Going! Going! Going! GONE!
In April, 2015, I erected a three-story scaffold, with plans to start painting the Great North Wall. Then…it didn’t happen. And the scaffolding just sat and sat and sat, mocking me the whole time. Mean scaffolding.
But THIS year I knew that nothing, NOTHING would prevent me from scaling the Great North Wall. And, the scaffolding actually grew and extended, as it it was a life form.
Then it started to shrink.
And shrink.
And shrink.
And then….vanish!!!!!!!! Oh my gosh, I am SO thrilled to have the scaffolding gone!
I am now working on the porch. The L-shaped walls need repairing/painting. The porch ceiling needs painting. The cornice needs painting. The triple windows need paining (and then I can reinstall the STUNNING and restored stained-glass windows!). The door needs refinishing (can’t wait!!!!). The 1894 porch railing needs repairing and repainting. The single column (I sooooo love these columns!) needs painting. And even though I had a new lattice custom-made in 2014 for this porch, I am going to try and restore the 1894 lattice (and reuse the new lattice on the front porch). In short, this small area is a LOT of work, and should easily consume my few available hours in November. This assumes, of course, that I survive November 8.
This is from a year ago. Once the porch is complete, I am debating whether to erect scaffolding up the TALL wall to the left. I am itchin’ to get up to that sexy gable end. The big window is the dining room, with the Long Bedroom above. I can normally still paint in December and January. Not February. Not really March. So, should I erect the scaffolding with the knowledge that it MIGHT be in place for 5/6 months? Or wait till April to erect it? But the idea of doing nothing to that tall wall for six months freaks me out. Bad. Sigh, I really have no choice.
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November 8 means that your house after your gone will be a single family house or chopped up into small apartments, that’s what November 8 means.
Biting my tongue here. This is a bigger, better, greater country, representing a people who aspire to the same, than some would admit. The Cross House has been, several times, single family, a motel, chopped up, ye gads, a frat house! It was built in a burst of optimism that showed its owners meant to make a lasting mark in the future. It survived, now is prospering again because of Ross’ optimism and dedication. As for its, and our future? I’m with the great German-American Carl Schurz: “My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right.”
I vote to erect the scaffolding. If the winter turns out to be dry and warm, you would either go nuts because you weren’t painting, or you would be tempted to scale the north face as though it were a climbing wall, and risk breaking a window or a leg. Seriously, the north wall is looking great, for some reason I think it is my favorite elevation of the house. Something about all of the different materials and styles all together in one spot, there is something to admire everywhere you look.
I agree about the north elevation. When it is all painted I think it will stop traffic. And my heart!
This is the first time I’ve ever noticed the door on this facade….absolutely stunning…and a bit surprising that it has no window. In thinking about it, I’m surprised the porte cochere isn’t on this side of the house – that door leads directly into the stair hall, right? Ross, do you think the carriage house was planned at the same time as the house…then the location of the porte cochere would make more sense. Sorry guy, I’m rambling here on the afternoon of Nov. 8th! Cheers! 🙂
Yes, the house and carriage house were built at the same time.
The south entrance is under the porte cochere. That leads to a hall, leading to the stairhall.