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This post is all about progress on our home. Sharing the details to date. For those who care, are curious, and/or want to learn. Log Cabin Building 101 and then some. Let me start by telling you this. This is no Little Cabin. We’re doing it all to code. It’s solid, seemingly complicated and overkill at times, but it sure as heck is going to out last us all. And boy-oh-boy are we learning along way. Sometime more than I cared to or thought I needed to know. I still have this thing about simple. Funny thing is, elaborate and grande as it seems to us, it’s still so simple to some people’s standards for a high mountain, year-round full-time home for three.
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So, here it is. Custom log home building at it’s funnest. A family affair. A home built by us, for us, with love. Evolving…
In the meanwhile, it’s business as usual in the other cabins as the guest ranch is up and running, we’re camping out in the Little Cabin, and life is good. Simple. Well, sort of. Best not get me started…
Where were we last time I shared an update? The ground was dug out, a level spot excavated, footer set and poured, stem walls formed, in-floor heating coils laid out and slab for the shop smoothed out. Then we set the floor joists… All this just to get started and have a helluva crawl space. Then again, I am looking forward to indoor plumbing once again, so whatever it takes, I guess.
Next, the sub-floor is laid out and oiled.
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Then it’s time for the logs. First, we have to get them from our stock pile of those beetle kill trees we harvested from our land across the frozen river over winter. Secret weapons include: Lee’s borrowed crane, Bob’s new CAT, Todd and Barbara (seriously, where did you guys come from, and at just the right moment?), and my magnificent work crew (husband and son).
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Thanks, Ellen, for sharing the great perspective on that last shot!
Okay, so once the logs are up, then they get moved by (borrowed) crane to (borrowed) mill.
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From there, with help of the crane, these solid “logs” are put in place. Each one is milled two, three or four sided as need be. We’re doing custom, traditional “butt and pass” log construction. Base logs average a whopping 16 inches plus wide. We’ll be warm.
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And there you have it. The base logs are set. Walls are defined (of the first floor, at least). Time for movin’ on up!
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Really, I swear I do more than take pictures (and feed the crew). No comments about the chicken legs, please.
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I can’t thank enough those who have shared so much with us already – their mill, their crane, their crane operating expertise (and great company), their support, encouragement and enthusiasm… but I will try: THANK YOU.
Now, onto raising the walls. This is the fun part. It’s all fun. The best part is simply being here together, working with the best work crew in the world. My husband and son.
Not a bad place to work either.
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Oh, and one last note, speaking about growth and progress. Rikki… Then and now…
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Gin, it’s so great to see tour home in progress. The scenery is mind blowing, and it seems as though you’re about to be living in the dream home, on dream land, that many of us, well, dream about :)
I can’t wait to see your next update, and I’m really looking forward to seeing the final product.
Shane, thank you so much! I’m trying to enjoy every stage, every day, and every step of the way… but truth is, I can’t wait to see the final product too – and to move in! So exciting! Thanks for sharing in the enthusiasm, Shane.
You’re welcome! It looks like a huge undertaking.
Funny, you try to keep it small. Then you need “just one more thing” and the plans get bigger and bigger and bigger… I hope it’s not too big.
I wouldn’t worry about that. I don’t think it can ever get too big. I worked for a woman in her 12000 square foot home and thought it was too big. After a few weeks, I was used to it and didn’t think it was too big at all. Kinda funny.
Wow – now THAT is big! I think ours will be under 2000. That will seem big as the one we are living in now is less than 250. For real. A bit tight for three people, dog, cats, goose… but easy to keep warm and you never have to talk above a whisper.
Haha, that might be the basis for a book right there.
I can see that it is a labor of love. I enjoyed scrolling through your life through photos. And my, oh my….Little Rikki is growing up..and is so handsome.
Thank you, Teresa. And yes, he’s growing into a very fine (and sweet) goose indeed!
This looks awesome. Wish we could see it first hand but does not look possible this year. I am hoping next!! Loved the book.
Thank you, Eliska. We’re happy to see you and Bill whenever you can make it – you know it’s like coming home here!
Gin, I’m so glad to be able to see your progress on your home! It is really coming along. And the photos show the fun and hard work of it all too. Thank you for sharing this. It is so interesting to see how you 3 are doing it.
Anne
Wow!! Lots of progress since we dropped in to visit! How exciting! The children would have loved to see that crane in action over the cliff! We arrived safely, if reluctantly, home…back into our summer routine, with one boy enjoying lots of ice cream after a tonsillectomy last week. :) Thank you for the warm welcome, and please thank Bob and Forrest again, for their gracious conversation and time. We so enjoyed the visit. (The Outhouse Antics comedy show was free of charge… sigh!) You’re all living large, no matter how small the Little Cabin! ;)
Loved the opportunity to meet you and your beautiful family, Wendy. Can’t thank you enough for taking the time to visit in our rough and rustic reality – outhouse and all! Though I still see vanilla scented air freshener flying through that crescent moon cut out!
Gin, I can’t wait to see your cabin finished also… I am hoping we can see it before then too. We are trying to figure out when.. Love following your posts..