This work is being done by Justin in the mornings. So, when I arrive in the afternoons, it is like pixies are doing the work! The decking appears to be original, as improbable as this seems. Justin thinks it is yellow pine. He is going to see if such wood can be…

Today, I received a note from Cindi M, informing me that Mary Garner-Mitchell, a long-time commenter on Restoring Ross, had passed away due to cancer. I gasped. Mary and I have been privately corresponded since this blog was created in 2014. I adored her. Last year she wrote about her cancer diagnosis, and in December…

  Today, my neighbor, Brad, stopped by while I was working on the Cross House. I was on the porch roof. He explained that he was an extrovert and was losing his mind staying at home, alone. He has not been able to see his girlfriend, Amy, for three weeks now. He figured that he…

      Due to, you know, Doug spent his time in the round receiving room doing all this work, while I spent my time on the second floor, outside, painting. I had asked him to take a bunch of pictures and send them to me so I could do a blog post. This was…

The main porch of the Cross House is big. And L-shaped. I cannot tell if the decking, which is obviously very old, is original or not. So, is it from 1894? Or, perhaps, from 1930? I have no idea. The decking though is mostly in very good condition. The problem areas are all at the…

                          So, what looks fine from the ground proves a disaster up close. It is fascinating just how beat-up the south facade is, as the other three facades were all in vastly better condition. The only good news is that the shingles surrounding…

So, y’all know that the Cross House received two Heritage Trust grants. This was to enable: Shingling all the secondary roofs. Relining the built-in gutters. Restoring 43 stained-glass windows. Replacing rotted sills. Restoring lost siding in NE corner. Restoring tower finial. Recreating lost octagon tower finial. Restoring many of the clear-glass windows. Replacing most of…

        As Doug and I toured the house he kept saying: “Wow. As we walk around I keep seeing my work everywhere!” It is true. Doug, as with Justin, has been an indispensable, invaluable, and consistent help in restoring the house. I shudder to think how vasty harder everything would have been…

I have done a number of posts on my kitchen, and on kitchens in general. Just type in KITCHEN to the new search box! In 2016, I unveiled my plan for the kitchen. In short:     Island “UFO” Double Sinks Barstool(s) TV Counter for microwave, blender, toaster. Radiator Recreated laundry chute Recreated dumbwaiter Relocated…