By the way Vee, John looks tired, let him rest before the next project.

    Blessings to you today (and John). ~ Abby


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  16. Your home is so charming, Vee. We have vinyl siding and I don't really like it, but it is carefree. Unless, of course, you move from a country where you had a brick house, and you put your barbecue next to the vinyl siding and melt it. Ask me how I know. I
    I nearly choked when I saw the snowy photo. "NO," thought I, "not yet." Relief ensued as I read further.

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  17. Looks wonderful Vee, yes, many times Mr P. and I have tackled projects together, and we have so many unfinished projects i dare not count. The winter scene is postcard perfect. You both deserve a rest. Enjoy your weekend. Sue

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  18. It looks great! And a sense of accomplishment I would think? I like the view from inside that window too!

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  19. Husbands make bad bosses or that's what I have found.
    Merle....... .......... .........

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  20. Vee, I like the word siding. We have a slate blue siding on our house and we love it! Your's is very nice. And I love your bay window and all your views. The snow is gorgeous but I am content to wait a few months to enjoy it!

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  21. It looks wonderful Vee! I wish we had siding - we have to paint every 3 or 4 years with the extreme heat and wind we have to deal with. Your photos are beautiful, especially the wintery scene!

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  22. Another project completed! I really like the completed part of projects! Thank goodness for hubbies who can tackle projects and complete them!!

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  23. Nothing wrong with siding on a house, it looks great. John did a good job on the window and like you, I don't like to help Glenn with jobs, it's easier if I go out and come back when it's finished.
    I'm envious of the large window sill your bay window has - perfect for some pretty vignettes.
    Judith

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  24. Nothing wrong with siding, Vee. Your home looks lovely and beautifully maintained. Your photos are so great, as usual. ;-) xo

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  25. Vee-That looks great! We used to own a window, siding and door company. I think siding is just grand! lol Bow windows, too. And pink shirts on boys! lol Someone is always going to complain about something they DON'T like, right? I, for one, hope to never paint the exterior of a house again. xo Diana

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  26. I'm with you on siding...no more painting for us old geezars...it's been a lifetime of painting or staining our homes and it's a joy to live in a house now that never needs any of that high cost labor anymore. Oh yah and about working with hubby...never works around here so I stay clear when it comes to being a helper...cause I never do it right anyway...besides it keeps peace : ) Have a beautiful day today.

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  27. We bought our current house because there was brick on the lower half and siding on the upper story and we wanted NO maintenance or peeling paint! The brick isn't my favorite, but the siding still looks NEW--it's older steel siding and looks great!
    Now as we are getting older, it is the maintenance of the huge yard that is getting to us!
    V

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  28. I've helped Ken with so many projects over the years, I've lost count years ago!! : )

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  29. Hi Vee

    The blog looks great! Mr OP doesn't like me to help on projects...I works out better this way. Love the Autumn touches around your haven!

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  30. I am totally loving the way autumn is reflected in your new windows! Could you please take a similar photo each season? It is lovely!

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  31. I love how the new window reflect autumn. It looks like autumn is inside your house! Please take a similar seasonal photo... I can't wait to see winter reflected like that.

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  32. "Atta Boy" John!! What a great job! I'm sure it will be well worth the hard work when you are all snug as a bug in a rug. Hard to believe fall is upon us. We decorated our home yesterday and gave in to the fact that the frost would be on the pumpkin before we know it.

    Have a blessed week Vee, Edie Marie

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  33. I'm smiling here...at your description of your time as John's helper. I can envision the scene...quite nicely. The end result looks great...with or without the skilled help!

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