How long is forever? Sometimes just one second.

We cordially invite you to join us for an afternoon of History, Hors D'oeuvers, and Tea in order to celebrate how grand the mansion is, and will always be.

Dress code is formal.

Please RSVP by October 13th by emailing your guest list to GreensfelderMansion@gmail.com

Paper Hearts and Paper Airplanes

Paper... Lots and lots of paper...

Discussions: check
Arguments: CHECK
Pros: Identified
Cons: Identified

Decision: Unanimous...

We're applying for inclusion with the Local, State, and National historic register. Why? Because the mansion qualifies for all three and as such it would be wise for us to have this incredible bit of architectural history recognized and included where she rightfully belongs.

Yes... That means that the historical integrity of the exterior will be under extreme scrutiny as far as color and repair. Like I always say, 'don't threaten me with a good time'. We have always been bound and determined to restore the Greensfelder to utmost accuracy. Unfortunately we may never know her original colors, but we certainly know it wasn't this asphalt siding garbage that currently makes her look so dark and drab. She needs life and color - and she'll receive it in accordance to historic color palettes.

Know what else is awesome? Tax credits to help offset the cost of restoration. There's so many benefits to doing this, I'm not really sure why we didn't immediately jump to go through the process before hand. Perhaps because of the amazing amount of misinformation that is floating around about the details and the involvement the government has in the ultimate decision making process regarding changes and the like.

We get it. Certificate of Appropriateness hearings SOUND scary - but guess what... They're not. Your local Historic Preservation Commission is so not the enemy. They're not there to make your lives a living hell as you go through the process. What they're there for is to let you know that you're on the right path with your endeavors to restore a historical property. They're not demanding museum quality restoration, they're ascertaining the historical appropriateness of your plans and then giving you options that may be more cost effective and easier in cases of window replacements, siding etc. 

For instance, they may turn down your quest for vinyl siding, and instead suggest hardy board on the grounds that it looks far more appearing and is better for your property in the long run. No one wants to lose details integral to the architectural history of the building, and that's the goal with preservation. 

Another example: You probably won't have your desire for hot pink shutters and purple glitter fish scaling approved. We all like to be a little bit fancy, but your local HPC will find better alternatives and makes suggestions based upon that in order to keep your house's historical integrity preserved, and the entire neighborhood happy (We all know that one house in our towns that everyone pokes fun of because of quirky/crazy paint work. Don't be that house.)

What the HPC is not going to do is police you. They're not going to drive by and flip out and issue a weird citation because they don't like your window treatments, plants, patio furniture, welcome mat, mailbox, and choice of family dog... Or anything else for that matter.

Best part? You can decorate the interior of your home as you please. Daughter wants posters of the latest heart throb plastered all over her walls? No problem... At least not where the HPC is concerned. They get it. People, and families, live in these homes. While they're historical, they're still creating and generating history by hosting families throughout the ages. Music from the late 80s and early 90s is now turning up on "Oldies" stations, and while none of us ever thought that the Backstreet Boys would ever be historical... Guess what... It's bound to happen. History transcends the ages and someday soon, those horrible posters of boy band members and scantily clad pop princesses pouting at the camera will be considered collectible antiques. 

Try not to gag too hard.

Regardless, history is a beautiful thing and the Greensfelder is a wonderful part of it and as such deserves to be remembered. Pray for us as we navigate all the paperwork associated.

Round and round we go

For our local readers, it should come as no real surprise when I say that I'm following in the footsteps of Marjorie Wray (one of the Greensfelder's most colorful past owners) and have taken a stab at the life political. Like Marjorie, I'm running as a Democrat. It's my hope to win a seat on our County Council (District 2 to be exact), and that comes with its own unique set of challenges and obstacles - ones which I never thought would ever effect the mansion.

SURPRISE!

We're currently engaged in a fight where my political opponents have decided to try and have the mansion condemned and have stated that it's not structurally sound without ever once having a structural engineer (or any inspector) come through. They've even had people come out in county marked vehicles to take photos of the property. When confronted, they run.

A close friend confirmed their "evil plan".

So... I did what any social media savvy individual would do and beat them to the punch. I didn't waste time throwing on gobs and layers of makeup or a nice, tidy, designer pantsuit. I went out in my maxi dress, messy hair (don't care), and complete lack of makeup to film myself live on FB, as I flounced, bounced, skipped, and hopped all across my front porch. including the edges. Especially around where the damage to the porch was done by an unknown persons back in late May/Early June.

If you know me, you know that I'm a... We'll just say I'm a woman of substance.

Me. 

As such, I'm not foolish enough to bounce anywhere that I'm not 110% sure isn't going to break/give way and potentially break every bone in my body with a fall. Especially not on a porch where I have zero clue what lays in wait beneath. For all I know it's covering the Pit of Carkoon and the great Sarlacc is waiting for me under there. 

May or may not be under the porch.

I think you guys get the point.

The house, even the porch, is 100% structurally sound.

I just find it rather sad that politics has deteriorated so far into corruption that people would come to attack historical preservation. Though I suppose it just proves who's actually protecting this historical hot bed and who's in it for their own personal agenda.

Sorry to trouble y'all with it - but I figured it was share worthy.

Anyway... We have a gorgeous 2'x4' banner on its way from BuildASign.com that will be displayed in the front yard starting on the 25th! (or as soon as it arrives).

Cool sign, bro!

Look for it as you drive past!

PS: vote for me ;)

PPS: we have website! Kind of. Go here: https://stormshyarts.wixsite.com/greensfelder

Ecdysiast

Ecdysiast - (n) A striptease performer.

Pretty sure you get where I'm going with this post now that we've gotten that out of the way and cleared up any head scratching and Dictionary.com scrambling that may have been going on. 

4 layers.

4.

That's what we're contending with on the wainscot in the bathroom, but we're slowly and steadily combating this by spraying on our favorite citrus-based non-toxic stripper and waiting 24 hours for it to eat through and loosen the layers, then scraping carefully. It's going to take some time and a nice hard toothbrush to get through the stuff stuck in the grooves. So far it looks like the stain is holding up, but I doubt it'll survive the bath I have to give everything to 86 the residue left over. It's a sticky mess right now and I'm not super fond of it - but I'm loving the results.

Such a beautiful mess being made. Can't wait until the paint is gone and we're back to sealed wood goodness!

