Inching Along…TO A MIRACLE!
693 years ago, I began work on what was intended to be a smallish project: replacing the missing shingles on the south second-floor facade. This ballooned into an overwhelming project which I often thought would never end. Really, I have had nightmares.
It all just went to hell right away.
Even window frames needed to be rebuilt.
New work, left.
Bit by bit, old shingles reinstalled intermixed with new custom-cut new shingles. Rebuilt window frame reinstalled.
One wall done (right)! Adjacent wall now!
Insanity.
Looking better!!!!!!!! But still soooooo much to do. Will it ever end?
Gasp! I gasp!
The long south wall, new shingles intermixed with reinstalled shingles.
Inching along.
Inching along.
Inching along.
Inched!!!!!!!! Inched!!!!!!!!
Before.
Now, I could move to the octagon tower and SW corner, both which looked like they just needed a new paint job. Easy-peasy! Oops.
Oops.
Oops.
Oops.
Oops.
South side of tower done! Time to move to SW corner which just, or so it seemed, needed new paint.
Oops. (This image predates the one directly above.)
Lower part of corner done! But, better scaffolding was needed to finish upper part.
Oh! MUCH better!
And better yet! I also installed a work table, brought up the chop saw, had a Barcalounger put in one corner, a cocktail bar in the other corner, and a surround-sound system. And installed central AC!
But then…oops. Fuck! But now though (drum roll, please)…
SQUEE!!!!!!!!
Well, you know what this means, don’t you?
THE SECOND-FLOOR SOUTH IS COMPLETE!
Squee!!!!!!!!
Squee!!!!!!!!
Squee!!!!!!!!
Squee!!!!!!!!
Squee!!!!!!!!
I cannot believe it. I am in shock. I have no idea of what to do with myself now minus the eternally-demanding south second-floor!
I am free! Free at last!
FREE!!!!!!!!
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Does this mean the new paint has gone all the way around the second story?!
Sadly, no.
The second-floor east still needs to be done.
Still closer than you were 693 years ago! And it’s looking fantastic, your attention to detail pays off both in how it looks and how it’s going to function/last. Love seeing the progress!
That is fan-fucking-tastic, Ross!! What an accomplishment worthy of a celebration! I’m thrilled for you, Ross, truly. You can be so proud of your perseverance, consistency and effort on behalf of this noble old madam. What a wonder you have accomplished. A lesser person would have thrown in the towel ages ago. Well done.
Thank you, Christine!
Actually, I would have given up but all this work was a line item on the 2017 Heritage Grant. To get the grant, and then NOT finish the work seemed like a horrible idea and really disrespectful of the honor.
A lesser person would have said “Feck this” and put up vinyl siding… Glad Ross is so much stronger willed than that.
It looks incredible!!!
I’m so excited! And I’m so happy for you. This has been an endless project, and it looks amazing. It astonishes me how much the stained glass pops — even when it isn’t lit from within — once the new paint surrounds it.
Also, this might be my favorite paragraph you have ever written: “And better yet! I also installed a work table, brought up the chop saw, had a Barcalounger put in one corner, a cocktail bar in the other corner, and a surround-sound system. And installed central AC!”
I love you, Ross. Don’t ever change.
Thank you, Barb!
People rarely comment on the silly things I often insert into my posts, so I’m thrilled this got noticed!
I’m glad Barb mentioned this, Ross, because next to the work on Cross House, your sense of humor is a big part of the delight of your blog.
The other night my 21-year old son was helping me with something on my computer when your email came through with the subject line ‘I’m under attack!!!!!!!’ He first looked startled then because he’s heard me mention your blog, rightly assumed it was meant to be funny and had to do with your cats. I clicked on the link and the photos got a laugh from us both. I meant to tell you and am not sure I did.
Anyway, that’s a long-winded way to echo Barb: “Don’t ever change.”
And congratulations on finishing the second floor – it looks phenomenal!
To honor the Heritage Grant… such is the impressive character of Ross MacTaggart. A salute to an amazing and inspiring person.
I love watching the absolute love and care you put into this house!
That’s incredible Ross. The south side of the house has always worried me. But now thanks to your perseverance a huge chunk of it is done. Wow and it only took you 639 years. Thanks to your work Cross house will easily last at least another 100 years.
Congratulations and mazel tov Ross. It is so beautiful, even and symmetrical.
I read the BarcaLounger line twice. You are appreciated on many levels. By many!
Thanks for the all the joy you bring.
I have to laugh.
9 comments, and all from women. Thank you!
But…I know guys read my blog, too. Do men not like victory posts?
Most curious!
I think it’s a matter of notifications. Perhaps it’s a bit late for them to get them, perhaps men don’t have them set up on their phones. I am certain it’s not about not wanting to congratulate you, dear Ross.
I don’t think that either, Christine! But, ya’ have to admit, it is curious!
It also may be male competitiveness. With consummate craftsmanship, unrelenting industry, making time for humor and philosophy, you triumphantly pull off an artisanal restoration.
Kudos! Congratulations!
Somehow lesser male mortals will confront the leaky roofs, rattling windows, paint peeling again after a mere 20 years, and grit their collective teeth and tuck into it again, trying not to be jealous of your effort and accomplishments. Well, not too jealous.
John, ya’ made me laugh!
Thank you!
