Slow as Molasses 

If this quiet blog is any indication, work around here has come to a near standstill. No news is supposed to be good news, but sometimes it is simply no news.

Some of the kids and I traveled quite a bit in August. Since we were away from BHH more than we were home, projects remained in progress. This includes the giant front door. It stands there mocking me with its partially stripped face. I have just a short time before the weather turns for good, so I need to wrap it up as soon as possible.

Our travels took us to rural, Northern Missouri to visit my Grandma, who will be 99 years old in November. She is currently well cared for in a nursing home. She is just as sharp as she always was. After a lengthy illness nearly two years ago, she decided, on her own, to move to the nursing home. She participates in every activity, and she seems very content there. My aunt and uncle are preparing her home to be sold at auction in October. Grandma made a list of things that she wanted everyone to have. She gave me this small chest with an Art Deco design.

After some careful cleaning and polishing, I feel as if I did not make too much progress on this piece. I am not sure if anything can really be done with it. The exterior seems to be either printed paper or maybe even leather. However, none of my cleaning supplies seemed to breathe any real life back into it. If any of you want to weigh in on this project, please feel free. I need some help with this one.

Right before we left on our trip, the painters finished the exterior job for this season. We could not be more pleased with their work. In fact, we are so happy that we have put ourselves on their spring schedule for next year to have the three sides of the house that face the street fully painted.

We are only having three sides painted because painting the entire house is cost-prohibitive for one season. In addition, nearly all of the windows on the back of the house need repair or attention. On this one section, nearly all 72 panes plus the transom window panes need to be re-glazed.

Rather than rush that process, we can work on it all next summer, and stay one season ahead of the painters.

The very back of the house needs the most work. 50-70 window panes on the this side need to be re-glazed or the glass replaced. Also, the cedar shingles on top need to be replaced.

Since we have moved exterior painting to the top of the list, my daydreaming about color has increased. Blake Hill House has been green for a very long time. It is consistently described as “The Big Green House” by our neighbors and the community. However, I am really over the green. It is clear that Dorothy loved the color. It feels as if every surface of BHH, interior and exterior, is some shade of green. I feel a little conflicted about changing something that meant so much to her, but at this point, we are leaning towards painting the body of the house Navy Blue, and we will finish the trim in the same creamy Monterey White. This is likely the only time BHH will be painted while we own it, so now is the time for a complete color change if we want to do so. We will be using Benjamin Moore paints from the Historic Collection, and I welcome your input if you have color ideas.

I hope all of you have slipped seamlessly back into the school year and fall. Have a great week.