Christmas past

We're back from having Christmas with our family down in Miami. Marlene, my sister-in-law hosted all of us for a 'Miami Christmas'. We were treated to great food, tours by land and by sea of Miami, and excellent weather.

Activity at the cabin continues with completing the staggered shake siding and poplar siding. Tim and James worked all they could last week but the weather (rain) and Christmas put a small dent in the work flow. As of today, we're back on schedule.

The photo to the right is of the view side almost finished. The last bit of poplar siding will go on tomorrow as well as the soffit and fascia. The part that says 'Lowe's' if where the porch roof will attach.

There will be some dramatic changes to the cabin's exterior appearance in the next couple of weeks barring any weather delays.

While in Raleigh on the way to Miami we picked up some cedar trees from Chapel Hill, one of which will go in the cabin as a support post and railing post. We also bought some rusted barn roofing tin that's going to be used as our kitchen ceiling and some tobacco tier poles from Nash County. All of this will make more sense once we start to finish the interior and you see the photos.

Darlene is heading back to Raleigh on Monday. The weather on Monday here will be 27 degrees high and 13 degrees low. Tuesday is expected to be even colder. Needless to say, we'll be doing a few things inside the first of the week.

More coming,

z

Bad photo...ho, ho, ho!

Please excuse the quality of this photo but it was raining when I took it, I've had a long day and KD (our wonder dog) is hungry and we had to head home.

Might not look like much to you but to us it's our chimney peeking out from the roof. Let me digress: this chimney will puff smoke over a good number of years before they carry me out to another 'home'. It will see us through mild winters and bitter winters, Christmas' a plenty and Thanksgivings too... It's a big deal to us and might be to you when you visit during the cooler season and you'll enjoy the warmth of a wood fire. Note to self: 90 years old and carrying wood from the wood pile to the hearth...what was I thinking???

On another note, the upside down Lowe's house wrap, from where it starts at the bottom to the horizontal line a few feet above the window, there will be staggered shingle siding (delivered to the job site today). Above that horizontal line, we'll install poplar siding. Real poplar siding. The kind stripped from a poplar tree, flattened and dried and sold to folks like us for exorbitant prices. Yes, that poplar siding. It's actually got a long life (beyond when they carry me out and the boys have to deal with their parent's decision to put natural bark on the cabin).

Trust me...you'll like it for the next 30 years at least.

I'm heading home to see my bride and eventually my whole family. We're celebrating Christmas in Miami this year. My sister (in-law but really the sister I never had) is hosting this year's festivities. I can't wait. I'm excited about Christmas...but don't tell anyone!

More coming,
Ebenezer

Today marks 60 days since first block was laid

Today is a momentous day...60 days ago Tim and James set the first concrete block into position. Today, December 14, 2011 I used a key to lock the door to our cabin for the very first time ever!!!

60 days!!! That's a record for these parts.

Don't get me wrong, we've got a lot to do to finish but we're dried in and secure. Actually they tell me that locks are just to keep honest people out. The stinkers are going to get in no matter what!

Here's the scene from our porch this morning. This is for those of you who wonder what we were thinking moving to the mountains. Actually, I plan, when I'm in my 90's, to be in an easy chair in the living room and seeing this sunrise every morning...what a way to go!!!

The guys are very concerned that everything is exactly as we want it so they asked me to make sure I liked the pitch of the wrap around porch and the height. After they set up this pitch and height I went inside and looked out the window to make sure all looked good. Let me tell you, Darlene will be very pleased with the pitch and height. She's been a bit concerned that when 'I' stand at the kitchen sink washing dishes that I'll be able to look out and not have anything obstruct my view from the 'view'. Mission accomplished!!!

The last bit of news is that our stove has been moved into position. The stove that you see is just the bare stove without the face or the doors (they are black). There's a long story about the stove that you see to the left. I'll be happy to tell you the 'story' when you visit! It's unreal to say the least!!!

More coming,

z

Almost ready for a glass of wine

Took at trip this morning to almost Tennessee to pick up the locust posts from Rodney. Rodney is my locust post guru. 4 months ago I contracted with him to find me 10 locust trees that were 10' long with about a 10" diameter base. He came through and had them within 2 weeks of the order. He has stored them since today. These posts will be used, with bark, to hold up the wrap around walkway and the main porch.

Basically everywhere you see a post in the photo to the left, there will be one of these locust posts directly on top of the lower post. There are 10 of them starting at the one you see to the extreme right all the way around to the extreme left and beyond.

I gotta tell you, but promise you won't tell Darlene, these posts weigh a ton each and helping Rodney did a number on my already fragile lower back. I guess no more children!

View into dining room

To the right are more shots of the windows and doors.  Tim and James finished installing them today. The door next to the garage door will be installed tomorrow because I had to pick it up from Lowes today.

