During the
six months that Pat had been in trouble with his back we had left the house closed
up and hadn’t even paid it a visit. To be honest I had stopped thinking about
the Yank’s house completely. I had gone from dreaming about the house and
letting it fill so much space in my head and in my heart to not thinking about
it at all. Then when Pat was back working and feeling better he suggested we
should go down to the house one Saturday. I didn’t want to go – to be honest I
only went because Pat said he wouldn’t stay long.
Pat made up
some lunch for us. Packed a few tools in the car when I wasn’t looking and we
headed off. I guess in the back of my head I blamed the house for Pat’s back
problems. When we got there and went into the house it was exactly how we had
left it – like a faithful friend waiting for our return. It is hard to explain the atmosphere in the
house. From day one I have felt the house wrapped its arms around me and
embrace me. Now I was feeling this embrace again.
Pat got the
tools out and gradually we started doing a few small jobs around the place.
That evening he had to come looking for me to see was I ready to go home. The
day had passed so quickly. I was in love again!
Before the
saga with the chimneys we had started the indoor plastering. I was able to help
apply the scratch coat and Pat applied the finish coat. I had a go on a few
smaller spaces but a full wall was a bit heavy going for me. This all came to a
stop however once Pat hurt his back and afterwards we decided we needed help.
This is the chimney going up to the attic - an example of my efforts at plastering |
We lined up
a man to come in to plaster the chimneys, inside walls and to do the ceilings
for us. But the delay in sorting out the chimney had also delayed the plasterer
from starting and by the time we were ready he had a regular job and didn’t
have time to do the work for us. I was very disappointed. He did come one
weekend and plastered the two chimneys but we had to look for someone else to
finish the inside work.
The original
ceilings had been lath and plaster. But these were beyond
repair, suffering from nail fatigue and damaged from rain when the roof was off
the house. We decided we could use plasterboard for the ceilings and finish
them with a skim coat. So we hired a
plasterer to come in and do this part of the job for us.
Small bedroom - top floor |
We were
finding it hard to get someone who was willing to work with lime. Then our
daughter’s boyfriend David offered to come and help over a few Saturdays. David
had worked summers with a plasterer while he was going to college and we were
delighted with the help. He had never used lime but Pat and I were there to show
him how – between us we got the job finished eventually.
The Parlor in the Yank's house - lovely white walls |
Once the
walls were plastered I followed behind with the limewash and soon the whole
place was bright and clean with lovely white walls. The different spaces were
really starting to take on a very homely feel and we started to see the result
of many years work. The Yank’s house was starting to look like a house again.
Thats is going to be a gorgeous room - love the window, door and fireplace - really coming together. Is that the room that has windows on 3 sides?
ReplyDeleteYes this is the Parlor. There are 3 of these windows. So it is lovely and bright
ReplyDeleteWow, what a beautiful house, you are really lucky to own this historic home- keep up the good work on the restoration... Glad I found your blog...
ReplyDeleteAll things nice...
Thanks - yes we love it but it is hard work
ReplyDelete