Those old houses always have a few curveballs. Pulled a window in a ‘52 place last winter and found an old wasp nest plus a handful of marbles—no idea how those got there. You’re right about patience with trim, too. Even after years doing this, I still have to slow myself down or I’ll end up redoing corners. It’s messy work but worth it when you see the result every day.
Funny you mention hidden surprises—when I swapped out a sash in my 1948 place, I found an old pack of Lucky Strikes and a tiny metal car wedged in the framing. The trim was a bear, too. I’ve learned that pre-fitting every piece saves headaches later, even if it feels slow at first. It’s definitely a hassle at times, but seeing those new windows every morning makes it worthwhile for me.