RE-RELOCATION : BACK HOME FROM ARKYSAW!
It's been two months since I've posted anything, and I have good reasons. I had to finish the first phase of Hill House Restoration on Little Rock, pack everything I brought (and a lot more besides), and travel 1660 miles through hills and valleys with a 1985 van, three dogs, and 4000 pounds of tools and household goods in the trailer.
The trip went well and without a hitch. And upon alighting at Standish Farm, I kissed the ground and swore I'd never do that kind of trip again. Despite doing it four times in the past two years.
Not that I wasn't grateful for the job in LR (Hey, Chuck! Thanks a ton!). Without it, I might very well have lost the farm. No work, no mortgage payments.
The mice took over the house and shops. The house had been broken into and my neighbors buttoned it up so heavily that it took me hours just to get the water back on, the forest had taken over my cleared areas, I'd lost a barn, and my shops were in three shambles. It would take months to restore the closed backyard, which is the home of the dwawgs and hadn't been regularly mowed like the rest of the yard.
But I'm back.
I'm setting up my own restoration business (for the fourth time in forty years) and concentrating on restoring old window sash, which calls for lead abatement and care taken not to poison my clients or myself. Keeping the dust to a minimum. Keeping the glazing, painting, repair, and stripping shops separate. Getting what I can for free and giving my community a bit of my time because that's just the kind of guy I am.
All while taking classes in abatement, meeting and dealing with local historical people (my favorite part), writing proposals for prospective clients, visiting the homes of the same, and wondering how I'll keep this all going through the winter.
I'll be very busy, but I've been balls-to-the-wall busy for the past two months.
And I'm setting up my new window restoration business, which is taking all of my savings, time, and attention. So I apologise to those two of you who might have been following this thing. I will be posting more of the stupid inanities you've seen in the recent past.
I've a few Eureka Springs restoration stories to relate before getting serious about more pertinent things.
I'll do my best to keep you two readers informed. Ciao for now.
