Excavation continues. Rob and his trusty assistant Matt begin the dig for the cabin site. A large hole was started to accomodate our plan consisting of two floors and a walkout basement.
(click pics to enlarge)
They got skills - see the stake?
Monday, May 28, 2007
DIG
September 2006.
Excavation continues. Rob and his trusty assistant Matt begin the dig for the cabin site. A large hole was started to accomodate our plan consisting of two floors and a walkout basement.
Excavation continues. Rob and his trusty assistant Matt begin the dig for the cabin site. A large hole was started to accomodate our plan consisting of two floors and a walkout basement.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
EXCAVATION BEGINS
July 2006.
Hot damn!
We picked the hottest weekend of the summer to start clearing trees for our site. 98 degrees. D wielded his chainsaw like a mad man.
We would occasionally peel off our sweaty work clothes, get into our swim suits and jump into the dog pool...
Once the large trees were cut and dragged out of the way we roughly staked out the angle for the cabin. We'd visited the site during all seasons so we knew where the sun would be year round and took that into consideration.
The driveway was a feat in itself and Rob was the right guy for the job. We needed to bridge a small valley in order to get to the site from the road. With his experience and small fleet of equipment, he designed a beautiful, curving landbridge and driveway. It was not only functional but complimentary to the surrounding landscape. He's truly an artist with a bulldozer.
A storm topped off our exhausting weekend. We caught up to it in West Branch and drove with it almost all the way home. The lightening was frightening. It struck so close to the truck that you could see it brake up and dissipate. I'd never been so scared travelling on the road. D's expert driving skills delievered us safely back to the city.
Hot damn!
We picked the hottest weekend of the summer to start clearing trees for our site. 98 degrees. D wielded his chainsaw like a mad man.
We would occasionally peel off our sweaty work clothes, get into our swim suits and jump into the dog pool...
...when they would let us.
Once the large trees were cut and dragged out of the way we roughly staked out the angle for the cabin. We'd visited the site during all seasons so we knew where the sun would be year round and took that into consideration.
The driveway was a feat in itself and Rob was the right guy for the job. We needed to bridge a small valley in order to get to the site from the road. With his experience and small fleet of equipment, he designed a beautiful, curving landbridge and driveway. It was not only functional but complimentary to the surrounding landscape. He's truly an artist with a bulldozer.
(view of site from road)
He started with one tree...
A storm topped off our exhausting weekend. We caught up to it in West Branch and drove with it almost all the way home. The lightening was frightening. It struck so close to the truck that you could see it brake up and dissipate. I'd never been so scared travelling on the road. D's expert driving skills delievered us safely back to the city.
We would live to work another day on Twin Buck Hill.
Friday, May 11, 2007
BIG RED
October 2004.
I didn't know we needed an barn until D told me...over and over and over again. You know, for the tractor we didn't have.
Men.
So a kit was ordered for a 36x48 steel barn with metal siding in red. The delivery was set for a Tuesday, the rest of the week was set aside for the build, family and friends arrived to help and the weather couldn't have been more beautiful. Everything was perfect. Except...
...delivery was delayed - the barn pieces didn't show up until Saturday. Machinery for lifting didn't show due to schedule change. What next? The weather turned, bad....Michigan bad (very, very cold, wet and windy). Try staying on a slick metal roof with numb hands while the wind whips panels up in your face.
It still got done. Working well into dark, until all bones ached. The 300 pound side columns were manually hoisted into place with ropes and scaffolding helped with the high stuff. I'm still amazed that we built it. We couldn't have done any of it without all the help (thank you - you know who you are). The whole experience is a blur of Advil, space heaters and blackberry brandy.
Summer 2005.
Every barn needs a bathroom, right? We retired the shovel and toilet paper routine the following summer. D did all the framing and plumbing. Family was lured up to try their hand at drywall and electrical wiring. It will really come in handy when we start the cabin. Nothing beats a warm (or cold) shower after a hard days work.
I didn't know we needed an barn until D told me...over and over and over again. You know, for the tractor we didn't have.
Men.
So a kit was ordered for a 36x48 steel barn with metal siding in red. The delivery was set for a Tuesday, the rest of the week was set aside for the build, family and friends arrived to help and the weather couldn't have been more beautiful. Everything was perfect. Except...
...delivery was delayed - the barn pieces didn't show up until Saturday. Machinery for lifting didn't show due to schedule change. What next? The weather turned, bad....Michigan bad (very, very cold, wet and windy). Try staying on a slick metal roof with numb hands while the wind whips panels up in your face.
