I am prepared to order a period-correct custom-made soapstone sink for my 1894 kitchen. And a non-period faucet. But..I hesitate. I hesitate. It is all Walter’s fault. I have never met Walter, but I fell down the rabbit hole of his website. You see, Walter is a vintage plumbing obsessive. He restores and installs. A…

So, y’all now know that I have changed my plans for the kitchen of the Cross House. Rather than install a huge island with sink and appliances under, I am going to do a soapstone sink in what I believe is the original location: smack up against the huge south window. The sink will have…

For a while now, I have been rethinking my plan for the kitchen at the Cross House. When I purchased the house I had no idea of where the sink was in 1894. After some sleuthing, the evidence suggested that it was, however improbably, right in front of the huge south double window. I have…

Yesterday, I arrived at the Cross House. The temperature was in the 20s. It was windy. I prayed the boilers were working, as I had not been at the house the day before. Unlocking the front door, I stepped inside. The boilers were clearly off. Oh dear. Although the house did not seem cold. Quickly,…

In 2013, I began a major renovation of the house I’ve lived in since 1996. I began to transform one bedroom into a huge en-suite spa-style bathroom. The old 1-car garage into another huge spa-style en-suite bathroom, and with vaulted ceilings. And a total redo of the kitchen. While all this was underway, in early…

In a time far, far away time, a time before life-as-we-know-it collapsed, I purchased a lovely bedroom set for the Octagon Bedroom suite. This was in January, which feels 594 years ago.       There was a lot of discussion about getting a mattress for the bed, as vintage beds are normally an odd…

    FUCK! I am soooooooooooooo sick of shingling. I have been putting off this very minor amount of work for days because I got nauseous just thinking about cutting more shingles. Today, I procrastinated yet again, finally arriving at the house at 5PM. Getting out of the car, I felt my energy deflate. By…

Last night, late, we had a windstorm! With winds up to 45MPH! I kept running outside to check out the cat fence where I live. Was it still standing? It was! Then I began to worry about the wood scaffolding at the Cross House. HOW could it and the tarp survive all this?    …

Yesterday, I arrived at the Cross House and a package was sitting on the front porch. Curious, as I do not use the house as a mailing address. Taking the package inside, I opened did, and revealed something gorgeous:     A note was included, and John was gifting me the book. John lives here:…

                                      I am thrilled this vital work is completed. I have spent four years thinking about it and planning it. Will all my cunning work? A big storm will let us know. Pray.