Repairing my porch?

As an update to my veggie garden, I spent yesterday weeding my garden,

then using all the compost that was ready in the container in this photo.

You can now see my spinach, even though I ran out of compost as I was finishing this up.

The weeds were overwhelming, as you can see how full the compost container above is. My next step will be to place shredded paper (junk mail and newspaper) over this. I'm starting to feel better about the garden and the weeds, but I'm really sore and tired. It was a full day.

As an update on my flower garden growth, here are the remains of The Embrace.

You can see the plants and wildflowers in the garden have take over, and the tulip is just a memory. More photos of my very overgrown front garden below.

I don't like to show my front porch because it is in sad need of repair. About the only good thing about it is the fact that Bleubeard likes to sit on it while I'm outside.

It is in such bad shape, I decided I need to do something about it. So Monday, the first of the contractors I called for bids came to measure and give me a bid on a few things I want done.

In years past, I might have done it myself, but my arthritis has gotten so bad I now feel it would take me two years to make all the repairs and I can't take that long to get into my front door.

Here is the list I gave the contractor on which he was to make a bid:
Repair and paint porch.
Replace trim around columns.
Add a hand rail going down steps so I don’t slip and fall.
Fix or replace the gutters.
Remove branches close to the roof so the new roof doesn’t get ruined.

Although it is still completely safe, it looks bad.

The wood is bad (but not rotten) in some spots and will one day become a hazard if I don't do something about it.

It really looks bad when anyone comes for a visit.

It's going to take more than a fresh coat of paint to make this a functional porch.

Here's the first guy.

After taking measurements, he took a few pictures, too.

Here he is taking pictures of my porch from the street.

I don't see what he can tell from the street. My once nearly barren front yard is now overrun with plants fighting for space in this truly overgrown front yard. Not even the irises, which are in bloom in every other part of the city, have shown their selves yet.

While I wait for flowers to bloom, I must also wait for this written bid, then go through the process at least two more times. Not sure how long this process will take, but for now, it's a waiting game and scheduling nightmare that keeps me from my art. Between my front porch and yard, my veggie garden woes, and grass that is so high I might get lost in it, I won't be doing any art for several days. I also have been unable to visit all my favorite blogs, but hope to catch up tomorrow or Sunday. AHHHH!!! The joys of home ownership.

I was searching for any blog that talks about home building construction and most of the ones I found under that category were written by fire fighters who discuss the problems they have when they are trying to put out fires. I finally found one that was not fire fighter related. The blog is run by Elspeth Briscoe of Elspeth Briscoe Designs. In her profile, she notes that she graduated from Oxford with a degree in Landscape Design with distinction. Her belief is people should treat their outside space the same as their inside space. Her blog is filled with art and many videos. I loved the art she featured. I thought I was getting a construction blog, but it turned into much more. Enjoy.