It still got done. Working well into dark, until all bones ached. The 300 pound side columns were manually hoisted into place with ropes and scaffolding helped with the high stuff. I'm still amazed that we built it. We couldn't have done any of it without all the help (thank you - you know who you are). The whole experience is a blur of Advil, space heaters and blackberry brandy.
Summer 2005.
Every barn needs a bathroom, right? We retired the shovel and toilet paper routine the following summer. D did all the framing and plumbing. Family was lured up to try their hand at drywall and electrical wiring. It will really come in handy when we start the cabin. Nothing beats a warm (or cold) shower after a hard days work.
One thing we sorta forgot...
...an over hang. I guess we'll need to do something about that!
More Big Red 2004 pictures, just click here!
Monday, May 7, 2007
BURN BABY, BURN
Late summer, 2004.
With our log cabin dream starting to take root we decided to lose the house. It was too far gone. We wanted to spend all of our time, money and energy on our new plans. But before we could burn it down we had tons of work to do. The house was emptied, two huge trees were cut down and removed from the yard, drop ceiling tiles - carpet - shingles (anything harmful to burn) had to be removed, mechanicals from the Michigan basement were dragged out and well and septic connections were located and rerouted. We were exhausted as well as the family and friends we bribed into helping us.
Firefighters from all around helped to coordinate the live burn efforts. Everything went off without a hitch. It was a little sad for us and the neighbors to see the home go but at the same time we were excited. All our efforts were getting us closer to our ultimate goal.
How else would my firefighter husband choose to demo a house?
(click pictures to enlarge)
With our log cabin dream starting to take root we decided to lose the house. It was too far gone. We wanted to spend all of our time, money and energy on our new plans. But before we could burn it down we had tons of work to do. The house was emptied, two huge trees were cut down and removed from the yard, drop ceiling tiles - carpet - shingles (anything harmful to burn) had to be removed, mechanicals from the Michigan basement were dragged out and well and septic connections were located and rerouted. We were exhausted as well as the family and friends we bribed into helping us.
Firefighters from all around helped to coordinate the live burn efforts. Everything went off without a hitch. It was a little sad for us and the neighbors to see the home go but at the same time we were excited. All our efforts were getting us closer to our ultimate goal.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
THE FARM
D bought his grandmother's farm back in 1997. The farm is about 60 acres and at the time had a house and an old barn. In it's hay day the garden was plentiful and a bull had wandered the sectioned pastures. Although from the stories I here about grandma, she didn't care too much about communing with nature. I think she preferred being inside cooking up her infamous cinnamon rolls or homemade pies which she served in quarters.
Before it was the family farm it had been owned by loggers. Some family say it was even haunted by the previous owner who the road is named after. He used to play with the lights in the attic. D and I thankfully never experienced any of his trickery.
For years we enjoyed the home and the land, escaping the city and visiting all year round. We even got married at an Inn in the area in 1999 and stayed at the farm for our honeymoon.
Then an odd utility bill came in the mail which prompted D to send a neighbor in to investigate. An emergency trip in February was required. The water supply tube had burst under the sink and had been leaking for weeks. Over 3 inches of water was standing in the basement and the combination of that with the heat created mold everywhere. The floors had swelled and buckled, the doors and windows were impossible and all the furnishings were wet and moldy. The place was in ruins.
We had no idea what we were going to do.
Before it was the family farm it had been owned by loggers. Some family say it was even haunted by the previous owner who the road is named after. He used to play with the lights in the attic. D and I thankfully never experienced any of his trickery.
For years we enjoyed the home and the land, escaping the city and visiting all year round. We even got married at an Inn in the area in 1999 and stayed at the farm for our honeymoon.
Then an odd utility bill came in the mail which prompted D to send a neighbor in to investigate. An emergency trip in February was required. The water supply tube had burst under the sink and had been leaking for weeks. Over 3 inches of water was standing in the basement and the combination of that with the heat created mold everywhere. The floors had swelled and buckled, the doors and windows were impossible and all the furnishings were wet and moldy. The place was in ruins.
We had no idea what we were going to do.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
DARE TO DREAM
The dreaming started years ago, not long after D bought his Grandmother's farm in Northern Michigan. Many walks through the pine and apple trees, around the cedar swap, up and down the hills all ended at the same place. It became our favorite place. A camping spot. An all seasons stop.
The place to have a beer and watch the sun say goodnight...
...the perfect spot to build a log cabin.
All the dreaming, planning, saving and praying has been worth it. We've begun the transformation. The actual build site was started last summer but the entire process started long ago...
This is our "log-umentary". Please join us in our journey.
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