Grand Hotel: Demolition Secret!

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Contractor on the Hotel renovation, Russell Pitt, explains to the girls what his crew found. Sunlight pours through the 'window' in the early morning. 

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Mr.Pitt: First, I have to apologize for the secrecy around this 'thing'. I took the liberty of boarding up the street windows here on the main floor. My crew has built a temporary wall to protect the space  behind this window. We don't need this hitting the news or the 'street', before we secured the building. 

I have been in touch with Ms. Roberts, and she has been cooperative in giving me leeway and funds to protect this artifact. Sorry, Miss Lara, I felt I had to go to the top with this. Under her direction, we have asked you here to see exactly what this is, and how to go forward.

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Richelle(Lead Designer on the project): I don't know what to say---it's huge. 

Lara: There was nothing in the research on this building to indicate this was here? It's absolutely breathtaking.

(The ladies are dumbfounded and simply stare at the thirty-foot high stained glass window.)

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Mr.Pitt: Fortunately, I've been contractor on enough old buildings to know there can be unexpected finds, and I had my crew proceed on the demolition, slowly.  We started by opening one square foot. 

It was worth it, there are only a few minor cracks, but the metal structure needs to be reinforced. My guess, from the wall construction, it was covered over in the 1920's and that is why it is in good condition.

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Mulan(representing the Art Institute): I have to take some proper photos. I have a colleague in Victorian Arts acquisitions who will be very interested.

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Upstairs, Milan gets another view as the sunlight beams through the window.

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Mulan: The detail is amazing on this painted glass. It is not Tiffany. 

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(Mulan takes a few more photos)

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Mulan: This is the only angle I can get the whole window!

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Richelle: The colors and the rippled glass, I think it is original to the building or only a few years later.

Lara Roberts: Thank you so much for your diligence Mr.Pitt. I agree we will have to keep this secret until the window has been fully protected and secured outside and in. Will this effect your completion schedule?

Richelle: Its certainly will affect the rents!

Mr.Pitt: Well, I have an estimate of an 8 week wait for glass for the outsidewall. We will have to keep the building totally secured until that is installed. We have plenty to do inside, and still have to finish electrical and rough plumbing. This will effect the apartment landings though, can't have construction going on so close. I have some canvas and plywood to board this up temporarily, if that is your wish.

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Lara: By all means, board it up! 

Mulan: Yes, protect it from construction, please.

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Mulan: It is gorgeous how the changing light affects the colors. 

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Richelle: I have to redo so many of my  design elements and play up the greens. More plants will have to be used. I'll have to redo ALL my presentation drawings. Mulan please let me know what you find out about the window or the artist. Look back,  see what an entrance this will be. Wow!

Mulan: Yes, this really changes many things for this building. Does it have National Historic status? 

Richelle: No, it didn't qualify because of all the alterations to the original building. Perhaps we can apply again, further along in the project if we preserve as much as we can. 

Lara: Well, Mr. Pitt, when you said a secret---I had no idea? I will have to do a lot of explaining to renters, and I will need to redo the brochures. I'm sure you have many bigger changes you will have to make, than my paper presentations. 

Mr.Pitt: Yes, we will have to hold on the glass walls for the apartments, some of those materials were supposed to arrive next week. And, the security issue--is the biggest problem, right now. My guys have sworn to secrecy for the time being.

Lara: Well, everyone here today are professionals and we will keep this quiet for now. But, what a great marketing tool this will be. I have to go and speak with my aunt Barbara right away to go over her ideas. Thanks, for all your hard work, and please stay in touch.

More in this series:

Hotel Project:Sindy's big Decision, part1

Hotel Project:Sindy's big Decision, part2

Hotel Project: Men at Work

Hotel Project:Lara Surveys the Progress
 Hotel Project:tutorial The Grand Hotel Demolition

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 Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. 

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Talk of the Town

Fairytale: Princess and the Pea: Part 2

(continued, we find Kirstine tossing and turning in the featherbed. She hasn't slept a wink.)

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She is very tired. 

“I can’t sleep. This soft bed is LUMPY!”

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Two hours later…Aggie said, “Miss Kirstine, you are still awake, I will bring you another mattress.”

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“Thank you, Aggie. I think this is better and soft now.”

But, later....

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Maid Aggie checks on Kirstine, who is still awake at four o'clock in the morning.

"Oh, Maid Aggie, I can't sleep the bed is lumpy. Please help me, I'm so tired."

"Yes, Miss. I will have the footmen bring all the extra mattresses, so you can sleep."

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Kirstine whispered, “I’m sorry to be such a problem. Thank you for your help.”

