Cataloging cracks

The holiday season – and fantasy football – caused us to temporarily set aside sorely needed household repairs. But the holiday season is coming to a close; the Christmas tree along with the all the gift boxes and wrapping have been burnt in the fire pit out back, and my brother just emailed to boast that he repeated as league champion in fantasy football. (Congrats, muffinmonster! Now get over it.)

Jim and I have started to plan our winter indoor project schedule, which includes ceiling work, step repair and modernizing the bathroom. Yesterday, as I was wandering the house examining the scope of our challenge, my focus fell on several cracks cutting through walls, the ceiling, and where the wall and ceiling converge just outside my bedroom. At each crack I paused to call the crack to Jim’s attention.

“Is this a new crack?” I asked him, over and over again. “Because I think our house is falling down.”

Being the stoic German that he is, Jim quietly reassured me, “The house has been standing for 120 years. It’s not falling down.”

“Yeah, but, is this a new crack?” I repeated as I thought back to last winter when we’d painted the upstairs bedrooms, trying to recall if I’d painted over the large crack in Marc’s room.

Of course, the cold weather outside causes all kinds of cracking and popping sounds to emerge from the walls and attic. Expansion and contraction, it happens in new houses too. And, there isn’t a level floor or square wall in the place; to date, these flaws haven’t much bothered me or caused me to ponder the consequences of nineteenth century construction integrity.

But these cracks I find increasingly troubling. The cracks are making me worry that the old farmhouse is about to cave in around me. I wonder if it’s because we’ve invested ourselves in restoration and now, like a dog who repeatedly wanders onto the property, I’ve begun to care for the old girl. Does caring beget worry?

Knowing my interest in photography, Jim offered this idea. “Why don’t you go around the house and take pictures of all the cracks. Then, you’ll know a new one when you see one.”

Interesting idea of his, cataloging cracks. I’ll keep you posted.