LOL Kendra.....with a name like that I wondered if you were pulling my chains. But, I trusted you and looked it up. I wish! I think I am out of its territory and although it sure looked a lot like the picture I got such a brief sighting, it was certainly not careful enough to substantiate a bird who is not typically found this far north. Another reason I felt like such a ding-bat is my husband has built at least ten duck nest boxes for a friend...... and what on earth did I even think nested in those? I just know they were searching for a cavity because we keep our scraggly cavity laden trees for the cavity dwelling birds since we have enough acreage we also have room for the 'pretty' ones.

Thanks so much everyone! I'm reading this instead of doing my statistics midterm...so maybe that's a thanks? Instead of a thanks! Ha ha! Anyway, this year's budget is about $2k which could stretch to cover new stairs or new railings but wouldn't extend to porching out the roofline unless I learn some carpentry skills really quick. I completely 100% agree that adding a porch over the front door would be amazing. I live in a rainy climate and it is so much more welcoming that way. I totally dream of a front porch so maybe I should look into making it happen. circuspeanut and GreenDesigns, thanks so much for your photoshops. I do love the longer hat! I think I may have made a mistake by making it so high contrast ... maybe a darker beige would be better than charcoal. I have an idea involving doing the porch and the hat in one color on vinyl shake, and leaving the bottom and the side the beige. Let me think on it...but don't let me photoshop it tonight! My midterm is due at midnight. Although I like colored trim, there is no way I would paint cheap vinyl trim, thereby removing its only bonus (low maintenance) but maybe I can go shopping and see if there are multi-colored trims available? I kind of like the look of a white trim with just a little black square around it. Very tailored. I'm mixed on the barn boards. I like the look of them online but am unsure if they fit with the decided charmlessness of my builder-grade beige vinyl -- I love them on houses with shakes! Replacing and reframing the front door is probably out of the budget. Unless I could get one the same width but with skinny sidelights on either side... Ok - what if the darker brown parts were coordinating vinyl shakes? Man I wish my roof were more peaked. This post was edited by robotropolis on Sat, Mar 9, 13 at 21:51

THNKS Annie, I just love all of those pigs. Can't wait to see the one you are working on. I was reading about swirls and they were saying you had to make sure your curlycues were perfectly spaced for it to turn out right, and you have done that, your's look great. I was thinking of getting out my old compass or tracing because my brain does NOT computer "perfectly spaced" LOL

I noticed that the “toe kick” was the same material as the floor molding, but with it painted white it makes the cabinet look as if it is floating above the floor. Although the rest of the floor molding is white, my eye accepts that as floor molding. I find that it is somewhat jarring to have ithe toe kick area white as I think it should be part of the cabinet and to bring the eye down to the floor as part of the cabinet.