Pretty sure that's the last photo you guys will see of the bathroom until the project is finished. I know you just love all the construction photos - promise that there will be more as we move on to other projects.

In other news... We're rewashing ALL the wood work with LeadOff... Again. This time we're following up with mineral spirits, cleaning up paint botches of the past, and sealing with polyurethane. It's a seriously necessary process and is taking a bit of time because we seriously live in the land of black walnut and tiger oak goodness. So worth it. So very very worth it. Means we'll be stepping up our weekly wipe downs with Old English wipes. Downstairs floors will be sealed as well. Lord knows they desperately need it.

Good thing I have family right across the street that we can invade while all this dries!

Eight Days Later...

The one thing one must keep in mind when painting plaster is how thirsty it is. Even with a couple layers of paint (purple and white that I know of) the walls in the main bathroom are/were very very thirsty.

Another thing to keep in mind is that red paint is not very user friendly and requires tons of working during the drying process in order to keep it even/streak free/ and blended.

Those two facts combined meant that the bathroom took two gallons of "one coat" paint/primer to accomplish perfection. I still have to finish my corners and I'm trying so hard to ignore the stubborn lighthouse border around the top... It wouldn't come off for love nor money and as such it has been decided that it will be covered with a rather elegant crown moulding... In gold... And stenciled with the Kabuki and the Onyx for a rather divine raised appearance unless I choose to do raised stenciling anyway... Which I just may because the good Lord knows that I'm rather extra like that.

Ignoring the bright blue ladder, the walls are just about complete. Crown moulding will cover the impossible to remove wallpaper border.

However, what I have noticed, is that even with having thirsty walls the black paint for the ceiling has gone on far nicer and will be done in two coats. Coat one is currently drying and from there the chandelier shall be hung with care and of course the crown mouldings will be painted and installed in due time.

The stripping and re-staining of the wood work is underway as well... I have words for the people who painted it. They aren't friendly. I'll never fully understand what the hell people are thinking when they decide to paint over stunning historical wood work. It's just... Unnatural.

In other news...

One of the bedrooms is painted... The ceiling will require painting as well and will be happening in short order, but for right now I'm celebrating the covering of walls that were meant to be white but became the hue of dehydrated urine thanks to excessive smoking and exposure to nicotine.

The top is the color we started with - the walls were white at one point before years of tobacco smoke destroyed the paint. You can see the blue we've covered it with as a comparison. 

We used a rather powerful paint in that room so we're hoping the tar stains don't bleed through. If they do? Pissed off me will be pissed off and I'll likely look into textured silk papers... Which just sounds divine and yet terrifying because it'd be going into the room of a 4 year old.

Might just be easier to repaint - he's requested clouds and a water mural to go with his pirate ship bed. Like I said... We're allowed to have fun with this. Not ever room needs to be dripping with historical integrity. I'll have my silk damask and flocked paper in other areas, don't you worry.

His woodwork, as well as the woodwork downstairs, will be re-sealed this coming weekend as well.

The main hall upstairs is fixing to be painted as well. It will be dark and dramatic and just... Well... Everything. The goal is for a metallic stenciled frieze to accompany unless we decide to hit it with crown moulding as well. Either way... Period sconces will like the hall for ambient lighting and the original floors will be restored and protected with period correct runners.

So yes... Summer is a very busy busy time here at the Greensfelder. Each project is handled with care and tons of research as we continue on as urban archaeologists making educated decisions and implementing them. Once the majority of this work is done, there's going to be tons of shopping to do. Lucky me... I know a local expert who loves this house and can find me pretty much anything and have a mother who's the Queen of Wallpaper... And she restored more of these old homes than I can shake a stick at.

Just wait until you see what we have in store for the entry way.

Un Peu de Magie de Salle de Bain!

Bathroom before. Note that gorgeous tub!

The bathroom project is well underway. The inside of the tub was refinished and encapsulated by J&J Bathtub Refinishing out of Kokomo, Indiana and ohhhh is it grand! We've decided to have him come back and refinish the outside of the tub as well as it's just easier to let a professional restore this tub completely while we move onto bigger and more intense projects within the home. That said, the exterior of the tub will likely be black and stenciled with Victorian floral designs in gold or dark brushed brass for a very subtle finish. The brass of the claw feet will be restored to bright shiny brass! 

Just today we began transforming the walls and covered it with coat one of two of paint! The walls are Kabuki red and once we're finished with the final coat and and we've let it dry, it will be taped off with frog tape and we'll be stripping the multiple layers of paint off the wood work and restoring its deliciously beautiful dark staining which will be completed and topped off by a black ceiling and dark brushed brass and black lacquer fixtures.

From there 5" crown mouldings will be installed adding a pop of white and decorated with the same floral stenciling on the tub done in Kabuki and gold/brass. Pretty sure the interior of the linen closet will be red... or maybe black... or maybe white... Hard to decide. It has the original built in drawers in it as the room would have been a dressing room. There's a water closet the next room down the hall so the toilet was an addition to this bathroom and we're torn between 86ing the water closet in favor of a large shower room or moving the toilet out and returning this bathroom to it's former glory completely. Hmmm... Decisions... Modern convenience or historical accuracy... 

Anyway...

We have a gorgeous antique crystal chandelier that will be installed and we are hunting Victorian candle sconces and various bits of wall art to really complete the rich, swanky bordello feeling. It's all about relaxation... And a bit of an homage to the fact the home was a brothel at one point. I personally can't wait to lay in a hot steamy bubble bath on a cold, snowy night with the candles lit and a wonderful glass of Gewurtzraminer from the People's Winery right here in Logansport... And maybe a good book. Yes. The book is a must.

The future is holding such wonderful things.

By this time tomorrow paint coat #2 will be done and we'll be painting our eldest son's bedroom a soft sky blue because boy. He'll likely wind up with a sea-themed wall mural as a break from the antiquity because boy and child. We gotta have fun with this too, right?
Regardless... The dinge and grime we couldn't fix, for love nor money, by scrubbing... Is buh bye. Finito. 

Coat 1! Coat 2 will even it all out! Praise the painting techniques Eric learned in the Navy!

I swear the feel of the bathroom has changed dramatically. The red brings out the terra cotta/brick tiles in that magnificent mosaic floor! Speaking of the floor, it's going to get a super deep professional clean to pull out the dirt all of our cleaning just can't seem to touch and then it will be sealed. 

