My Anti-Pile Campaign
I have restored a number of houses over the decades and one thing I endeavor for is being a good neighbor.
Nobody likes to spend years looking at construction debris across the street, or old toilers and tubs sitting outside for ages on end.
Yet…yet…over the past seven years of owning the Cross House small piles of stuff have been accumulating. None of this was readily obvious when driving or walking by, but my neighbors behind the house would have noticed. The piles were neat, and none included old toilets and tubs. The latter has always been kept inside the garage.
But, piles they be.
Of late, I have been on an anti-pile campaign. Wanna see the results?
For several years now I have had, neatly, a pile of parts for the cat fence stored under the porte-cochère. Yesterday, I relocated all this out-of-sight, and only this small pile of debris remained.
Today? Ta-da!
There was a pile of scaffolding boards sitting on the south deck. Again, all very neat, but yesterday the boards were relocated to the garage. All that remained was a pile of aluminum storm windows (oh, the horror).
Today? Ta-da! (Note: The pink concrete slab is not original and will be removed.)
This may be the first time since 2014 that I have had nothing on the south deck. I adore the curved steps, which appear to be original. (Note: I am living for the day when all the exhaust vents are relocated and the basement window restored.)
The south side of the main porch had a pile of original porch bits: railings and flooring. Yesterday, I move all this to UNDER the porch (clever!) and only this debris remained.
Today. Ta-da!
Most of this work was enabled by…at long last…properly organizing the garage and building shelves. The bits to the left will soon be shelved, and the sink cabinet to the right was in the kitchen when I purchased the house. It will depart next week, donated to the 1900 theater.
All this has been, somehow, accomplished in 100-degree weather. It was hugely enabled by 19-year-old Dawson, and Justin.
Old me kept taking many breaks into the air-conditioned big house, sitting in front of a big fan drinking copious amounts of water and changing my shirt repeatedly for a dry one (the wet one being placed in front of the fan after my every departure).
Early next week, every extraneous bit (save the stone pile at the eastern edge of the driveway) will be gone from the yard for the first time. And that sound you will hear?
The popping of my neighbor’s champagne corks.
And mine.
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I adore those curved steps. I am amazed they have survived.
I’m also surprised you haven’t relocated those vent pipes and restored that basement window, knowing how you are about both neatness and basement windows. I’ll bet you’ve got that basement windows stores somewhere just waiting to go back in that spot.
It never ceases to amaze me what you have accomplished and continue to do. 100 degree heat and you’re moving all those piles and cleaning up all those areas.
Won’t be long now before the cats will have their safe oasis and you’ll be packing up and moving into the Cross House.
Ahhh, how nice to see no clutter. Where will all the vents go? That sounds expensive and alot of work.
Do we get to meet Dawson? That is awesome that he helped out in the heat.
Those curved steps- ❤️❤️❤️❤️ I have no doubt you will someday have that entrance swoon worthy and we will all say “ahhh, that is right now” with you! Your progress with both the house and the carriage house is incredible!
“Old toilers”
But sometimes, we old toilers need to take a break and relax outside for a bit.
Hahaha wondered what “old toilers” meant (old toilets). Well, those seats did toil from the very first day of their use until their retirement.
Wow, that was a lot of work. I don’t remember if you’ve posted photos of the garage before, but I’d love to see before-and-after photos of that space if you have. It looks so organized.
And I’m imagining your workers faces as you enter the house, hot and sweaty, only to re-emerge shortly afterward, with a clean, dry shirt. That’s big magic, that!
It does look great!!!!!!!!!
I was tempted to make some preparation H substitute comment…………………..oops, couldn’t resist.
Stewart! You’re back!!!!!!!!!!
I bet you are feeling so excited! Love the round steps. 🙂
Ross, is it possible there was a railing between the porte-cochere columns?
Not likely, Tony. There would be no need of one, and the original drawings don’t show one.