Saturday saw the completion of the house repairs, but first

Up early Saturday morning, cool, great for walking, I went to the pond.

Here's the neighbor's hibiscus, more mature than mine, but it also goes to dry sticks over winter 

Here's my hibiscus 

And the morning glories forming a lovely vertical focal point with the hibiscus.

I was out on the deck quite a while, since the butterfly bush casts enough morning shade now. I used to watch those fancy gardening shows where people with large gardens and even larger budgets planted endlessly, making all kinds of outdoor rooms. 

The one useful thing I learned was to remember to have at least one vertical focal point. I could do that without a big budget or garden, and it does make the place work better as a design, or as near as most of us come to it. This year its morning glories rivalled by hibiscus. Posh stuff.

Then the contractors arrived and it was all drills and saws and blowers all day. Visits from various neighbors interested in the goings on.

New flooring in the kitchen, some fancy high tech clicky plank stuff, all the room painted, exterior completely done, with extra paint job thrown in on a part of the wood that the HOA painters had patched badly. Now it looks great. 

They also fixed my storm door which was slumping on the hinges after being opened and slammed hundreds of times over the last few days. Now it closes normally.

All the players departed mid afternoon, leaving me desperate for a cup of tea, having had no access to the kitchen.  That, and a snack on the deck, were just right. 

I'm so glad it's done, my car's home, and I can start organizing the kitchen once the paint's dry.  Saturday evening was about planning this with my feet up and handy beverages.

Pictures

Floor in progress 

I don't care how much they pay them, it's not enough 

Clearing up ready to go 

The older man facing us is the crew chief who went to endless trouble over every detail. Next month he's visiting his parents in Brazil and he told me I reminded him of his Mami. When they left I asked him to say hi to her from me.

Left, his back to us, the multi talented man who prepped and painted the kitchen then installed the floor. The other man did exterior work up and down ladders all week.

New kitchen floor, temp curtain, a length of embroidered sari (!)

The paintwork and the flooring make the old cabinets look much better.

Here's how the stucco is drying in the sun and matching its surroundings 

From across the street it's blending in as it dries.

And here's where I had another idea

You see the lack of vegetation between cars and people tromping over it, demolishing the daisies, daylilies and daffodils. Well, maybe this can work better.

See Gary's similar area next door. A few pavers, a couple of chairs maybe a bistro table, and I'd have a nice little area. Also it would keep ants out of the house if there's no vegetation up against the foundation.

I haven't mentioned this to him yet, but I bet he'd help. He loves stuff like this.

Happy day everyone, caution, woman with ideas in the area.