The Cross House

Today, the weather changed from being assaultive to hot but OK. My infrared stripper came back from the repair shop. I found the box of disposable Tyvek suits I purchased a few years ago. Thus, I decided to foray back to the west front of the Carriage House.       Ugh. This was HORRIBLE!…

Today was a bit over 100-degrees. I kept waiting for the humidity to drop. It did. Some. Around 12:30PM I departed for the Cross House. The humidity was a bit over 50%. So, not good but not HORRIBLE. The house was 92-degrees inside. Yikes. I turned on the AC, made lunch, and ate in the…

Yesterday, I woke with all my windows covered with dew. So much so that I could not see out. Stepping outside, it felt like I was assaulted. The heat and humidity (70%) were intense. I thought: I’m staying inside today! Around 11Am thoughI noticed that my windows were now clear. Oh! I checked the humidity….

Today was 109-degrees. That is not a typo. Today is Day 1 of a 7-day HELLSCAPE OF HEAT. So, what did Ross do today? He went to work.     While this post might argue otherwise, I am not insane. Well, not totally. The humidity level was just 26%. So, very low. There was also…

I just did a post about how much better the foyer of the Carriage House is, spatially. Y’all all clamored for visuals. Enjoy!            

Since getting the Violation Notice, I have been hard at work repairing and restoring the exterior of the Carriage House. During these months I have been having a deep relationship with… …lead paint. This is a classic toxic relationship.   I have been taking the standard precautions and have not exhibited the normal physical responses…

When I purchased the Cross properties in 2014, one entered the carriage house via a huge, non-original L-shaped porch. The entry door was under the turret. But not centered on it. The porch blocked a lot of light into the Secret Bedroom, Foyer, and Living Room. It was also falling apart. Stepping into the foyer,…

        Justin, Scott, and I all noted how good the new deck location feels. “It’s more private.” It has an intimacy that the old location never had. It feels…safer. More protected. This should intensify when the roof is installed.      

I am of Scottish descent. My mother was born in Scotland, and my father’s family came from Scotland in the late 19th-century. As such, I am genetically predisposed to rush into battle. I mean, y’all have seen Braveheart, right? Yesterday I was…ruefully…vanquished. Today? I gird up my loins, and proudly stepped into the maelstrom.  …

Yesterday, I arrived at the Cross House at 1PM and had lunch. At 1:30 I stepped onto the south steps with the intention of walking over to the Carriage House. I paused, feeling assaulted by the heat and humidity. While no hotter than many days of late, it felt overwhelming. I went back into the…

Yesterday I did CH: Day 77, about…at long last…moving the front door. I was so very excited. I assumed y’all would be, too! Oopsie!   A friend called me. “Ross, why do you put yourself out there like this? If people are just gonna be critical…not knowing all the facts, issues, and considerations, and entirely…