The Cross House

A few months ago I was talking with Justin. “Justin, the Cross House is SO something which is ideal for entertaining, and I would love to have a gala Thanksgiving dinner at the house as an annual event. But I have no family, and all my friends join their families that day. So, a good…

  It appears as though something was attached to the metal sill at some point. Something kinda heavy, which distorted the sill. But what? I have looked through the archival images and find no evidence of anything being attached to this location. My plan was to bonk the bottom edge of the drooped sill back…

I should have done this post Halloween night. For, what you will see…will TERRIFY!                     The south facade will be an immense amount of work. More than another other facade. The direct south sun has just beaten all the wood pretty much to death, and missing…

      Golly. Golly. Golly. Today I painted the lattice. It needs some touching-up still, and a thin black trim is going to be installed around the perimeter of the lattice. I also did a gloss finish on the column. And the never-ending door was finished. Squee!!!!!!!! I still have some other details to…

          Normally, when plaster is in such poor condition, I replace it with sheetrock. But the Cross House rather insists that I step it up! Months ago I ordered two 5-gallon containers of pre-mixed plaster from Master of Plaster, This is a two coat process and when I am finished all…

While pondering bats (chiroptera) I thought: Does bat wallpaper exist? Why, yes…     What I love about the above paper is that it, at a glance, looks quite traditional. Only closer examination reveals friggin’ bats flying all over the place! I would enjoy this at the Cross House. Perhaps my bathroom?    

On Thursday I drove to Kansas City to buy lots-o-bread. And I, of course, had to stop by my friend Susi’s house! Susi is an artist and works in a variety of mediums.            

    Yesterday the top-most horizontal board on the lattice was too wide. And the bottom horizontal board kinda vanished. Today, I took everything apart and redid it. Argh! But I like the proportions of the trim boards better. NOTE: The lattice itself will receive some trim around its perimeter. This will cover the small…

              My mind says: If you paint the background of the curved scrollwork in color #5, you should do the same on the wide scrolled panel above the big window. My eye says: No, What you did today is unorthodox but it works. Trust the eye! Trust the eye!…

                                            The lattice will be painted in color #5. It will have trim around the perimeter edges painted black. The flat frame will be green. Even unpainted and unfinished it still looks SO much…

Today was the day. Today I finished a long-awaited task. Today I was able to stand back…and stare in wonder and appreciation and with much happiness. Today. Wanna see? Scroll way down…                                              

  I removed the porch railing many months ago and it has taken some effort getting it restored. But I have been breathless about its return. Well, today I was able to reinstall it. Sorta kinda. Wanna see sorta kinda? Scroll way down…                        …