The upstairs main hall is most likely going to go a very dark smoky purple with gold leaf frieze and period correct sconce lighting. We haven't decided quite yet - but the idea of that degree of drama and majesty is just begging to be brought to life.

I love this old mansion and I love how she seems to become more and more happy and alive with each and every project we start and complete. She's downright giddy right now and we intend to keep her that way. Yes... She's a HUGE undertaking, but we have learned that if we stare at the forest instead of focusing on one tree at a time, we're immediately overpowered and feel very overwhelmed. If we focus one one project at a time then we're quite content and find it easy to contend with. That's what this house needs; vision, scope, and heart. We have tons of it and lots and lots of love as icing on that amazing cake.

Speaking of projects...  permits have been pulled on the porch. The delay in progress is due to the local Ford dealership royally messing up the turbo on our truck to the point where she's routinely blowing her hot-air turbo boot. She's headed to a master mechanic on Thursday and once she's back we'll feel comfortable loading her with the 4000lb jacks, concrete block, stone, rebar, quickcrete, metal lathe, and lumber necessary to complete the project. We're really grooving here at the Greensfelder and are sincerely hoping to open the main parlor for Christmas stories this holiday season!

Stay tuned for an update once the bathroom's magical transformation is finished!

Another 5 months between posts... Shameful, I know. A lot has been going on within the Greensfelder's little world and more will come about in due time... Like this week.

The front porch is being restored. After a lot of back and forth and irritation galore, we have decided to do the porch on our own. It doesn't take a rocket scientist and Eric IS an Engineer (so what if his degree is in electronics engineering!) and knows his way around wood work and construction. We'll be renting several support jacks to hold the roof up as we pull the pillars down, replace a couple plinths that are damaged beyond repair, and reconstruct the bases.

The bases will no longer be wood. 

That's right. No more wood bases. They will be stone bases and the stone is from a local quarry outside of Kokomo, Indiana. The original Tuscan style columns will remain and will be sanded and re-painted to match what will soon be the new exterior paint scheme. The wood planks on the porch will be replaced in favor of wide plank. The decision as to whether or not to paint them with water resistant maritime grade paint or stain and seal them is currently still in debate. Of course the balustrades will match the paint scheme. All in all? Gorgeousness.

The steps, a huge part of contention, will be removed and replaced likely with flagstone steps and the secondary staircase will most likely disappear in favor of a full landscape renewal unless we decide to do a smaller garden path to those stairs (though I see little merit in doing so). The concrete pathway will be gone as well in favor of stone and eventually the entire front yard will be leveled out, surrounded by a stone retaining wall topped with a wrought iron fence complete with garden gate a top the steps leading into the yard from the sidewalk. There will be period correct lighting and the current porch lights will be taken down and fully restored to their former glory. Expect hanging baskets full of flowers and bunting to suit as well.

Many of you may have seen the front garden. Though sparse, the bright display of color this year was a sign of things to come and we are patiently awaiting the bloom of 70 gladiolas as well. After they fade, the front walk will be attended to as those bulbs have to be removed for winter anyway and we figure we'll let them shine for the summer before changing anything.

One of the first bearded iris blooms of 2018

Next year you can expect so much more... Close to 100 additional gladiolas, the iris beds in back will be moved to the front, more tulips, more alium, more hyacinth, additional displays of daffodils, crocus, dahlias, hostas, peonies... Yes. Just yes.

Inside... Well now. We are VERY excited and pleased to announce that we are working with historic restoration design firms out out of Chicago, IL and Glendale, CA on getting the Greensfelder's mouldings, ceiling designs, and frieze work back to what it should be and once was. Everyone agrees that with ceiling heights like these, there was more than just the work in the parlor and the couple plaster ceiling medallions that remain. The consensus is that there was likely mural work as well, which there IS evidence of.

We have four samples coming within the next week from Chicago and Glendale is studying room layouts and ceilings before making any additional suggestions - however - the one suggestion they have made for the dining room is INCREDIBLE, ornate, and will be the talk of the town. Absolutely magnificent!

Other goals this year? Fireside parlor readings of Christmas stories this coming holiday season!

Christmas blessings

We had our first ever white Christmas in the Greensfelder. 6 inches of snow fell Christmas Eve and really turned the entire town of Logansport into a little patch of absolute heaven. There's nothing more beautiful than walking outside on a snow covered, sunny Christmas morning to feed your chickadees and cardinals to the tune of church bells tolling through the quiet winter air. It was very much like the opening scenes to a Disney epic.

But it brings me now to the knowledge that 2018 will be even better, that we have so much to do, so much to look forward to. We all know that even the best laid plans get messed up, but we can only hope and we have to be in it to win it.

Regardless... Here are the house plans for 2018;

• Knocking out the back porch when the thaw comes. Rebuilding it as a stone seating area complete with outdoor fireplace, running a deck off it along the back elevation of the house. Koi pond going in where the Iris beds currently are. Irises will be moved to the front. Anyone wants a turn with a sledgehammer? We'll have beer and BBQ. You bring muscle. Aiming to have everything finished and ready for a 4th of July party.
• Rebuilding front porch, lifting/leveling entire front yard through creation of stone retaining wall topped in period correct wrought iron fencing. Lovely gate. Proper planting to ensure gorgeous and dramatic front yard. Right now there's an IMPRESSIVE array of bulbs and lilies planted along the front as well as a small rose bush that we found. It appears to be a climbing variety... We'll need to preserve and protect her while not letting her continue vine damage that has already been inflicted to the current porch.
• Redo entire exterior. Buh bye asphalt shingles, hello proper clapboard with gorgeous paint.
• Garage is being torn down and rebuilt to become a stone 3 season studio, but a winter "habitat" for the Vindicator (our beastly land yacht; Ford F350). Current garage has serious structural issues and is too short/narrow to house the Vindicator. Studio will include a kiln and materials necessary for me to cast the effects I need to restore the exterior ginger breading.
• Tree removal (my heart breaks) of very very sick old Maple that must go. She's easily as old as the house, but she's rotting away :/
• Possible gravel driveway going through from Market st to alley (conversation with the city happening shortly) on East side of the house.
• More landscaping.
• Bathroom will be COMPLETELY remodeled. I already got a STEAL on a hand cut crystal chandelier that will be hung. Tub is being resealed, wood work stripped of paint and restained/sealed. Work has begun. Paint chosen. Expect photos soon.
• Kitchen... Flag stone floors, cabinetry to to match the original wood staining through the house. Painted wood to be stripped, stained, sealed. Center aisle to be resized, new top to go in (torn between sealed/poured concrete or butcher block... Leaning towards concrete). Center aisle will boast 6 burner gas range. Paint scheme has been chosen.
• All floors to be sealed/restored/finished
• Did I say more landscaping?

