Siding!

We are moving on to SIDING now! Tom and I started on the north end of the house so we could figure out what the heck we're doing before starting on the front that we'd see every day. There was a little bit of... spiced debating... while these walls were being done... Something like:

Sandi: Let's check this row with the level.
Tom: No, we checked the starter row.
Sandi: We don't really know what we're doing, let's check every other row so we can make little adjustments if necessary, not big ones.
Tom: Geez, if we have to STOP and check EVERY board, we're never going to get this house done! I don't know why you want to keep wasting time!
*** Get level and find that one end is starting to dip a little***
Sandi: Mmm Hmmm!
Tom: Whatever.

Or something along those lines... :-) Or...

Tom: Let's get the ladders and finish this wall up to the band.
Sandi: I'm not getting on the ladder.
Tom: Come on, let's just get this wall done.
Sandi: I don't do ladders.
Tom: It'll be fine and won't you feel good when this wall is done.
Sandi: Yes, but I'm climbing the ladder under protest.
Tom: Fine. Grab the end of the board.
Sandi: Ok, I'll hold it but I'm not holding it AND nailing.
Tom, grumbling, sets up a 3rd ladder between us so he can finish the nailing.

I didn't realize what a wuss I was until it came time to sway at the top of a ladder with a fiber cement board in one hand and a pneumatic nail gun in the other. And in case you didn't pass second grade math, that doesn't leave any hands to hold on with!

But I have to say, we have gotten MUCH better at this and the front has gone much quicker than the first side.

This is the first side we did. This will be beautiful when it gets painted. A craigslist find. At half the price from the box store, I couldn't pass it up.

I knew the 6" trim that Nick talked us into would be worth the extra expense when we got the siding up. It really makes the trim pop!

Even the girls got in on the action. The top boards are brand new and were my birthday present. The bottom boards were a Craigslist find. (as was the whole north side of the house) They are ugly now, but when painted, you'll never know the difference.

Here's the front porch with our door installed. If you have any fabulous ideas on how to finish the front door alcove, I'd love to hear/see them!! So far, I'm just thinking regular siding painted a shade darker than the paint.

Here's the whole house so far.

And here is Titan on his rock. That silly dog likes to jump up on this huge boulder in our yard and just survey his kingdom. He's so darn cute.