Birth of THE ARCH

The beginnings of our front entry.  Introducing the birth of, The Arch.

All of the new eves at the cottage are dovetailed.  I just love the softness this adds to the overall architecture, don't you?  Sorry, I'm easily distracted.  Back to the news at hand.  The Arch.

This is the front of our cottage after demolition but before real construction began.

This is the beginning of constructing The Arch.  There are many buildings (including the train station) here in SB which use The Arch as an architectural feature.  We wanted to put some of the integrity and history of our area into our cottage so we fashioned our entry to emulate The Arch, which is present in so many buildings that are original to our little beach town.  

  

This will be painted in a high gloss white paint soon.  I think.  I don't know.  Maybe I should put a stain on and keep the natural wood grain.  Just do the trim in white.  Maybe.  I don't know.  Hecks sake, help me out here!

By next week these pillars will be covered in stone.  Check back for photos, they're gonna be beauteous.
I'll take you on a picturesque visit to the Stone Store (RCP) soon, and show you how tough it was for me to make a decision on which stone to use.  Seriously.  After this I'm never going to make a decision again.  My decision maker is plum wore out.

My flowers, or what's left of them, seem to thrive on neglect.  This bougainvillea and the cottage roses are thriving in our California climate with little help from me since water to the cottage has been turned off for some time now.  Note to self.  (Self), don't over water the bougainvillea in the future.

The flowers are doing just fine without me.

They don't seem to miss my loving touch black thumb at all.

This cedar tree recently got a "sprucing up".  My bestest neighbor doesn't hate me is much happier now.  This tree got pretty hacked by wind in our last storm and some of its branches were about to fall into my neighbor's yard/house.  Now they are all laced up and this view is of me lying on my patio enjoying the view from below.  (Day dreaming of moving back into my cottage.) It's safe to come outside now John!
My poor neighbors have been listening to jack hammers and nail guns and me construction workers cussing in my yard for 8 months now.  I'm gonna owe them a lot of home made ice cream this summer!

Bailey is so confused.  Back and forth, back and forth, from cottage to rental she goes.  She doesn't know if she's coming or going anymore.  She just wants to go home.  Oh, wait.  Maybe that's just moi.  She's actually pretty happy wherever she is as long as I'm there.  Ya gotta love puppy love!

These are the architectural plans for the courtyard, formerly known as, the front yard.  There is an outdoor fireplace and a water feature in there.  We haven't even begun to go there yet.  Here is what it looks like at the moment.

MERCY

What do you think the chances are, that this, in addition to the cottage renovation, will be move-in ready by end of June?  I know right?  Haaa, ha, ha, haaa!

I have tried to grow sunflowers many times.  I don't know what is the matter with me but, I can never get them to grow.  I was pretty much a failure at sunflowers.  I'm much better at bougainvillea.  Did ya know that they thrive on how much you are not watering them?  My daughter wanted a picture of sunflowers for her family room though so, I painted these for her.  I think I'll stick to painting them instead of growing them.  Much easier!  Original acrylic on canvas by moi.

Wish you were here.  I'm trying to pick and choose all the appliances and flooring and the stone for the pillars and the courtyard.  I've got to choose cabinets and lighting and flooring.  I need h e l p.  HELP ME!

Oh, who cares if it's done by June.  I'll just pitch a tent 'down the beach'  and enjoy the view!

Many blessings to all of you.  I'm counting mine every day!

Tia