And more... So... So much more.

I'm blessed that most of this can be done us. It pays to have some serious know how. Bigger projects are being farmed out to local contractors - so far no one seems  to be taking a bite on it... Thanks to the previous owner who ran up plenty of contractor liens and debts. It'll get done no matter what... If local sources don't want the pay day, we'll find someone out of Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, or Chicago that specializes in restorations. Your recommendations are ALWAYS appreciated!

"I did not celebrate the repeal last night..."

The other day it was snowing. The first accumulating snow in Logansport for the 2017 - 2018 Winter Season and we, predictably, spent the day inside by the fire. My mother and sister have moved into town with my nephew, taking up residence at a historic late period Victorian across the alley way and that snowy day was perfect for roasting a couple chickens and inviting everyone over into one place to just try and relax and play catch up. Of course... Things are never that simple when it comes to the Greensfelder. She has a mind of her own that I often attribute to one of her more prolific owners of the past. She whispers things to you, both grand and bizarre, and you'd be wise to listen. So far she's been slowly revealing her secrets like the sea reveals shells and bits of coral and things... But these secrets are hardly simple flotsam. They're treasures. Old coins, depression glass play tea sets, a vintage Paul Revere candle holder by Avon, a book on hallucinogenic plants hard bound, second addition, vintage... Oddly expensive (found under a radiator, no less), and now... This.

For some reason, the untouched ballroom, left in shambles as a storage area, called to us... And we listened. It was oddly warm up there even with the high only reaching the mid-twenties and it blowing snow outside. Very very warm, actually... Just testament to how wonderful the architecture of old really was. Anyway... We found things. We've only just barely scratched the surface, but we found things. Wondrous things. An old rocking chair, a matching baby cradle, tons of old Victorian Christmas decorations, clothes from the 1950s, photographs from the 50s, feminist movement paraphernalia (DOWN WITH NECKLINES!), match books from when that prolific old owner ran for office, a laundry list from the "Habana Hilton" pre-embargo Cuba, a wedding invitation meant to be mailed to Mr Rock Hudson (yep... THAT Rock Hudson), postage already on it, vintage dolls, lanterns, clocks, milk glass produced by Indiana Glass, more depression glass... Lord the list goes on and on...

But this... This stands out most of all; a telegram from Chicago dated 12/06/1933, the day after the repeal of prohibition (and talking about how the prohibition didn't affect anyone anyhow ;) ), sent back to grandma Greensfelder herself at the height of the great depression... Proving that even they weren't impervious to its wretched grasp.

It's my honor and pleasure to share it with you, this incredible glimpse into history;

In the words of Indiana Jones; this belongs in a museum. I plan on bringing it down to put on loan at the Cass County Historical Society in the New Year after I get a chance to show the other ladies on the board of the Logansport Historical Preservation Commission when we meet in early January. This is one of those once in a lifetime things and we all deserve a brief reminder of why we save these homes and buildings from becoming parking lots and apartments.

I wonder what new treasures will be uncovered as the snowy Hoosier winter continues and the house remains warm and happy enough to whisper sweet nothings in our ears as we continue to love her.

PS: The ornaments we have recovered are now on our family tree, and I swear I felt the house sigh in happiness. There was such an overwhelming sense of completion and contentment. I'm happy you're happy, old girl.

Strap Wrenches and Other Tools

If there's one thing that can be said about today's society, it's that everyone has an opinion. Luckily, this great nation leaves everyone free to express that opinion, and others - and everyone else is equally as fortunate to be able to express their discontent with those opinions. However, Newton's third law applies to a lot more than just physic - it applies to social situations as well. For every action there's an equal and opposite reaction, and I find it strange that people will expect others to simply take it when they go out on a limb to be negative and downright hateful. It's simply not in our nature as a species to do so, and I'm certainly no exception to that rule. I'm no angel, never claimed to be and, as such, I didn't turn the other cheek when someone made a snide remark about the Mansion. And yes... I capitalize the word mansion, why? Because the house has her own personality and has earned the right to be considered her own entity.

A "gentleman" found it pertinent to inform me that, in his opinion (which he considered to be fact), the Mansion is the town's biggest eyesore, problem, looks abandoned and needs to be torn down. That's great. I'm of the opinion that he should be torn down. Now... Before you go off saying that I'm inciting violence, simmer down. I'm saying that people like him, with his opinions, should be shut down and kept at arm's length from projects of grandeur like the one pioneered to restore the Greensfelder. These are the caliber of people who have no vision and no respect for the history of this nation... Or this world. Chances are they'd see a French chateau in disrepair and abandonment and say that it needs to be torn down as well... That it's an eyesore. Doesn't matter that it may have been King Louis XIV's private hunting escape or the fact that, like the Greensfelder, it's structurally stable and simply rough from the outside. Unlike the majority of those abandoned chateaus, the Greensfelder is sound inside as well.

I'll digress, however, she's rough from the outside. She has horrendous asphalt shingling as siding, peeling paint, and some areas of rotting wood from where the downspouts came off. We've already addressed that the back porch is a gross addition that was obviously never finished... Or if it was, someone was restoring it and they failed... Miserably. Read the update below and you'll see that we've already taken measures to begin work on the entire rear elevation of the home. We're also well aware that the front porch DOES need to be replaced and updated. We're already taking rails down to eyeball their construction, strip them, and bringing them to wood workers to see if missing and badly damaged ones can be replaced and their less damaged sisters duplicated to fill that void. Why? Because history, nostalgia, and accuracy. That's why. It's a tireless and thankless job that takes people with vision and a deep love of history to perform. It's not for everyone, and certainly not for those who would rather bulldoze 116 years worth of history simply because the current exterior is an "eyesore". If we did that, than 90% of all old homes would be gone, including properties of far greater historical significance than the Greensfelder.

