Detroit Reborn: The James Scott Mansion
Previously, I did a post about the extraordinary resurrection of Detroit, where I was born. During the last five years, numerous long-abandoned skyscrapers have been restored, and across the city countless houses have been brought back from the dead. The story of one structure, in particular, has astounded me: The James Scott Mansion. …
Continue ReadingNew Kitty!
Seven days ago I received a frantic note from Julie, who visited the Cross House last year. She was visiting her elderly parents at the family farm when something unexpected arrived: A cat, which Julie suspected was dumped in the area. As Julie wrote: She showed up 2 days ago way up high in the tree…
Continue ReadingThe NE Corner. The 3/4 Mark!
I also did all the prep work on the bottom 1/4, including replacing some shingles. Tomorrow, i will paint the final 1/4!!!!!!!! All the siding on the first floor is new, installed last year, so it will be easy and fast finishing the first floor. Then the scaffolding will be move to the inside…
Continue ReadingThe NE Corner. In the Oven.
Last week, there was a delicious respite in the weather: 72 degrees for several days. Bliss. This week though, the Gods are obviously quite angry for it hit 100 degrees this afternoon. And what did Ross do today? Why, he snuggle into the hot-as-Hell Tyvek suit to disk-sand the NE corner! And why did Ross…
Continue ReadingAn Unexpected Poodle
Patricia thought the look was kinda sorta somewhat…becoming. I assured her that she was wrong. And I am pretty sure that Dieter agrees with me.
Continue ReadingThe NE Corner. A Cosmic Correction.
While I was unable to un-dent the trim, I was able to create a sheet metal cover for it and glue it on. Better! These micro-repairs thrill me. Even though most (or all) are not readily observable, they nonetheless create a more crispy look for the house which I think IS observable. In…
Continue ReadingTHE RETURN: Sewing Room Stained-Glass!
Recently, I did a blog post about the restoration of the stained-glass transom windows in the sewing room. While the stained-glass panels were restored, their wood sashes also needed to be restored. This meant removing the many layers of old shellac on the inside, and sanding the outside down to bare wood. Then, the stained-glass panels…
Continue ReadingWanna Time Travel? Part 1
In the early 1970s, Phyllis and Louis lived in the Cross House, first in the Octagon Bedroom, and then later the entire third floor. Their landlord was Frank and Esther Toms. During the last few days, Phyllis has been sending me images of their time as cool young things in the Cross House, and I…
Continue ReadingEvil is as Evil Does
This is a political post. If you don’t like politics, don’t scroll down. If you are an American citizen, or a person who values decency, you should be stunned and appalled and ANGRY…
Continue ReadingVisitors!
This past Thursday, Jim and Cindy, and Phyllis and Louis, came by for an extended tour of the Cross House. Phyllis and Louis were last in the house in the 1970s, when they first rented the Octagon Bedroom, and then the entire top floor. For $60 a month! Furnished! Phyllis and Louis were in…
Continue ReadingAn Extraordinary Possibility
When I was a child in the 1960s, my parent’s had a fiberglass sailboat and I spent countless hours and years aboard her. But I never loved her. She was plastic and smelled funny. And, she was…small. Very occasionally we would happen upon a big old wooden yacht. These fascinated me. In the pages of…
Continue ReadingA Gray Question
So….I am not entirely clear what is happening here. Is Gray: 1) Grooming Spot? 2) Preparing to eat Spot?
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