Maid Aggie said, “Ten mattresses should be comfy now.

"I hope so, I can barely jump up from this chair,” Kristine said.

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Kirstine jumped into bed and sighed as she placed her head on the tenth pillow, on top of the tenth feather mattress.

Maid Aggie pulled the covers over Kirstine.

“Sweet dreams Miss, it is almost morning.” Aggie thought, I must tell the Prince, this may be a real Princess. She hurried down the stairs, as the Prince was an early riser.

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“I think these papers are true, Marta. This Kirstine might be a real Princess. The one I have been searching for.”

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Marta scowled. “I’m sure she will fail the test, as they have all failed. Have I not helped you rule our country and keep your castle?”

“Yes, Marta. But, our kingdom needs a KING, that’s why it is called a Kingdom, not a Princedom.”

“Your Majesty,  I think she is a Princess, through and through. I confess Prince Henrik, I placed a large pea under the Princess’s mattress at the command of her Ladyship, Marta. Just, as I have done for all the young ladies who have pretended to be princesses.” 

Prince Henrik jumped up. “I must see this Princess, for myself.” He climbed the stairs to the tower faster than anyone ever had.  

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Prince Henrik entered the room to find Kirstine high in the air on top of all his best feather beds.

“Is this true, Miss Kirstine, you have not slept well on ten of my best feather mattresses?

Kirstine sighed. “I’m sorry to say, your Majesty, No, I have not. NOT AT ALL!”

Poor Kirstine held her head, and cried softly. “I’m not a Princess, I can’t even sleep in a Princess bed.”

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Maid Aggie slid her hand under all the mattresses and pulled out the hard pea. “Here your Majesty is the pea. Look at those mattresses, and pillows, and blankets and still Miss Kirstine is awake.”
         Prince Henrik examined the pea and then looked up to the top of the mattresses, where his Princess….was already asleep and softly snoring.

“Zzzzzzz, Zzzzzzzzzz, Zzzzzzzz.’

“I’m afraid my Princess snores a bit. But, she is fast asleep.” Prince Henrik laughed. He was so happy. He climbed on a chair and whispered, “Princess Kristine, will you marry me, and be my Princess and then my Queen???

“Zzzzzz, uh-huh, Zzzzzzzz.” He kissed her on the cheek while standing on a chair.

“If that is a yes, I must plan a Royal Wedding and a Coronation.”

***One Month Later***

Prince Henrik and Princess Kristine are married.

“My bride, you look beautiful and have I told you today, how much

 I love you?”

“Yes, Henrik, you have, and I love you too. But, you must be kind to your Aunt Marta. She has tried so hard to find you the right bride.”

“She did, but not for the reasons you think, my dear.”

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Prince Henrik said, “Dear Marta, please give my regards to King Harrold, in Sweden. I’m sure you will be happy with the marriage I have arranged for you to his sixth son, Haggard the Sad.”

Marta rolled her eyes, “As long as you are happy, my dear. You and your Princess shall have long lives together. And, I hope many little blessings. My nephew, you need an heir and a spare, as soon as possible.”

“We have only been married a week, Marta. Please let us at least learn to know each other, first.” The Prince blushed.

Kristine said, “Thank you Marta, for helping the Prince become such a fine man. I am proud to be his wife.”

“You are welcome, Princess Kristine. May you have a happy life. Make sure he attends to his paper work.

“Yes, Ma’am, I will. Please, have a wonderful life in Sweden.”

“I will, we are going on a grand tour of the all the kingdoms in the south after our marriage. I have always wanted to see Paris. Good-bye and good luck.”

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Prince Henrik whispered to his Princess, “Now, my Princess we must plan the Coronation and then work on those little blessings.”

Princess Kristine blushed, “And how many little blessings, does my Prince wish to have?”

Henrik replied, “I want to fill all those feather beds with little princes and princesses.”

(Meanwhile in the tower….)

Maid Aggie worked on finding all the rooms the feather beds belonged to.

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As Maid Aggie said long, long, ago….

      “A Princess is so, special, she can feel a small pea under all these mattresses. But, it is the goodness in her heart and her will and hard work to do right for her people that will make her a great Queen for our kingdom, or should I say Queendom….”

Feel free to print this for your own use, or for your children or grandchildren. Reading is so important for children as are magical stories. 

All the opinions and photographs on this blog are my own, unless otherwise stated. 

 I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions

 or products shown, or from where I shop. 

The dolls shown are from my own and the Grand's collection. 

Clothes are vintage or made by myself. Occasionally, I falter and buy something new.

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Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi Magle

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