Finished the field stone backstop

I recently finished the field stone back stop for the free standing stove - all that's left is to run the chimney up and we got heat!

Recent photo - coming right along

As you can see I have started to trim off the ends of the logs to be more uniform, had the final grade done and planted grass and started building the support structure for the porch.

Rebar is our friend - but it don't like truck tires!

I had pounded some rebar into the ground to help tie off some ropes - and forgot to take them out.... found it!

Chinking Chick #2

Dani - she's a chinking machine!

Chinking Chicks

My wife and daughters can chink with the best of them - they can be foofy girly girls - but they can sure get 'r done!!

Da mix'er

My boy is a cement mixing fool!

A little corner work....

Chink!

We have started chinking! For those of you who have taken the class - this is cement placed between the logs to keep the wet and cold out....

Floor Plans

Changes to the plan....

As you can see from comparing the artist drawing to the real cabin I have made a few modifications that better fit our needs.

1-I did not put any windows on the front of the cabin except those on the first floor to save heat. It get mightly cold up here...

2-I am going to build a slightly different porch that is only on the front of the building and not on 3 sides. The roof line of the porch will match the roof line of the cabin.

3-I have removed all the interior walls on the first floor and placed the utility room and bathroom on the outside walls. This has given the cabin a much more open feel.

The front is done!

Finally got all the board-and-patten on the front of the cabin... its really starting to come together!

A zillion nails.... but its all good

I have stuffed the crack between the logs with insulation and now am starting the laborious task of placing nails every few inches so the chink has something to grab onto.....

One of the last really big steps in the project - the roof!

One thing I have learned during is project is to know when you are going to be beyond your skills - the roof was one of those things that I probably could have done myself but its just too much for me to do safely.

The guys I hired to do the roof have been great - working with all the "character" issues (my goof ups) and working hard.

The roof, the roof, the roof is going on!

Another look at the roof - ain't it great! The foundation and roof will be the only two things that I didn't do myself (with the help of my friends and family of course!).

Dining room

This was taken from behind the island - the first door is the utility room (washer/dryer, water heater and electrical panel) and the second door is a half bath.

Kitchen looking from stove area

Another view of the kitchen from by the stove. In between the pantry on the right side of the picture and the window will be the back door.

The Kitchen

Over the past few days I have been focusing on the kitchen. The is going to be a window in the center of the picture - should get it in shortly. There is an island where the range and stove will be.

Our Wood Stove

Once we have the chimney hooked up things are going to get a lot warmer.... the last few days it was as cold as -4 degrees. Cold - very cold!

Electrical

I have started to run the electrical - most of the first floor is done. The sooner I can get the electrical and plumbing done sooner I will have heat and (most importantly to my wife and daughters) in door plumbing!

Turkeys at the feeder

It's not the best picture in the world but you'll have to trust me that it's a Tom (male) and 2 Pea Hens (females). They come in every morning and stay till after lunch. The lady down the hill has 200 - 300 at a time!

At night the dear come in to the feed - it's a very popular place during these long winters.

Looky - It's a garage!

Once a bit warmer weather arrives I can have the garage floor poured and all that is left to do after that is to hang the doors.... it's nice having some place to store all the "stuff" for the project.

Starting to Insulate

My lovely Daughters started stuffing insulation between the logs in preparation for chinking... also helps to keep the snow out!

Exterior is Coming Along

Here's an early shot of the exterior - using the same board and batten as the garage....

Front of the Garage

A closer look at the front of the garage detail - once spring comes and the cement trucks can travel again I will pour the floor and install the doors... It's a nice size - 24'x28' with 10' interior walls. Lots of room for toys!

The Garage Cometh!

Here's an early shot of the garage as we where putting it up - its all done now.

Hey - Doors and Windows!

It really is looking like a cabin and not a very large pile of logs! All the exterior windows and doors are in - it really changed the look.

34' Ceiling

From the front half of the house there is a clear view to the cathedral ceiling - 34' up....