2022 started with intensity.

2022 ended…quietly.

In January I was working full tilt on the carriage house, as I had been for the latter part of 2021. Then…rather unexpectedly…all this work hit a brick wall and in March I resumed work on the Big House. Justin and I walked through the cold, seemingly long-abandoned rooms of the Cross House scratching our heads. We had both been so vastly consumed by the carriage house…it had been intense, man, intense…that we had forgotten what work the big house needed. The days passed though and the iron grip of the carriage house subsided and we, once again, became thrillingly overtaken by the endless demands of the giant edifice.

Endless. Demands. Giant edifice.

The spring and summer were, mostly, about getting the wiring and plumbing finished. For, in order for me to move into the house, I need to fill the basement with my vintage lights lights lights. Because, once the lights are in place, there is NO way that electrical and plumbing can be done with these delicate fixtures in the way. NO WAY. And, today, this work is about 97% complete.

Squee!

In the latter part of the summer my health took an unexpected dive off a cliff and everything changed. This, weirdly, corresponded with a drop in sales. And thus, the fast pace of work halted. Justin stopped working on the house. And the project entered a kinda slumber phase.

Kinda. For, I continued showing up almost daily but was now working in isolation, and there were days I would drive 20 minutes to the house, work for about a half-hour, and then…exhausted…would drive back home. But, that was 20 minutes more better than before.

More better.

This has been my mantra these past months.

 

NOTE: My health is much better now. But being 65 ain’t easy!

 

The basement is VASTLY improved this year!

The south hall is VASTLY improved this year!

The library…squee!…is VASTLY improved this year!

The main porch ceiling is VASTLY improved this year. Thanks, Kenny!

The south side of the main porch is VASTLY improved this year!

The second-floor west exterior was touched up this year! Crispy, again!

 

My goal when buying the house in 2014 was simple. I had no completion date. I could not even begin to estimate costs. All that mattered was this: Every week the house had to get better.

Every week the house had to get better.

This is all I focused on.

And today, almost ten years later, this is goal has never wavered.

Since 2014, every week the Cross House has gotten better.

Ross happy. Ross proud.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition, the following people donated to the Cross House GoFundMe:

Kathryn Fekete

Verna Ilacqua

Brenda Wiemann

Carol Batts

Daniel James Goodall-Williams

Leigh Lee

Sara Bruckmeier

Rebecca McCormick

Colleen McCarthy

MR E R TIRADO

Nick Mower

Brian Sparks

With a project so financially overwhelming, every donation matters. And perhaps more importantly every donation feels like, well, a hug. Every donation makes me feel less isolated. Every donation makes me feel supported. And this feels really good. Few things are better than a warm embrace. Thank you!!!!!!!!

 

In 2014, when I purchased the Cross House, I would not have believed it possible that I would still not be in the house at the end of 2022. Not possible!

In 2014, when I purchased the Cross House, I would not have believed it possible that the carriage house would STILL be empty at the end of 2022. This has been my spectacular management failure of the whole project. If I knew then what I know now I would have slapped the carriage house together and RENTED IT by the end of 2014.  Instead, I have kissed away $60,000 to $80,000 in income by keeping the carriage house empty all these years. BAD Ross. STUPID Ross.

On the bright side, this is my only regret about the whole project. Which…is impressive.

 

2023 will be my…gasp…tenth year of owning the Cross House. I am crossing my fingers that THIS year will be the…drum roll, please…move in year!

Happy New Year to all of you!