So this is how the house looked when we first checked it out. Sad. Bench in front was covering up the septic tank (that was ripped out before we moved in). Trees hadn't begun to leaf out yet.
But mainly there were hideous bushes in front. Completely over grown and shutters that screamed from the 1980's.
So we began (with much help) to remove the 30 shutters from the house. And the 12 shutters from the garage.
And to remove some bushes from around the house. (Here you can see the trees and bushes had begun to leaf out! Beautiful!)
We counted the rings in the bushes. At least 50 years old. If you can count by rings.
It was an unforgettable father's day event.
And the days and weeks surrounding it we painted those shutters and put them back up.
And we were left with a much fresher and happier house.
Bushes are gone as is one Japanese maple that was crowding the front door.
Here's back of the house now. Surrounded by the snow of Winter 2013 and early 2014.