In August, 2014, I started this blog. And had no idea what I was getting myself into. When the blog went online I was told to expect around 500 views a month. “It’s just a blog about an old house in Kansas.” Well, I thought: 500 views? Whoee! As things developed however, this estimate proved…inaccurate….

Yesterday, thanks to Melody, we all got to enjoy looking at variations of the “eye” in the big gable of the Cross House. Should it be left all green? Should some wall color be added? Should more wall color be added? Oh! What to do? What to do! Y’all were all over the place! Some…

      I am fascinated by photo-shop! Wow. Wow! THANKS Melody! These images are incredibly helpful. For, I now know, thanks to Melody, that I do not want to proceed with image #3. This is too busy and veers dangerously close to my biggest fear: having the Cross House look cartoony. I am kinda…

    I think I do like this better. And now I wonder if the flat area between the wide outer ring, and the thin inner ring, should also be the wall color? Or would that start looking too cartoonish (my big fear)?      

  Today I painted the eye green. It had been the wall color. But Ross is not 100% thrilled. I think what is needed is for the flat area surrounding the acanthus leaves to be painted the wall color. This way, the center will look like a elaborate brooch clipped onto the house. Love the…

Two houses south of the 1894 Cross House is house built circa-1910, and at 510 Union. I suspect it was designed by architect Charles Squires, who also designed my house. 510 is now listed for sale! Originally, it was a one-family home but was long ago converted into three units: one in the basement, one…

                                                              The painted garlands look prefect. WHY didn’t I do this three years ago? The eye…looks better. I am not however 100% thrilled and am…

        The mystery curb fascinates me. Why is it there? What purpose does it serve? Well, I love my mysterious curb. Since buying the house in 2014, I weekly weed-wack the curb to glorious visibility.     I read somewhere that Harrison Cross built the three houses next to the Cross House,…

        I slop paint on the glass with no concern to being neat. When the paint is dry, I take a 6-inch putty knife, rest it on the glass and against the glazing, and with a SHARP straight-edge razor, cut away the extraneous paint. The result is…perfection. And quick and easy, too!…

I have written about the bat which has taken up residence outside the Cross House. Well, I just found a video online. And you have to watch this! Enjoy!        

      This stained-glass panel is the final one restored by Hoefer Stained Glass (thanks Scott and Eric!) as part of the 2015 Heritage Trust Fund grant. About 2/3 of the 42 stained glass windows in the Cross House were restored by Hoefer as part of the grant. The final 1/3 will be restored as…

I have done a series of posts about…the bat. The bat has been elusive, nay, shy about being photographed. But today I was able to capture a glamour shot. Wanna see? Scroll way down…                                     I am highly…

I have done several posts about a bat being in my way. I even had a nightmare about the bat in my way. HOW was I going to restore the left curved corner with a damn bat in residence? Then a miracle happened. The very day I needed to begin on the left curved corner…the…