Slipforming, part 17 – Turret’s syndrome
Wednesday, May 11th, 2011
This post follows Slipforming, part 16 – Balcony railing…at last. To see a complete index of slipforming posts, click here. For an index of comical posts, click here.
I’m calling this chapter “Turret’s syndrome” not because I intend to mis-spell and discuss Tourette’s Syndrome, which, for those who do not know, is an affliction that often results in someone blurting out profanities at inopportune times. Instead, I intend to share some ideas on turrets, which are those cone shaped roof toppers that adorn some homes and government buildings. Frankly, they cause the same symptoms…profanity. For Tourette sufferers, there is medication and therapy. For turret sufferers, no remedy exists, aside from ditching the idea of adding a cone-shaped roof topper to one’s home, or profanely gritting one’s teeth through it.
My own case of turret syndrome began with an old book on German castles, many of which were over 500 years old. This inspired me because, ignorantly, I figured if they could do it 500+ years ago, without all the power tools we have at our disposal today, the project ought to be a cake walk with our advanced technology. Oh my! Ignorance truly is bliss.
Above left, a curved turret that adorns a Victorian home in Delta, Colorado. I actually wanted the turrets on our home to be curved like these, but my husband, Ken, thought the idea was too “girly.” Considering the extra labor, I conceded, but I still love this look. The carpenter, who built this in the early 1900s, probably knew it would still be appreciated this much later, as it will 100 years from now, if the home stands that long. (more…)