That said, this wonderful fellow must not drive past when there's dozens of packages on the porch, or the mail lady is stuffing our mailbox full of letters of support and catalogs and contracts from various architectural suppliers. Of course, unless he's hiding the secret that he graduated from Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters and happens to have x-ray vision, he's not seeing the hours spent toiling away on stripping, painting, cleaning, relaying floors and tirelessly working to fix that which was neglected and broken. He doesn't see my husband and I standing in the foyer and figuring out correct lighting and how to best preserve and repair the wedding cake details on the ceilings. He's not there to pick the crown moldings that will be going up or paint schemes or which runner will adorn the stairs.... Or will there be a runner?

My point to all this rambling? Unless you're going to be useful and offer useful critique and suggestion, please sit down. We need all the tools we can acquire, but a strap wrench (the most useless tool in the entire box) isn't one of them. Don't be the strap wrench.

As always, I'm going to plug our GoFundMe account so that people far and wide can reach out and assist the preservation of history. You can find it by clicking right here.

the "Eyesore"

All The Things!

If there's one thing I hate it's cheesy wallpaper. You know the kind. The super ratty floral print that's designed to look old but immediately gives you a migraine and flashback to sitting in your grandmother's kitchen on Thanksgiving and she's trying to force feed you Brussels sprouts... Only the stuff that I'm whining about is even worse. Yes. It CAN get worse. It can be tar stained from years of gratuitous smoking, poorly installed, and lifting. Yep... Wallpaper Hell is a place on Earth and that place is this old mansion's scullery and the stairwell of my servant's staircase. I kid you not. Not only did someone place horrific white latex paint over the wood work in that location, but they decided to paper it in the most heinous and hideous "antique feel" wallpaper they could possibly find. Only it's totally country home and not Victorian... And even then I'd rather see the factory that produced it burnt to the ground than allowed to produce another roll and have it plague a country farm home. I wouldn't even wish this stuff on my husband's ex-wife's home... That's saying a lot (you're welcome). Needless to say, the area is a hot mess and is now in a state of flux as we begin to restore it... No matter how hard we clean, it still looks gritty - and we can all thank smokers and neglect for that screw job.

Don't believe me? Challenge accepted.

Feast your eyes on this degree of "restoration" failure!

Properly horrified? Good. You should be.

The idea now is to take out that handy dandy heat gun and strip it off 100%, fix the missing portion of wood, replace the hand rail with something more appropriate than the cheap mess that's currently there, and likely put a wood wainscot in before painting. The risers to the stairs will be covered in tin tile that will either be painted white or stained dark to match the tread once we refinish and stain it... I'm starting to lean towards the white stain in order to help brighten things up and give tired night eyes a fighting chance at not falling up the stairs - it's possible, I've done it... Many times.

As you can see in the above photo, someone got lazy and painted the stairs white and hid their laziness with a runner rug - the evidence of which, aside from the slip shod paint job, was an ill-placed and raised nail head that wound up in my foot shortly after we moved in. It wasn't cute or appreciated... There was cussing, a lot of it - and then I annihilated the nail and went looking for the rest of its family in a manner that would have made Al Capone a very proud man. The bottom portion of the stairs happens to be a darker area of the home, that's for certain. The scullery window is currently taken up by a rather ugly AC unit... It's being kissed good bye in favor of lead or stained glass, and I have no doubt that will help brighten things up.

Speaking of stained glass, the window at the first landing of those stairs will be replaced with it. Why? Because magnificent and colorful, that's why. But for the rest of the stairwell, I'm honestly not yet sure what color to paint it... Or if I'll be going in and stenciling with period correct design - but I know it'll be 1000% better than what's there now.

Wanna make a paint motif suggestion? Please do!

ALSO! Due to request and recommendation, The Battle of Chiroptera is being turned into a self published novella and will be available soon! I'll be posting it on the blog - but for those of you who would like a signed and limited edition printed copy, I'll have a few available that can be obtained through a small donation to the Mansion's restoration fund! More info on that will be posted soon.

The Battle of Chiroptera

Hello friends,

Yeah, I know,  I suck at updating this thing,  but in my defense things are pretty hectic here with the new baby and everything else that is going on with the Mansion. I’ll start things off with an apology as always;  sorry for not keeping you guys informed up to the minute! Next, I’ll entertain you with one of my more recent and amusing things to have transpired.

Over the winter we found a bat in the house (NOT uncommon for old homes and this area since we’re a total bat haven with a TON of old homes and the fact we’re crammed between two rivers with less than a mile between them. In fact they actually merge right here in town) that had been pretty banged up, presumably by one of the three resident Couch Panthers that prowl our halls. A quick scope around the old ballroom showed no sign of a roost up on the third floor so we presumed it had fallen down the unused chimney in the parlor and called it square.

Fast forward to a couple of nights ago when, out of nowhere, a late night of research and work was interrupted and brought to a quick halt when I was clipped in the back of the head and suddenly all three cats came tearing past from the same direction. In the middle of a startled string of expletives, I looked up to see a bat fluttering in rapid circles around my living room. The result? The husband and I chased it through the entire house because the little flying ace would make it through 1” gaps between the pocket doors. I, of course, wore an Easter basket on my head. Why? Because (valid) reasons and the fact that the only other variety of headgear I possess is a riding helmet that was in the library and he didn’t make it into the library. That’s why.

However, the final show down as a scene straight out of WWII. Hubby and I were strategically placed in the dining room, armed with towels, and taking shots at trying to knock this thing out of the sky like two Navy destroyers trying to thwart a kamikaze Japanese Zero. It was oddly fitting considering hubby’s Veteran status.

…We won.

Oddly enough, there are STILL no signs of bats in the ball room even though I was CONVINCED that they were up there! All searching to find the roost has been widely unsuccessful. That said… There is more activity than just that of the enemy Chiroptera.

Renderings are being done by a very talented intern architect from Ohio State University, who I’ve come to know and love over the last year and change. As such, and knowing how ridiculously attention to detail (and downright good at her job) she is, I gave her the task of designing the new rear elevation of the house. The porch, like I had mentioned months ago, is going to come down and be reconstructed as a stone grotto complete with stained glass and an outdoor fireplace. It will also open out onto a deck that will replace the crumbling cement patio that currently exists. Over all, the idea is to;

A.) Replace the ugly porch addition that’s not so sound (the roof is a hot mess and there’s lead paint),
B.) Get rd of the extra door so we’re not left fumbling with keys and kids during bad weather events like snow and, you know, tornadoes…

and,

C.) Create a stunning off kitchen sitting area to enjoy fireside all year long.

The deck will eventually overlook  a koi pond that we’ll be putting in where the current iris bed is and the irises will be moved up front where everyone can appreciate them. OH and the cement walk will be 86ed in favor of cobble stone.

