Bringing Back Sligo

Breathing new life into an Italianate home in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Bringing Back Sligo
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  • Monthly Archives: January 2019

    • Trials and Tribulations

      Posted at 9:21 pm by Lauren Tepaske, on January 28, 2019

      It has been a long time since I wrote.  I’ve been in a bad place recently, feeling unhappy in just about every aspect of my life and it’s hard not to place the blame on others (*ahem* I think we all know who I’m talking about here).  Slowly, my mental state has started shaping-up and I’m starting to feel more like myself.

      At the end of this woe is me cycle I did rebel a bit and cut about 5 inches off my hair but it was either that or get a face tattoo so I went with the one that might help me better secure a job in the future.  It was a move meant to make me feel better about myself and guess what?  It worked.

      Through the last few months we have had so many friends and family and even folks in passing conversation encouraging the endeavor we have taken on with Sligo but guys, this is hard.  This project has brought with it a level of stress and friction that Marcus and I have never experienced before.  I mean, that might not be necessarily true.  I am sure we went through some major stages of stress after the birth of each of the girls.  I know Marcus was stressed to the point he would sleep-walk and looking back I definitely went through post-partum depression.  But, here we are, nearly eight years later and we’re thriving and still married.  Our girls are thriving (though mommy did fall asleep and was five minutes late picking them up from school the other day so there is room for improvement) and even though they’ve probably felt like their lives are wholly unfair at times they really do love us.

      Maybe that is where the lesson to all of this lies.  Despite the trials we have faced over the years we have come through in the end.  We made it through the early stages of marriage.  We made it through the early stages of parenthood.  We made it through the early stages of puppyhood (still kind of going through that actually).  It only stands to reason that we’ll make it through this project as well.  And, on the bright side, Marcus hasn’t started sleep walking.  Yet.

      Posted in Life | 2 Comments
    • The Servant’s Stairs

      Posted at 2:06 pm by Lauren Tepaske, on January 13, 2019

      When we met at Sligo with Dovetail Cultural Group a few weeks ago it was like a light bulb went off with one of the more confusing aspects of the house.  I’ll try and describe it from the basement up to the 2nd floor of the house.

      In the basement there are obvious remains of an old stairwell.  Just above that is currently a very long and narrow half bathroom.  And, just above that, is a small room just off the master bedroom that doesn’t seem to have much purpose (it was really the most confounding of spaces).  However, it was our tour with Dovetail that helped enlighten us and it turns out all three spaces would have been the servant’s stairs, just on the other side of the main stairs.  The picture that I received of Sligo in her original state shows a door off the front porch which would also lead one to believe that this would have been the servant’s stairs.  At some point in the last 120 years that was changed to incorporate a life without servants (I’m guessing…although can I have servants?  Or at least a nanny?  Maybe a maid?  Fine, just a personal shopper.  I don’t ask for much).

      Our plans for the basement space will probably be a full bath in order to incorporate apartment living on that level.  On the 1st floor that space will remain a 1/2 bath but will also include a washer and dryer.  On the 2nd floor we plan on adding a wall, another doorway and turning that basically unusable space into a master bathroom.  It all makes sense in my head so I apologize if it reads really crazy.

      I’m including pictures to try and give an idea of what I am talking about but keep in mind it’s dark in the house because many, if not all, of the windows are boarded up.  Also, enjoy a cameo from Twila & Co.!

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      To the left, and over Johnna’s head, you can see the remnants of the basement stairs.

      downstairs bathroom

      On the 1st floor and just above the aforementioned basement area is currently where there is a half bath.  Straightaway is where the door off the front porch would have been.  It is now a transom window that is just out of the picture. (picture taken from the Zillow listing, 2 August 2018)

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      The 2nd story portion is harder to photograph.  To the right of the picture you see a door leading to the master bedroom into what is the small room. (picture taken from the Zillow listing, 2 August 2018)

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      Looking into the small room off the master bedroom you see a closet and to the right of the picture is the doorway leading to the actual bedroom itself.

       

      Posted in Basement, History, Main House | 0 Comments
    • Quickie

      Posted at 8:53 pm by Lauren Tepaske, on January 10, 2019

      I’ve been meaning to write.  Really, I have.  So much has happened between receiving the most amazing packet of information from the Street family and work really, really starting on the house.  But, with all of that, there have also been children home from school, children having little social lives, children being ridiculous, me trying not to murder children, you get the idea.  Therefore I have been needing a social life in order to survive and by “social life” I mean putting children to bed and watching mindless shows for the rest of the evening.  By the time my day ends and I sit down to write something my mind is a blank.  I even stared at a rough draft for a new post for days before finally giving up and just leaving the computer alone for a bit.

      Plus, some of the things I really want to write about can be a little touchy.  Like, the fact Marcus has been the crankiest I have ever known him to be (hi, hun!).  This doesn’t work well.  For one thing, I am the cranky one in the family, there is no room for two of us.  Can you imagine what it’s like to have two cranky people sharing the same space, the same stressors, the same ridiculous children (have I mentioned them)?  Marcus left this past week for the Navy Reserves and will be gone for two weeks for…training?  School?  Brainwashing?  I really don’t know.  I know there were a lot of uniforms and preparation for this trip.  Whatever he’s doing, I am hoping the Navy beats the crankiness out of him (hi, hun!) and he comes back the Marcus we all know and love.

      Posted in Life | 0 Comments
    • Recent Posts

      • Preoccupied December 20, 2021
      • The “Haunting” of Sligo August 4, 2021
      • Rehabilitation Tax Credits April 27, 2021
      • Put Me in Blogger Jail April 6, 2021
      • Virginia Historic Registry and the National Landmark Registry August 6, 2020
      • My Good Boy, Axel July 14, 2020
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