House in Progress Diary

Labor Day: Painting Trim

We labored on Labor Day Weekend by beginning to paint the trim on the house. We didn't finish, but it's a start!

On Tuesday morning, when Grace and I went for a walk, our neighbor who lives directly across the street from us motioned us over excitedly.

I love this neighbor. He is one of the hardest working neighbors in the 'hood. He is retired, in his seventies, and runs for exercise. His lawn is so nice that it looks almost fake. He frequently mows the lawns of the neighbors on either side of his house so the grass is exactly even. I'm not making that up.

Once, when it was raining, I ran to the car to get something and saw him watering his lawn. In the rain. I teasingly yelled to him, "Hey! Mr. N, it's raining!" (As in, what's up with the hose?) He yelled back laughing, "Not enough!!"

I'm sure having to get up everyday and sit on their front steps and stare at our house across the street must pain them. I feel tremendously guilty about that. Because, normally, I'm all about things looking finished and orderly and well-kept. But this house is anything but normal.

Anyway, I thought he was going to hug and kiss me on Tuesday morning. "The house!!! You're painting it!! It looks great!!!" He beamed enthusiastically.

"Thanks!" I chirped, equally enthusiastic. And then felt too guilty to admit that we're not going to be able to finish it for a couple of weekends still.

That poor, poor, sweet man.

Posted by jeanne on September 6, 2007 at 12:36 PM (1)