Wow-wee! Yippee yi -kay -yay!!!! Yay! Yay! Yay!
Wondrously rapturous feeling of the 989 years wondrously done in 552—–hahaha!
Yes! Loved the Barcolounger….cocktail lounge …..
Too funny! Love the interspersed humor amidst the insanity.
Love the blog!! We all love you Ross and are so happy for you and your accomplishments!!!
Heritage Grant work 2017 done! yay!!!
Ha – cocktail bar 🍹 yes indeed! After the lengthy tumult, a good respite then, regroup to attack another area.
It will be finished one day but for now, it’s lovely to celebrate this one moment of triumph. Cheers, Ross! 🌻
Yet another woman commenting…….. but W O W! Congrats on this victory !! An awesome milestone with true evidence of your determination!! Does this satisfy the grant stipulation now? Congrats on how truly beautiful it looks and for your keeping your wonderful sense of humor !!You Rock!!
I looked at my cat, Master Chief, and told him I sure hoped there would be a Cross House update tonight…and what we got was well worth waiting for!!!! So delicious to see!!! Congratulations, Ross. Can you take a picture of the whole south side for us? Can’t wait to see where you move next?? The 3rd floor tower area??
Great news!! I’ll have a rum and coke from that bar, please!
So, a little rest and then what is the fall/winter project?
What a shit load of work you have done Ross. Congratulations! It is so satisfying to see your progress. Now you can sit back on the Barcalounger and relax without a care in the world (cat whispers: kitchen? shower? cat fence?…. go away kitty).
Ross, it is looking amazing! You keep going no matter what the house or life throws your way. And the results are beautiful! Can you patent and sell that energy?
I had to scroll back to the beginning of the South facade second floor.
I started with the MENU,
clicked on Cross House,
clicked on most recent first,
and scrolled down…..
and scrolled down…..
and scrolled down…..
clicked for the the second page of posts, and scrolled down……
FOUND IT!
I understand your baby steps concept, yet I wonder how you find the strength to go to the next step on such a regular basis.
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
693 years well spent! Good job Ross!
Great men do great things and some do it with humor. Congrats on a job well done.
Congrats, Ross! It was disheartening seeing the true condition of the South Facade, but I am glad that the whole face of it on the second floor is safe from those damning UV rays for another decade or two. The house truly is lucky to have such a dedicated steward, a lot of houses of this caliber in our country cannot boast as much.
A slow clap and standing ovation for you! It looks gorgeous.
I vote Ross for President!
Seriously!
please???
Yippee skippee! How utterly wonderful! I don’t know how you persevere, but I’m so glad you do.
P.S. I need to change my handle. I just moved to NY!!
Congrats! You’ve been Biiii-zzzz-Y!!
Looks great!! Awesome.
Lookin forward to seeing and admiring it in person!
Hell yes Ross, congratulations!! It’s amazing what one man such as yourself can accomplish. If you aren’t one already then you are now officially without doubt a Miracle Worker!
Your post reminds me of this Queen song.
This is a-ma-zing Ross! So much pride you can take from such a mountain-high amount of work done! I hope your town is grateful for what you’ve been doing for years and will still be doing for the years to come. Your house is a jewel and your commitment is immeasurable. Bravo from France!
Oh This is so great!! I’m so happy for you!!! Yaaaayyyyy!!!!
and before winter set in and everything…..
Lovely Ross!! Looking at all that scaffolding made me so dizzy I almost fell off my chair.)
Another great milestone reached! Awesome!! The old house world needs more people like you, STAT!
Awesome work! Time for a wee rest, then the next project (done in baby steps). Maybe to bring you and the entourage of cats/kittens to be home permanently?
Double, no triple WOW! Congrats Ross, it looks amazing. And of course, we notice your “silly things’ inserted in your posts. You’ve got to realize that many of us have followed you for years and I, for one, can’t imagine going through all of this with someone bitching and moaning about every little thing and making every setback a total whine fest for his readers. Please keep up the silly things. You do most certainly rock, sir and life wouldn’t be the same without you and your house! Now, when’s the party?
Ross, you are such a tease! I looked at the “before” picture taken from a distance, and I thought surely the “after” picture from the same perspective would be at the end of the post. Nope, so Ross like to leave us hanging!!!!
Ross, been meaning to ask about 2nd floor porch. Why is the porch floor higher than the floor of room that accesses it? Wouldn’t this cause problems if door isn’t watertight or am I seeing it wrong?
Hi, Mark!
The porch floor has been restored to its original level. But this level is not, well, level. It’s angled to the drain in the SE corner. And, due to wind directions, the porch rarely gets a lot of direct rain. Even during intense rain storms, the porch floor will receive almost no rain.
Seems odd way to build floor. You would have thought the floor would be 1-2 steps down from room. Also totally admire how you’re restoring this house. An inspiration to old house owners! Love the colors that you chose.
Thank you, Mark!
Wasn’t that porch accessed from a window that you replaced with a door? If so, it is easier to step to and from a higher floor when going over a window sill. If the porch floor was at or below the interior floor level,
it would neither be easy to enter and exit via window, nor to create a pitch so it would drain. The space below’s ceiling would need to be lowered too. If there was a door already, it would surely have been installed with the sill above the floor level.
I was wondering where you put the BarcaLounger, bar, chop saw and table on that tiny space😉