The Cross House

    And…drum roll, please…there is more. But, I advise getting a glass of wine. Then (and this is critical) fasten you seat belt. Scroll way down…                                                   Again, the deck…

  I also mowed some of the yard. Yes, I am a brave, intrepid man. I also fussed with the large window in the air-conditioned workroom of the Cross House. Yes, I am an indulgent man, too. And thus passed Day 74.    

  The sash is a mess. I think though that it can be saved. I think. I will do what I can, reglaze the glass, and prime it with oil-based white primer. Later…much later…I will paint it gloss black. The same window has an upper sash with diamond leaded-glass. I am hoping to pick it…

…on a new pool. It seemed vital. Wanna see? Scroll down…                                                   OK. So, maybe it is not a 40-foot lap pool. But a lot of birds and small animals will…

    Today was in the low 90s. But the humidity was low. With a nice breeze. And I was shaded, drinking water, and had a powerful fan facing my every minute. Plus, an audible book kept me company (Runaway Jury). Ross perfectly happy. And dry! This week will all be around 100-degrees. I might…

Friday. Dropped stuff off at the recycling center in Cottonwood Falls. Stopped by the antique store. Stopped by Clark’s hardware store in Strong City to get stuff. Stopped by Emporia Hospital to get a blood work test (results: blood clotting too low; medicine thus adjusted). Stopped by the lumberyard to buy two lengths of crown…

    Oh. That made sense. Ross be dumb.    

    For years now this is EXACTLY what I have sought for the original second-floor bathroom. Such tubs though are normally priced at around $9,000. So, yea, that is sooooo never gonna happen. This tub though? $2,900. A steal, frankly. But $2,900 more than I can afford right now. Sigh. Time to start buying…

  I predrilled for a bunch of finish nails. Pounded bunch in. Set nails. Painted with turpentine mix.   I am doing what I can via standing up. I could do more by contoring my body and go lower. But, I have learned to be careful about my 66-year-old body. It vastly prefers vertical to…

I took the day off. Ann can explain:          

    SQUEE!!!!!!!! SQUEE!!!!!!!! SQUEE!!!!!!!!    

    I hauled the new chop saw out of the car and put it together. I plugged it in. And…nothing. No matter what I did (like checking the extensions cord three times) made any difference. FFS. Chop saws are pretty basic. Why was I unable to get this one to work? Thus, I was…

  On Friday, I left Strong City, heading east to the Cross House. I knew there was a storm to the west and hoped it was not moving east. The sky ahead was blue. Looking in the rearview mirror showed an ominous sky. I thought: I should turn around and go back home. But I…