Christmas Lights 2013

So here is the 1st effort at Christmas lights outside. 
As you can see, I can't quite reach the 2nd story...

Those 'winged things' are lighted bows with a swag, they look pretty in real life.
The porch has a 'curtain' of icicle lights - I really love them.
The wreaths in the windows don't show up very well - battery operated.

My future dream-come-true is to get one of those sleigh & reindeer blow mold, vintage - of course.  To go on the roof just outside the turret.  some day, some day.

Greater Little Rock Preservation Award

Our "Center Street Project" received an Award of Merit from the Quapaw Quarter Association at their annual meeting - Greater Little Rock Preservation Awards.  We are so proud!

http://www.slideshare.net/quapawquarter/qqas-2013-annual-report-and-greater-little-rock-preservation-awards  (see slide 41 for Center Street)

fancy newel post topper

At the top of the stairs with a two story drop...Lilly the Christmas Kitty decides she is a fancy newel post topper...

Landscaping finally gets started

We finally got started on the landscaping the end of April.  Focusing on the area along the foundation on the front & street side of the house.  Plan is to start with a good based of perennials and then a few annuals scattered in and add on each year depending on how it all grows.  We got several roses of a couple types; some vines; Azaleas; blue-ball-bushes (hydrangea); these cool dark Dahlias;  Japonica and a few other things.

The best thing is that we got the flower beds/landscaping a new border.  It is a concrete border that looks similar to brick but is really quick & affordable.
Here is their website - check them out - http://classicalcurbs.com/

We've only started on the front yard...back yard is overwhelming & overgrown.
The last two months we did start hauling away piles of junk from the back yard in trailer loads.  This is stuff that we inherited from the previous owner - including the torn down stairs & deck on the back of the house.  So far it has been two trips to the landfill & 1400 lbs of wood & brush - probably only one or two more trips.