Nice to have some income from a renter. My thought is to remove large limbs that she drapes cords from. Even make sure her electrical, etc... is up to date/ tidy, and might that help her?!

The exercise thing shouldn't be in your view, imo. and again I think you have the right [as though you're a home association with fussy rules] to ask that she place it elsewhere.... yeh, or no?

The siding may be asbestos and if so, don't touch it, just paint over. If it isn't, you can remove and replace with something else. The electric looks to be hazardous and that is your responsibility as LL Buy her an expandable hose and hose pot and insist she replace hers with it. If she is older, handling a traditional heavy hose may be too much for her. This will lighten her burden and yours.

Nah. She is a fragile, kind, elderly lady in poor health and her dream is that some day she will feel well enough to use that glider. I won't take that away. . But I will ask her to move that canvas draped over it, in a few days. That wire is her tv dish cable. I can ask my husband about shortening it somehow.

I get it - but you could ask her: "Where can I help you place/ store your glider?" ....

I've tried those palettes on the "imagine" software, and it feels too contemporary to me. I want a look that's more from the 40's or early 50's, something a little more like a dollhouse. When (if, I should say) she ever goes, this cottage will be for my (future) grandchildren on visits. I want it to be fun. The yellow is light, perhaps DE Lemon Sorbet. What siding and shutter colors would be cheerful with that?

Light yellow goes well with white. I would do some pruning for fire and windstorm safety.

You could also ask your tenant what she wants. A new hose reel, a new door mat, and some new flowers in the windowbox may be welcome, maybe not. Ask.

Hmmm. You are the owner, you make the decisions. You aren't being mean or cruel. Remember, the elderly (in general) dislike change. That big limb overhanging the rear has to go. The chickens need another spot. Make a plan and implement it. The glider goes into storage, you will bring it out if asked. When is the last time you performed an inspection of the interior? This situation can get out of hand quite quickly. Ask me how I know.

I would paint sidings cream with sage door, shutters etc. Lay some pea gravel with big pavers, some nice big pots with roses in the front. Definitely need some limbs cut off those huge trees

How about a soft lavender on the siding, pale yellow shutters and white flower box? A few sections of white picket fence that encloses an area around the door and abuts the house on both sides. No chickens underfoot for an unsteady elder!
Line the outside of the fencing with lavender. Simple, pretty.

cwestover, I'm not sure what you mean by line the outside of the fencing with lavender--do you mean lavender plants? So pale yellow on the house AND shutters, and lavender on the siding, white on the doors (there are 2) and the trim of the window?

Those chickens are the light of her life; she loves when the come look in her door and call her. I already told her we are going to eat them all by New Years and get more next spring. She asked me to give her one to roast!

Yes, I am suggesting lavender plants on "your" side of the fence. The lavender and fence would set off and define the little cottage while helping screen the clutter and garbage can. You indicated you were in southern CA so I would expect them to do well in your area. And pretty everything up while echoing and complementing the color of the cottage.
Perhaps you could add a bench or seating area to further enhance your view. What would you like to see out your window when you look at the cottage?

I'd keep the pale yellow, paint the siding white, and then do periwinkle shutters. It will be awesome! Just a sec and I'll mock it up.

acm, HOW IN THE WORLD did you do that so fast. I have been struggling with the DE imager and had so much trouble . Cant get the Sherwin Williams to work at all. How did you get the white paint to go around the glider and the wreath? That blue is so cute!

Lest you all feel too sorry for me with that view out my kitchen window, I better share the view out my other kitchen window.

Just beautiful, that sky

This was the view out my window, not as pretty as yours, but we did have some laughs

You can see there are a number of things that aren't exactly in control here.

HAHAHAHAHAHA!