This week I found myself picturing all of the subcontractors as part of my big proverbial 60s style, swingin’ afghan just like my grandma used to make, not worrying so much if it wasn’t utterly perfect, just humming away and focused on putting together an item that would keep a loved one warm. Of course my grandma was color blind (I don’t know this for a fact but what sane person would otherwise knit those colors together?), but her goal was clear.
Richard and I spent all week coordinating. Telephone call to Whittington Plumbing, text to Josh at Eberling Design, quick pow-wow with Rob Lytle about the wood flooring timeline, and a stop to visit with Chris at Tile Market…all just so we could ensure the bathroom tile and wood flooring would continue as planned. Oops! Must check the sinks are coming in on time for the plumber. Oops! Must remember to mark the walls where the electrician needs to put light outlets in the bathroom. Rip out a few stitches and start again.
Unlike coordinating a renovation, however, knitting is therapeutic, meditative, and supremely satisfying. And a decent quality skein of yarn only costs $5-15. Perhaps my color-blind grandma had clearer vision than I thought.
Original lots here were generally sold for at least $4,000 in the mid 50′s. Mr. Durkee wrote a letter to the bank advising that one proposed buyer should not have been approved for a mortgage because he seemed to lack sufficient income – the mortgage was for $19,500 and the buyer only made $6,600 per year as a bank clerk. A number of local architects and builders were involved in designing and building the homes, and almost all were designed as one level homes with an understated appearance. A few original owners are still in the neighborhood, as well as many descendants of the original families. Tracking the homes by the year built, I saw that many lots sat for a while before homes were built. I could imagine watching the houses pop up initially in the mid 50′s, then a smattering in the late 60′s and early 70′s, with a few stragglers in the 80′s. No trees clear cut or widespread construction, just organic growth over the years.
As to our news: We have wood flooring on our top floor! We have wood flooring in our dining room and kitchen! We have tile in the second bathroom! We have a refrigerator and oven and dishwasher and induction cooktop…to install! We have kitchen cabinets…to assemble! Must be time to return to the present.
