FINISHING UP SUMMER PROJECTS PLUS HALLOWEEN FUN

After 26 years, it was time for a new roof.  Thank goodness the insurance company agreed!  Here is the before picture on the day they loaded the new shingles onto the roof.

We decided to change the color of the roof to onyx.  And, of course, then I wasn't satisfied with the current paint scheme (even though the house didn't need painting!).   I have a terrible time picking out paint colors.  So, I just went to 

 Sherwin-Williams.com, and found a house with a black roof and a color scheme I liked.  And then just went with it -- the body is SW2827 (Colonial Revival Stone); the trim is SW2829 (Classical White); the door is SW2802 (Rookwood Red); and the shutters are SW6258 (Tricorn Black).  It took Bob a month to paint, but we are pleased with the result.

 I've never liked the flimsy, fake original shutters on the house.  We couldn't justify the cost of putting up working shutters -- no hurricanes in Colorado and frontier raids are a thing of the past.  Shutters in this area are more just an architectural detail to keep the facade of 1980s ranch-style houses from looking so flat.   Below, is a before collage of the flimsy, louvered shutters and the after with the new paneled shutters that Bob built.  Much better!!!!

   Halloween also begins for us in the summer when Wyatt and his Papa Bob plant the pumpkin seeds in the garden.  After watering and watching all summer, they pick a day in October to harvest their crop.

  Then it is time to construct their annual display on our front porch.  This usually includes a pumpkin man after a dig through our bottomless costume box; a trip to get corn stalks; and, of course, lunch out.  

 It always takes a lot of activity to keep this 10-year-old occupied.  So, this week he and I had a session in the kitchen decorating Halloween cupcakes.  We made bats and skeletons this year.

 Even though Caitlin is getting older (at 16); she and I did have some kitchen time making Frankensteins for her friends.

These Halloween kitchen crafts came from the dashrecipes.com website.

I can't believe that it is almost November - a time for family birthdays and Thanksgiving.  Can Christmas be far behind?

I'll be joining the following parties -- please check these blogs out and tell them how much you appreciate their efforts!
 Little Red House for Mosaic Monday
Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Northern Cottage for Partytime Tuesday
Cozy Little House for Tweak It Tuesday
A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday
The Vintage Farmhouse for Creative Things Thursday
The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursday
Designs By Gollum for Foodie Friday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday

SUMMER AT THE SALMAGUNDI HOUSEHOLD

This week August will begin. I'm ready as summer is not my favorite time of the year. Bring on Fall and the Holidays!

In the meantime, we need to finish up the summer projects.

We're getting a new roof - the shingles have been delivered and placed on the roof. Hopefully, the crew will be here this week to do the dirty work; and we will have a new 'onyx black' roof. The change in roof color, of course, will probably mean a complete paint job on the house. I'm already looking at paint samples.

Our house is 26 years old, and the fence was showing its age. Bob has decided to replace it in stages. Our son came home for a few days to help with the sides and gates. When you get two highly educated mathematicians/engineers together, things are checked for level over and over!

And, if you are 10 years old, wet concrete just calls for getting your hands dirty.

And, what have I been doing -- lots of cooking to keep the troops fed. Real men DO eat quiche!

This cutie and I have some major shopping plans week after next before school starts. That's the best part of summer for a soon-to-be high school sophomore. She's been pretty busy this summer training for the cross-country season plus she goes to church camp next week for some serious volunteer labor. As she gets older, 'grammy time' gets shortened; but we plan to make up for it on our shopping trip.

I'm taking a blogging break for a couple of weeks to finish up the summer and recharge my batteries. See you then!