McKenna & McKenna

It’s time for a long overdue thank you to Kasey McKenna and Karly McKenna (“McKenna & McKenna”) who have been diligently tackling painting project after painting project for us over the last three years. Although their contributions are not limited to Rosslyn — they’re currently refinishing interior shiplap and exterior decks at ADK Oasis Lakeside — they have truly transformed our home over the last two winters, methodically working room-to-room whenever we’re out of town.

A Jeroboam of gratitude to Kasey McKenna and Karly McKenna for their exceptional accomplishment repainting the entrance hallway. It looks superb! (Source: Repainting Entrance Hallway, 2023)

That was last year. Kasey helped narrow down the new color to ensure Susan’s satisfaction (and that, my friends, is no simple task!)

Here’s an excerpt from another update during that same phase of repainting.

This past winter and spring Kasey McKenna and Karly McKenna repainted most of Rosslyn’s interior for us. Although Susan was in Santa Fe, we three guided her virtually through new colors for the front hallway. And the new hue was a grayer cousin to the warm yellow cream I’d enjoyed for the last decade and a half. At the time I considered the new color a compromise. But you know what? When the sun is rising up out of Vermont’s Green Mountains, and the warm rays illuminate Rosslyn’s entrance, I’m entranced. Yes, the shade is different, especially when indirect sunlight or electric illumination are in charge. But first thing in the morning is still the daydream that came true! Thank you, Susan. Thank you, Kasey and Karly. Thank you, Benjamin Moore. Thank you, Rosslyn! (Source: Amber Morning)

This winter and spring McKenna & McKenna resumed some interior painting, touching up a few remaining areas like the bar and gym before jumping over to ADK Oasis Lakeside.

We can’t recommend this duo, highly enough. Not only are they skilled, conscientious, and reliable, but they’re really pleasant to be around. Kind, considerate, and upbeat, they make my day better whenever I come across them.

And while I could go on seeing their praises, there’s another reason I’m penning today’s post.

Do you remember Mary Wade? When she passed away a little over a year ago, many of us in this community lamented the loss of a friend. A dear friend. With a compassionate heart, a charming sense of humor, a gifted and widely popular artistic ability, and a memory spanning decades, Mary touched many. I’m grateful to have known her, and I miss her dearly.

Let me take you back a bit.

Each winter Essex residents celebrate the holidays early during a weekend-long event called Christmas in Essex. It was this tradition which connected me to Mary Wade, a folk artist who lives in Willsboro but runs a seasonal gallery in Essex each summer. She creates painted wooden models, silhouettes, and paintings of historic buildings in Essex that are collected by her fans all around the world. Although I’d visited her shop in the past, it wasn’t until last December (when Mrs. Wade was offering her artwork for sale during the Christmas in Essex event) that we discussed her Rosslyn inspired artwork. I spotted a painting of Rosslyn’s boathouse adorning a wooden box (see image) and asked her if she could make a birdhouse modeled on the same structure. “I think so,” she said, considering. “I could do that.” “What about a painting of Rosslyn?” “Oh, sure. I’ve done that plenty of times, you know, all the Merchant Row houses.” As soon as my bride was safely out of earshot, we began to conspire. Could she undertake *both* projects this winter? She could. And much more! Last week I met her at home where she unveiled these whimsical renditions of Rosslyn and Rosslyn’s boathouse. The small painted silhouettes of the the boathouse were a bonus, unanticipated when we made our plan last December. She had gotten the idea while creating the birdhouse, and she liked it so much that she decided to make almost a dozen to share with her other collectors. (Source: Mary Wade’s Rosslyn Art)

In that photograph above Kasey and Karly surprised me with a duplicate of Mary’s Rosslyn boathouse “birdhouse”. It turns out she had made two. I had no idea.

Kasey and Karly presented their grandmother’s artwork to me as a souvenir and posthumous gift. I can’t truly articulate how moving this was for me. As if I weren’t already beyond grateful to them for the reliable work they’ve undertaken for us over the years, now this. A bridge to their grandmother, to my friend, and to Rosslyn’s boathouse with which I’ve been smitten since I was a boy.

Perfect poignance!

And a lifetime of gratitude. 

Thank you, McKenna & McKenna. Two chips off the old block!