Once renderings are done, we’ll be pulling permits and beginning probably around July 4^th with a grand sledge hammer event. The only thing being saved are the old glass panes. Once that project is done we’ll have a late summer deck party!

That said… Please pardon our dust.

In the meantime, enjoy a photo I took after serious request for a picture of me in my bat battling headgear.

The article is out in today's Pharos Tribune! Figured I'd go ahead and drop the link here for your reading enjoyment. I know we'll be saving a copy for future delight and to look back on the early days of this project.

Doing It Justice

We truly love the photos that have been included, especially the family portrait on the stairs, and hope you will as well!

It's been awhile... And I apologize.

First things first: We haven't given up. Not by a long shot, and we certainly have no reason to.

Over the holidays we enjoyed the charm and beauty afforded to us by the Mansion in all of it's Christmas splendor. My husband and I went out and cut down our own tree at Cosgray Tree Farm in nearby Idaville, Indiana. It was AWESOME! The 12' monster that we chose tried to eat Eric several times, but in the end he won the war and the tree sat elegantly in our living room. Good thing we have 16' ceilings to support such a magnificent evergreen!

It's been small projects since then. Still pulling up tiles, still cleaning. Still getting acquainted with everything this relic has to offer. We've enjoyed the snow, that's for sure, and hope there's a wee bit more in the forecast before winter is finally said and done... We also welcomed a new addition into the home - no not the baby... Not yet anyway (baby comes in late March!) - a German Shepherd. Horatio has been a long time coming since my husband lost his old buddy Charlie on Thanksgiving almost 3 years ago. It's a learning curve, some people have called us crazy, but it feels right having him around - silly puppy that he is.

Anyway...

Things are starting to happen as winter slowly ebbs into spring here in Logansport. On the heels of our town losing another mansion to expansion, and greed - as it literally came by way of the local YMCA blindsiding the community by ripping down a gorgeous brick mansion that had been built in the late 1800s in order to put in a new parking lot - we've seen renewed interest in preserving Logansport's magnificent landmarks. That being said, it was our absolute pleasure to host Pharos Tribune reporter Mitchell Kirk and his photographer, Kyle Keener, at the Greensfelder Mansion this afternoon. He'd been directed our way by the great Paul Willham shortly after the announcement that the YMCA was ripping down the old brick mansion that literally stood only a block from us. Mitchell has a true love for this town and its preservation so we had absolutely no qualms about opening our doors and giving him the grand tour. To be honest... Seeing the eyes of others light up in wonder at witnessing the majesty of this "castle" for the first time really renews our spirits.

While we love this home, sometimes the grand scheme of things is extremely overwhelming. It becomes very very hard to see the forest for all the trees. But... To know that this home is an architectural and historical marvel in the eyes of others, and to know that it's part of a history that leaps the boundaries of the town it sits in... Yeah... It's invigorating. Words like "incredible", "remarkable", "out of this world", "unreal", magnificent", and "majestic" being loosely and freely tossed around as wandered from room to room just really made our hearts soar. We know that this crazy endeavor is worth it. We do. Just nice to be reminded sometimes.

That all being said, there's A LOT planned for the Greensfelder in the days, weeks, months, and years to come. In the meantime, though. I really encourage everyone to keep an eye peeled for the article about the Mansion when it hits this Wednesday's paper. Tomorrow, however, we celebrate Ethan's third birthday and our first Valentine's Day in the Mansion!

And just a friendly reminder that our GoFundMe campaign is still going strong! Please consider donating to history today.

I did a thing...

Yes... Indeed... I did a thing. I swallowed my pride. While I'm not admitting defeat, I AM admitting that assistance is very necessary and that being a two person army is only hindering us in our industrious efforts to take on the near Herculean task of restoring our historical marvel.

So...

Today, after a trying day at the house where further issues were uncovered and brought to light that made me want to rip my hair out and scream and cry and throw things, a decision was made that will effect the future of the Greensfelder Mansion in what I believe will be a truly positive manner. We decided to start a GoFundMe campaign and to write to This Old House in order to help get the historical community, and the community of Logansport as a whole, further involved with the restoration of the mansion. Let's be candid for a moment; she needs A LOT of work and we're pouring money into her on the daily. Progress IS being made, but that progress would be made so much faster with access to additional capitol or, more importantly, contractor donations.

This doesn't come without promises or careful thought and considerations. I've worked with non-profits for most of my adult life and know the benefit of keeping open books. A complete itemization of projects and receipts WILL be posted for every dollar of donated money spent. This open book policy will absolutely prove that restoration efforts are being undertaken and that hubster and I aren't simply stock piling cash for a trip to Fiji.

You can find our campaign by clicking right here. Photos of chunks of the damage we're contending with can be found there as well as a decent list of what truly needs to be worked on in a timely manner to preserve the home's integrity. We sincerely and humbly thank you in advance for your donation, consideration, and passing of the word so that we may breathe life back into the mansion and the town of Logansport as a whole.

We have new visitors... Of the winged kind.

My husband is a wise soul who decided yesterday to check the chimneys to see what kind of clearance they have, any down drafts, any debris etc. The fireplace in the living room is in working order. It has a down draft, the cob webs flutter, you can feel cold air coming down and a small kindling fire showed the smoke going up, which is the proper direction, and not out into the house. Excellent! Except... It shrieks at you. That was clue one that we were in for an interesting ride, clue two was the skeletal remains of a creature.

Moving on to chimney two... The parlor has one of the most amazing fireplaces I have ever had the privilege to lay my eyes on. However... It's filled with debris of all kinds. Leaves, sticks, you name it. We need it cleaned and a cap installed. Worse? We found another creature of the same variety as the first fireplace... Deceased...

Chimney Swifts. It seems that we are harboring at least two colonies of the bat-like birds and now comes the question of how to remove them without harming them because they truly are remarkable little things. I'm open to suggestion since I like winged squatters a lot better than the creepy crawly kind and would love to save them in some way. I will be putting out feeding stations for the area songbirds this winter and I plan on obtaining a colony of finches in a large flight cage in the living room or parlor... Maybe even the library. They'll be somewhere.

