Very Classy Couple...wouldn't you say?
She knows they're cool! See the twinkle in Grace's eyes!

Seven months later - on September 23, 1952 - a certain candidate for vice president invoked his wife's coat to humanize himself and his family (and dodge an early scandal):"Pat and I have the satisfaction that every dime that we've got is honestly ours. I should say this, that Pat doesn't have a mink coat. But she does have a respectable Republican cloth coat, and I always tell her she'd look good in anything." The next year, U.S. fur coat sales revenue hit a new low.

My guess is the green stuff is to keep long-lasting snowdrifts off the clapboards to minimize weathering of the paint and wood during the long Minnesota winter.

[I suspect it has to do with siding gaposis and drafts. - Dave]

What's the purpose of the green wrap around the lower part of the wall? It looks like it's held on with lengths of furring strip. Also, it looks like Hubert needs to get busy with the tank sprayer and some bleach, to get that mildew off of the siding. But that can wait until spring.

[This is Hubert's parents' house. - Dave]

Grace has her fur to keep her warm, and Sally must be wisely in by the fire. Come spring, it looks like it will be time for some house maintenance. The gutters could use repair. The green around the bottom of the house is probably just for winter insulation. I love these pictures. The Tuttles looks so happy.

I can never get enough of Grace's smiles and lovely demeanor.

Today, solid black gas cylinders are Nitrogen, Hydrogen, or Acetylene. What ever it is, it looks like it is being used for some sort of rehab work under the green plastic. Be careful now, the last two go BOOM!
On another note... isn't Grace just lovely.

The black tank is probably a Skelgas propane tank. Theirs were black.

Back in the day when you could buy your wife a mink coat you had finally made it. I remember when my mom got her's.

My folks used propane to cook, there being no gas line on Summer Street in Appleton, Wisc., in 1950. The tank was silver in color, not black.

Hubert's is the perfect man's winter coat. Timeless.

get a hat. This guy knows how to wear one.

as to what that sinister looking acetylene, helium, oxygen, propane, hot water tank looking thing is in the background.

[Nitrous oxide for Hubert's basement "clinic." - Dave]