OTHER COOL THINGS is the blog page where I go off topic. In other words, this is a page where I ramble about a wide variety of subjects which have nothing to do with the Cross House restoration or Emporia.
OTHER COOL THINGS is where I might suggest a great new restaurant. Or a movie I enjoyed, or book. Or a favored blog.
OTHER COOL THINGS may — fasten your seat belt — open discussions about dangerous subjects such politics or religion.
OTHER COOL THINGS will, in short, be a page where I ramble about anything which captures my special attention. Like, perhaps, a nice moment I had with my favorite cat Gilda.
I love comments, so please do not hesitate to toss your two cents in, even if you disagree with me.
My blog posts are below. Enjoy!
Gilda. My favorite ever cat.
The Case of the Vanished Bench? PART III
In 2020, I did two posts on what I believe is the vanished stair hall built-in bench. Post I Post II Before reading this new post (and when you have the time), I suggest you get some wine out, and re-read the first two posts. They are rich with information. And, remember, Restoring Ross always…
Continue ReadingResurrecting The Lost Laundry Chute
In 1929, the Cross House was converted into apartments on the second floor, and the new owner (Scott Mouse, Sr.) created a private apartment for his family on the first floor. This suite…I think…consisted of a living room (the former dining room), kitchen, and bedroom (the former library). However, to access the bedroom, a new…
Continue ReadingA Delicious Gill
My online vintage lighting store. My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingDoor Update
After the stripping is done, I will sand down the door. Then amber shellac it, as it was originally. Ross excited.
Continue ReadingSanta Lisa #4
My online vintage lighting store. My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingBaby Stepping
While restoring the south hall was not remotely on my to do list for 2022 it unexpectedly became a project. All renovation projects are like this. The hall became a project due to: Moving the library door back to its near-original location…
Continue ReadingBefore. After.
My online vintage lighting store. FABULOUS! DAZZLING! STRIKING! The metal is brass. The chandelier is an impressive 23-inches wide (from candle to candle). Of note is how…
Continue ReadingPlumb Place. A CLARIFICATION
The Emporia Gazette recently did an article about the new owner of Plumb Place. To my surprise, I was quoted, even though I gave no interview for the article. The article stated this: “MacTaggart hoped someone else would win the bidding for the mansion.” This stunned me. For, I have never written as such. In…
Continue ReadingPlumb Place: A Final Update
This is my 13th, and final, post trying to save Plumb Place. A final round of five bids were accepted for consideration by a judge. All were above ask, a significant improvement from the low-ball offer previously accepted. I had spoken with one of the these final-round bidders. He impressed me with his knowledge…
Continue ReadingJust Say No
This is a human rights post. Please scroll down if interested. Recently, I did a post about an important vote coming up in Kansas, on Tuesday, August 2. Yet again, the Republican party is doing everything it can to make…
Continue ReadingA Room With A View
The Cross House is blessed with a lot of sunlight. I adore sunlight. But under the main stair was a dark and creepy space. There was just no sunlight. This though is not what the architect intended. This was the result of later changes. And today? Scroll down… …
Continue ReadingSanta Lisa #3
My online vintage lighting store. Both fixtures were in horrible condition. It is obvious that each was stored away for many decades, as they were caked with dust and dirt. The surface-mounted fixture was also…argh!!!!…painted brown at some point. I have yet to remove this. The chandelier was…
Continue ReadingSanta Lisa #2
My online vintage lighting store. My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingThe Case of the Mysterious Door. RESOLVED!!!!!!!!
The stair, as drawn, had steps spilling to the north, and with curved corner wall (right). So, the whole lower stair was intended to be an L-shape. However, as built, the whole lower stair was a U-shape with the steps spilling down to the east. And the plastered corner, while framed out as a…
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