My initial thought on the cedar siding is that it competes with the wonderful stone. I have to admit that I did not even see the stone when I first saw the picture. It was only after I read the text where you mention the stone that I noticed it. A crazy though...I have no idea what the interior layout of your house looks like or what is on the other side of that front facing wall. Would it be possible to enclose the area that is your porch with a wall? That would give you a nice looking front facing door and maybe enough room inside for a small foyer with a coat closet. I am a big fan of Gordon Hayward. Ohh...I see that the library down the street says that they have "A Welcoming Garden" in stock. I expect that book expands on some of the ideas presented in the book "Your House, Your Garden" which has some good ideas for designing entry gardens. Another book that I would highly recommend is "Taunton's Front Yard Idea Book" by Jeni Webber. The book "Front Yard Gardens" by Liz Primeau is a decent book with some inspiring gardens. - Brent

Ellen - that does sound heavenly, but the only problem is we sit on top of a huge hill and there's not a speck of shade except under a few little trees in the yard!! I will probably use some of the pieces separately as an accept in my beds - right now is a good time to place them as plants are just awakening and can grow up around it. I may place one in the middle of my daisies and black eyed Susans. May use 2 to form a corner bed somewhere also. I'm still thinking...... Arlene

Uh, my kitchen. I don't think so :-(. You have no idea what I have there. The cupboards fell off, I wasn't well, and couldn't stand the thought of even dealing with the ins co, screwed myself out of more, let alone having it all torn up. I'm going to have to face it sometime. I have shower stall boards duct taped to the wall so the cold air doesn't get in so bad. I wish I could move to an apartment for a couple months and get it done, but that costs more money, too. I've been down that road and cannot stand to have the house torn up and pounding, people coming and going, actually ended up in the emergency room over it several years back. Now a whole wall needs to be redone because the studs are rotten from a roof leak for years I didn't know I had until water started dripping down the wall, that means the countertop has to come off, the sink, garbage disposal, bottom cupboards, ugh! That's why I'm escaping by making the outside better first. If I had a "normal" kitchen, that would be a really cool idea. My kitchen is cute if it were fixed back up. Thanks for the suggestions on the primers. I took everybody's suggestion and am definitely using it upside down. I simply do not have time to do all that with all the other work. I have the rose planted that may climb on it if it does ok, but I can't risk putting the rose on that hot brass finish. The stakes for the ladder are so thick, got them for 10 cents apiece, treated, painted, and the way the ladder legs splay out, drilling and putting in two screws which I was going to do originally just was too much to make sure the stakes were on straight. They could be crooked, but what I do do, it has to be as right as I can get it. Let's see, I have the baby crib, the trellis I have to pay somebody to do, my iron plant stand is still in the shop to be welded, better check on that, and that rack. If I can take my time, I can do it, but I'm really feeling the pressure. Habitat Restore just called to say they have a bunch of register covers in, my friend wants me to come see her roses, my other friend wants me to run an ad for her, I made a huge cherry pie I didn't want to do but didn't want the cherries to go bad once I had thawed them out. And I wanted to do a lot with my plants today . . .I'm feeling really stressed. I wish I could be like other people and go, go, go, but I pay a price for it and have to slow down. Sorry. I just feel like everything is closing in on me. It will pass. That's how I cope. Pretend it's not there until I find the strength to deal with it.

What a great find. Maybe you follow that guy around and collect anything he doesn't want. We got two small satellite dishes an installer didn't want to bother with..........Total Score! Hubby is an electrian and brings home partical spools of wire. He took some to the recycle center and got 50.00 for them. Would have gotten more if he had stripped off the plactic coating. Needless to say I have confiscated the spools of wire.......LOL, also he brought home pieces of metal conduit ( I see windchimes). Gotta love it! if anybody knows an electrician or see a new building being built ask them if you can have their scraps. A lot of contractors just don't want to bother with throwing the stuff away.