Hi All, I appreciate your wisdom. :-) Even though I may have sounded nuts (and I was!), I realize "Rome wasn't built in a day." I'm glad I've gotten to the plantings this year and think they will help a bit in time. Heaven knows that's the truth for the house--there was *nothing* here when I bought 4 years ago. So, it's come a *long* way. But, I'm a school teacher and during Aug-May I have *no* time. Honestly-none. So, I do what I can in the summer (although we have work on prep and admin. now). While I enjoy the product of gardening/interior design, I enjoy process less--esp in the garden where it is physically hard for me to work (due to an injury that makes walking/digging painful). Soooo...I'll admit I'm looking for something that works the first time, if possible. That said, I'm not beyond moving things if I have to and next year will move 2 laurels--somewhere--as they don't work where they are. And, I do enjoy it at its core. All this reminds me of the "what I learned from gardening" thread. I do need to learn patience and to enjoy the modest things that the garden brings. :-) So, resalesally--you are right that I should just "go" and stop obsessing. HA! :-) Nell- Thanks for your comments, too. It is a great door that they have. (Wonder if I might be too lazy to clean those panes?? Hmmm....) Memo- Thanks for the awning suggestion. Trouble is, I just don't like awnings. I know I'm getting away from the authenticity of the house a bit...but based on my completely crude "paint" experiments in WORD, thing something raised a bit will help give me what I'm looking for. But...you might be right about the awning being so tiny compared to the stoop. (Man, I have *got* to learn photoshop to test your theory out.) As for the lattice...so you're saying to post it in the ground *perpendicular* to the stoop? Is that right? Hmmm...possibly. Hadn't thought of that. What do you think about covering the concrete w/ wood and a railing and giving the house a more "cottage" feel? EVERYONE - Paint trim vote for the bottom of the house?? Thanks, ya'll! Keep those ideas coming.

Lovely pictures everyone..Sharon your "arizona sun" gaillardia looks taller then mine..I was disappointed on how short mine are...Pudge your grass bed is wonderful. After poking along all summer my polish spirit clematis is finally blooming most of the annuals in my flowerbeds paid no attention to the frost Last year the annual Hollyhocks were outstanding...this year they have just began to bloom and the flowers are really weirdly shaped It hasn't happened before but my rugosa cabbage type rose decided to put on a few blooms on this years new growth..second time around for it and smells just as lovely.. ---savona---

I am not sure I have pics but since 9-11 we always fly the flag from our mailbox, 24/7 illuminated at night. So we are always set for the 4th(and Armed Forces Day etc). I plant red geraniums, blue lobelia and white baptisia together in a pot on each side of the porch steps. Little flags are in the pots. More little flags march across the front sidewalk. Most people on our street do this too! We hang a red white and blue bunting underneath one second floor window(the other is right over the porch roof and it doesnt fit) Buntings are big around here- lots of huge porches(not mine and we have roses growing up it so we don't hang anything on the front of the porch.) I do have red white and blue flowers in hanging baskets on each side of the porch. I cover my front porch chair cushions with red white or blue fabric(just wrapped for the day) In the back yard, my hanging baskets of flowers each have a little flag in them. red white and blue tableclothes. A small galvanized decorative bucket filled partway with sand with a red white and blue taper candles stuck in each bucket for a centerpiece.(like roman candles) And even tho we are 3 hours from the beach I like to scatter some shells around on the tables. Our town hosts a huge regional 4th parade- for the last 50+ years. The route is a block and a half up from our house.We have a huge number of people walking to the parade by our houses so we all go full out! Not competing- just enthusiastic! HTH Sue

We always had them when we were kids. Supervised of course, but with Reservation shops in all 4 directions, the only thing limiting what could be bought was the budget. It's been a lot of years since we've done much with fireworks ourselves. Our city would have a display (not this year) that we didn't even have to go out for, we could view it from above and across the river at the living room windows. Current city restrictions are 9 AM until midnight today only for igniting any kind of fireworks and all the 'good stuff' is banned now. I've been hearing fireworks noises for the last three days though, and off and on all day today.