August 12th my friend Jessee who is a professional painter began painting the exterior of my house! I was so excited as I have been waiting for this to happen for quite a while. We had had so much rain that our project date kept being pushed up!!

So Jess and Ed arrived around 8am and had barely gotten more than a few brush strokes on when the doorbell rang and it was one of the persons from the ARC-- the ARCHETUAL REVIEW COMMITTEE. I live in a DEED RESTRICTED COMMUNITY so have to have everything approved...painting, landscaping, etc. I had given them six paint samples several months ago and they had approved #3...SILVER MAUVE and BELLADONA.

When I opened the front door, "Mrs X" shoved a paper in my face and told me I had the wrong color on the house and I had to stop painting immediately. I have to say that I was extremely inappropriate in my response ...but I went inside to get the paint chip and when I returned I had at least calmed down enough to be half way civil to her. Shw was at her wits end and not at all happy with the paint but I bascially said - you approved it and I am NOT taking it off.

She tried to get the painters to change the color by making it darker but Jess said that they just couldnt do that.

She said that they had looked at the sample under florescent light and thought it was gray ... to which i replied -- "well if you were so concerned about the color then you should have looked at it in the sunlight like I did!!!"

A few more words were batted around and I again told her that under no circumstance would I remove the paint and shortly she left.

Later that afternoon, the doorbell rang again and it was my friend Bobby who although not on the Board has good friends who are-- they sent him down to talk to me!! He knew before he came that it was useless but I guess he thought that maybe I would reconsider. He even said that the Board might pay for the paint, labor, etc that had been done if i would take it off... to which i replied "NO" they approved it and now its their problem. We talked for over an hour but I never waivered in my stand.

My friends and neighbors LOVE the colors and I have to say I love them too!

Here are a couple pictures...we arent quite finished but at least you will get the idea.








Whatta think????

I had to cut my roses back but once they grow back I will have beautiful Don Juan's once again cascading on the columns.. Breathtaking!!!