In other news... The garage is going to be reworked as well and will become a mancave/studio. Hubby needs a place for his toys and I need a private place to write, sculpt, and paint. It appears to be set up already to host a wood burning stove and the plan is to finish the ceiling after replacing the roof and installing infrared heaters to keep things toasty for the winter months. Hubby will have a ball decking it out with high tech security gadgets so I have no worries about anything out there. Plus it'll give me another place to move weather sensitive plants.

Slowly but surely, the plan is coming together. I think I may have a cleaning party complete with wine and cheese offerings at this point. We'll see.

So it's been a little bit since I last wrote an update, and I have to take full responsibility for the busy nature of life that has kept me from sitting and penning something for you guys to chew on. The house, for the most part, has been in a state of flux as we try to tackle the monumental task of cleaning her. There's a lot of dust, dirt, grit, and grime from her various repair projects of the past and, as all unlived in homes, she has one heck of a spider problem. I don't do spiders. At all. Ever. And there's several species and varieties of these eight-legged nopes for me to contend with all at once including a near see-through one that looks like dandelion fluff rolling across the floor until you get a good look at it and nearly come out of your skin. I STILL refuse to go down into the basement and have left my husband to handle that in whole. I'm sure you're asking "But there's thousands of treasures untold down there! Don't you want to see?!" The answer, my friends, is yes... But I've also been told by hubby and the municipal worker who turned on the water and electric that there are scary things down there that defy logic and explanation... And they're alive. No thanks. Needless to say there will be an exterminator brought in very VERY soon.

Other than that... There's a surplus of paint cans, trash, and various other items that are being gone through and removed. The dump is going to be our best friend for awhile. Coats that we've found will be donated to the Salvation Army and so on and so forth. Contractors have been called, a chimney inspector is being brought in, and we're ordering firewood in order to be better prepared to spend the winter in our new wonderland. Am I overwhelmed? VERY. But I think the feeling of being overwhelmed will cease to exist as soon as the house is at least clean and I don't feel the heebie jeebies brought on by the soon to be evicted arachnid tenants.

In AWESOME news, my husband was eyeballing what he thought was a hole in the "library" wall affectionately known as the "Purple Rain" room due to the color of the current paint. He discovered it wasn't a hole in the wall, but rather a hole in about 18 layers of paint and curiosity got the best of him, and I'm glad it did, because stripping it away bit by bit he's uncovered the original flocked wall paper. We're being VERY careful to gently expose this treasure and see just how much of it is intact. At worst we'll be having a pattern made to re-flock the room. Either way, it's a treasure not unlike finding little Sally Greensfelder's graffiti on an upstairs bedroom wall (we affectionately call that room the green room because of the flooring) or the incredible mantle in the living room.

Uncovered treasure; flocked paper

So all in all I'll be doing more and hopefully posting more as we continue on this monumental task of restoring the old mansion.

The kitchen is a point of serious contention at this point... The cabinetry does NOT appear to be original and appears to have been haphazardly done. We're having things looked at, but the general idea appears to be in favor of redoing the entire kitchen 100% but keeping the Victorian/Gothic feel that this home so deserves. It has an abundance of natural light and we're going to work with that. So far we're wanting stained wood cabinetry, flag stone floors and back splash, stainless appliances. We're going to resize the island in the middle of the kitchen and VERY likely set a gas range there in order to free up space for a double oven, space for a fridge, and more counters because counters are a very needed thing. The entire outside wall is basically windows and is off limits. Nothing will be going there aside from delicate window treatments to help preserve the view of the garden and the light afforded by those windows.

The back covered porch is going to be demolished. It's beyond saving with the amount of roof and exterior damage and the idea now is to preserve the windows, rebuild it larger, and do it in stone work to create a sitting/rear entry grotto complete with either a wood burning stove or another fireplace and hanging period correct lanterns for ambient lighting and enable it to be used all year round. Might make an EXCELLENT informal dining area.

I STILL want book shelves in the library. Floor to ceiling. But the integrity of the flocking WILL be preserved and these cases will be bolted as opposed to being built ins. It'll be a very special paradise filled with novels and legal texts and I envision a stunning area rug and period furniture stained to match the gorgeous window moldings. The ceiling will be done in a darker mural, maybe celestial, maybe as a map... Or maybe a large compass rose. We haven't decided, but it will be done. I get chills thinking about it.

Needless to say, this home is going to be a work of art once completed. I aim to see her chronicled in an architectural digest. She deserves it.

Ok class, today we're going to talk about the origins of the mansion.

We're going to start with her founding fathers, so go ahead and get your tea and crumpets and sit back as I try to pick through the - limited - information I have. I can assure you that the gaps will be filled over time as I plan to pick through the Cass County and Indiana Historical Society's collective brains to figure out the rest. So far I've been informed they have old photos of the home and documents pertaining to the house and her inhabitants... Needless to say, I want copies.

Anyway, on with the history lesson... Albeit a reader's digest version.

It all started when a stately Jewish man by the name of Eli Greensfelder opened a shop at 315 Marketstreet Logansport, Indiana in 1860. It was a men’s shop, selling the finest suits and accessories that could be found in that day and age in Logansport. At that time, Logansport was a bustling railroad city-town that also boasted a leg of the now defunct, and largely destroyed, Wabash-Erie canal that had reached the city in 1937 or 1938. So busy was this town that it garnered for itself the nickname of “Little Chicago” which, incidentally, is only a 2 hour (or so) drive away and perfect for a weekend day trip.

The Greensfelder Mens Store dated 1913

A generation later, and Eli’s twin sons, Herbert and Melvin, took up the reins to continue their father’s legacy of excellence. In 1902 the mansion was constructed, just a short hop away from their beautiful shop, and stood as a beacon of excellence in the city. You see, the Greensfelders were a minority family at the time as there were only a handful of Jewish families in the town, and even fewer running businesses. As such, the family was extremely influential and civic service minded. Logansport was their baby, and they treated it as such.

