The logical place for the mailbox, to my mind, would be hanging on the wall next to the front door -- but that's the way it was for most of the many houses I grew up in. But do check to make sure that a new location is allowed. If you have to put it somewhere away from the front door, consider a brick pillar that surrounds a utilitarian plastic or metal box (I like the idea but I think I wouldn't want it in front of your house). Many pictures here: http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=imghp&biw=1020&bih=832&q=mailbox+brick&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai= You might also see what you can find in the way of old-style mailboxes. Home renovation stores? Antique shops? Estate sales or auctions? Junkyards? tibs makes a good point about possible bulbs. It would be interesting to know what shrubs and plants the previous owners removed; a neighbor with a loved-looking garden might be able to tell you. Did the PO's take the plants with them or merely tear them out? If the latter, I'd assume that either the plants were in poor shape, required more maintenance to look good than the PO's could handle (for whatever reason), or that there were large shrubs that blocked the view of the house and someone decided the house would be more likely to sell without the landscaping. Then again, there's that huge bed full of mulch. Could be bulbs ... could be lots of bulbs....

I just removed a seal exactly like that from my garage door. It came off in 30 or so pieces. I am(now retired) a handyman, so had other than normal DIY tools---could not save the seal. It was hard and deteriorated anyway. Adding the L shaped aluminum will simply trap water between the metal and door sheathing---and collect at the bottom, further degrading the door. Short of replacing the two lower sections, installing a new door is the better long term fix. Use the money you would spend on a Band-Aid as a down payment on a new door.

Provia is one of my choices. In my area protection from the winters' cold, winds, and banking snow is the first concern. The only Provia dealer I can find is in Minneapolis, MN; that's about a 7 hour drive from me. I tried sending an email to the company yesterday, and it was returned as "not a valid address". I am going to call them tomorrow. I hoping they can make a storm door with the white outer frame, to match the windows, but have the cross piece for the removeable glass/screen parts painted in the dark brown so it won't appear as a white bar across my wood tone/textured steel door. If not I'll see what they think about a dark brown storm door over my dark brown door. The door faces due east, and it very hot on the exterior until after noon. Once the sun moves over the house it cools off. The screen would be in the upper section from Spring until freezing weather.

I am thankful for any and all suggestions! I appreciate all views. The new door is an insulated steel door by Waudena, out of Wisconsin. I do open the casements windows on either side of the front window, but if the door is open I can see my Purple Martin colony and part of the garden from the kitchen. I live in North Dakota with -20 to -40 temps common in the winter, howling winds, banking snow, and all sorts of lovely weather. A storm door is a necessary evil. Still, in the brief but bright summer, I'd love to have a "view."