Herbert and Melvin Greensfelder

One of the most interesting pieces of history that I’ve found is the fact that the Greensfelders were absolutely fearless in their approach to keeping Logansport safe. When the KKK opened an office, they were the first to make it known that their formidable new neighbors weren’t welcome. This has been accounted for in several archives and texts, but the most compelling story of their bravery comes from Jan Lewis, a professor at the esteemed Rutger’s University, who happens to be the granddaughter of Melvin Greensfelder. Her story was accounted in the New York Times and speaks of the family legend in which the story is chronicled in great detail;

Herbet, Melvin, and their close friend Frank McHale, an Irish-Catholic lawyer, took a trip to Chicago where they hired a group of mobsters to handle business in the KKK’s Logansport office. Some accounts state the office was trashed, others state that KKK members were trashed, others speak of a clandestine op that MI-6 would have been proud of. Regardless, something monumental happened to the KKK in Logansport in 1933, and the Greensfelders were behind the infamous organization’s decision to pack it up and head on out of Dodge. Interestingly enough, there aren’t any police documents to back the stories… But… Let’s be real. We all know things get dusted under the county rug at times, and this was definitely for the betterment of Logansport. However, let it be known that a very interesting document was uncovered after Melvin’s death in 1975; a typed KKK roster outlining some 250 names of members… And it was dated, you guessed it, 1933, and was undoubtedly taken during the break in. The document is now housed at the Indiana Historical Society and I’m going to do my best to obtain further information about it, and a picture.

The rest of the information I've found were pieces of history pertaining to military history in WWI and WWII. These men were honorable and just, and I'm quite proud to be preserving part of their legacy via the restoration of the mansion. As I find more information and hear more stories, I'll be sure to include them and make amendments. I actively encourage people to eMail me with more information, and have reached out to Professor Lewis in hopes of uncovering more anecdotes and information about the house and Logansport in general. I can be easily reached at StormShyArts@gmail.com

Until next time!

When I was designing this blog, I was all gung-ho for keeping it completely professional with no personal flair what so ever. I sat here with my Earl Gray and literally watched the steam wither away while I hunted for the words to begin this first post with something other than a personal anecdote. I swear the house refuses to let me hide personality for the sake of professionalism. It has its own personality, its own charisma… A sort of flair and zest and zeal that begs for life and merriment… And who am I to deny the old lady? At nearly 115 years old, the Greensfelder mansion is, without a doubt, very set in her ways – in a good way. She just knows what she wants, and who can blame her?

It’s honestly funny how things work and plans change. When we, my husband and I, set out to purchase a home, we were looking at horse property. I wanted the acreage, the barn, the garden, the country life. We looked high and low, put offers in on several homes that all fell through because of the seller’s integrity, or lack thereof. One was so badly misrepresented that we literally stood there watching it rain INSIDE the house in teeming torrents that turned the dining room and master bedroom into indoor swimming pools. Needless to say, when the bank that owned the property decided they were sticking to their guns on price, and we knew it was going to cost close to $100k to even make the home LIVABLE, we chose to walk away… And it was stressful. So very stressful. A lot of days were spent sitting beside a friend of mine, her on her phone, me on the computer, digging through Zillow, Realtor.com, and Trulia searching for ANY shred of hope that hubby and I weren't completely crazy for uprooting and moving to Indiana. 

Day after day was spent driving back and forth to the stores and entertainment, staring wantonly at the old Victorians in Fort Wayne, wistfully sighing "Why can't I find one of those? Why can't those be on more than postage stamp sized property?"

I have always loved Victorians… ALWAYS. My mother was the Queen of restoring and decorating Victorians and my dream was to own a great big giant Queen Anne, but... I couldn’t find one on horse property and I was stubbornly sticking to my guns of finding a place where I never had to board my horses again. Like this blog, however, plans changed. One of my closest friends found Greensfelder on a historical home site that she frequently lurks and BEGGED me to go look at this home, and I agreed... Only because she begged. Ok I lied. It wasn't just because she begged, I did it because Victorian, because history, because I just felt drawn to the place through my extensive Googling of its story. It doesn’t have horse property, is smack dab in the middle of town, and requires so much work… But I fell in love. One step through the door and I just KNEW this house was the one.

While anyone who drives past the house probably believes its haunted and ready to crumble in on itself, they couldn’t be any further from the truth. The house, while needing extensive exterior work to hold a candle to her shining former self, is an architectural gem. Inside, the work isn’t nearly as daunting. Sure… There’s drywall work and restoring part of her lincrusta wainscot, repainting, and hunting down the tiles to finish her beautiful mosaic vestibule floors, and, of course, re-finishing her grand ball room – but all of that is the fun stuff. It can, and will, be handled over the winter of 2016-2017 when exterior repairs can’t be done. Which reminds me… Whoever the genius was that listed her as having “horse hide” on her walls needs to be tarred and feathered. I assure you, fellow lovers of equus, the wainscot IS lincrusta. Linseed oil and wood flour made into a gel and spread out over paper before being pressed and embossed and then applied and stained to that beautiful, rich, deep finish we see today. Reading that on her listing seriously resulted in me doing something very similar to this;

Moving on.

The plan for this home is to maintain her historical integrity. We’re considering all options and her wood working WILL be preserved, both inside and out. That being said, there will be some changes, for the better.

Example 1: Her study will have the addition of wall to ceiling book cases installed at some point, the natural light in that room is absolutely spectacular and it’s such a quiet nook that affords someone the chance to sit with a hot cup of tea, tuck their legs up into a comfy chair, and read to their heart’s content.

Example 2: Her kitchen will have its remodeling continued. It’s been modernized, to a degree, but has the original cabinetry;  complete with the hand painted enamel drawer pulls etc. We WILL preserve those while affording functionality. Off the kitchen is an unfinished small 3 season room that will be finished with another fireplace installed.

Example 3: The basement will be finished. I’ve heard multiple tales that it acted as servants’ quarters. While in great shape, it’s hardly habitable and needs to be finished. The added space down there is just incredible. One room will be reinforced as a storm room.

I could continue going on and on about the changes, but I’d rather not for the sake of brevity. If you’re interested in her restoration plan, you can feel free to ask for it. I may, at some point, actively publish it once its set in absolute stone. The one thing that IS for certain is that this home will never fall into ruin again, well… As long as my husband and I are alive, anyway. I can only hope our children choose to love and preserve her integrity as we do, but they’ll certainly be raised to do so. Not many of today’s youth can boast that they grew up in one of the most unique and historical homes in the country, let alone the state of Indiana. Nevertheless, in our time she will never become apartments, torn down, or re-purposed into a shop or office space. I can't promise that she won't hold some commercial value, but fear not. The only reason for that is there mere fact that I own and operate my own graphic design/art studio and just so happen to work from home. Nothing too incredibly crazy.

So… That concludes blog post one. My tea has hit the microwave (sacrilege, I know), and I’m now going back through all the historical texts I have found about the mansion, and her previous owners, in order to start penning a catalog of her history to share with you all… That will start next blog.