The other door that's not installed and won't be until I make it is our entrance door. It's extra wide and will be built as an ascent piece. That will happen after we finish all of the 'have to do stuff'. In the meantime, a piece of plywood will be screwed to the jamb to ward off weather and whoever...

View from dining room into living room

View of dining room & living room exterior

This last photo, on the right, is another piece of locust that Rodney found for us to use as a light post and a house number post. Obviously I added the cross member, hanging light and numbers (not yet installed). The numbers are made from 1/4" steel that a friend laser cut for us. The numbers are rusting as we blog. We wanted rusted numbers and it takes a bit of time...but we're getting close.

I mentioned in the title "Almost ready for a glass of wine". It is wine time in my part of the world. Darlene and I wind down with a glass of wine every day before we start supper. Being apart hasn't been fun...so I now have my glass in hand..."cheers baby doll!"

More coming,
z

Starting to look for a lock

Sorry for the delay in posting yesterday. I'm been running with lots to do.

Monday, the garage door was installed. On recommendation from the supplier, they suggested we use an insulated metal door without windows. We thought about a wooden door but the recommendation was for more insulation value and durability over the long haul. Wood is NOT maintenance free and will be an ongoing chore...hence the metal door.

Roofers getting ready to start

Almost shingled to the top

Yesterday, about 10am, two trucks with a slew of roofers pulled up ready to tackle our roof with shingles. They got all the staging in place, air nailers at the ready when their gas powered compressor would not fire. No problem...they had to use hand nails the install the shingles.

Takes longer but gets the job done.

Got a shot, through the skylight opening from inside, of one of the roofers waiting for shingles.

I give these guys a lot of respect. There's no way you're going to get 'z' on any roof with the pitch greater than level. These guys move around like it's nothing. I'd be on my back on the ground looking up and wondering what happened!

Another big event started yesterday and will continue today...setting the windows and exterior doors.

Our doors have lived for a few weeks in the workshop and now they are being installed. James is making sure all is level before Tim (on outside) nails the window fins in final position. Tim uses lots of caulk with silicone to seal the window fins to the exterior wall facing.

You can see the fins (white band around window). The opening is caulked first, window installed, fins set, nailed and then a final bead of caulk to seal the deal. The concrete block is the basement and will get rock installed in the spring.

This is another shot of the windows on the opposite side of the cabin. The window to the left is in the living room. The smaller on on the right is in the guest bedroom above the bed location.


Today, Wednesday, I'm heading to Boone to pick up the locust posts for the porch. The guys will be setting the two sliding doors, the rest of the windows and the exterior door from the kitchen to the porch walkway. I suspect I'll be back in time for some of the heavy lifting.

More coming,
z

More play than work... for me!

Darlene came for a visit and of course I spent more time playing than working and that's the reason I haven't posted in a few days. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!! We took a quick trip to Mountain City, TN to pick up an electric cement mixer. We have plenty of stone work to do over the next year or so and I'll be darned if I'm going to hand mix mortar when I can flip a switch and save my back.

The deck is proceeding nicely. Tim and James are installing the decking and doing a great job. Tim likes to route the edges and he likes to hand nail the decking for a stronger hold. It really looks good.

We're returning about 15 pieces that aren't up to 'quality standards'. The lumber yard will exchange them, no problem.

Some of the returned boards are to the left of Darlene. She's standing on the porch deck making sure we all do a good job.

We try and sneak stuff by her but 6 times out of 10 she catches us ;^)







Cole and Lloyd were back to back-fill, install gutter drains and in general move a lot of dirt around. They'll be back one more time to smooth out everything and spread out a last layer of gravel on the driveway once the construction traffic dies down.

Tomorrow is another big day. The roofers are scheduled to install the asphalt shingles. We are much drier than a couple of weeks ago but the shingles will seal the deal for the roof. Skylights go in tomorrow too.

Tim tells me he's going to start installing the windows this week. Once the windows and exterior doors are installed then we'll be able to lock up. So far we've had no security issues but I'd rather be safe than sorry. Speaking of safe, we got builder's risk insurance last week. We're covered for fire, wind, etc., etc. so now in the event of a major problem, at least we recoup our investment.

The garage door is scheduled for installation tomorrow as well. That will get us a step closer to looking like a finished cabin.

I'm going to pick up the locust posts early this week for the wrap around porch. We've had to re-think the entrance because of the finished grade. I suspect we'll have some stone steps leading from the parking pad to the main entrance after the dust settles. Might be a year or so but it will be done. In the meantime, if you visit, we might have to walk up through the garage and up the stairs to the main level...but a glass of wine awaits your arrival!


More coming,
z

Steady pace inspite of the weather

We've had some steady rain and tonight a blast of snow and dropping temps. I don't have any photos because of the rain.

Most of the deck material has been delivered and Tim and James will (if they can get up the mountain tomorrow) continue to build the deck and porch.

They have almost finished all of the interior walls. I'd say there is about an hour's worth left before they're done inside. Once they get the decking on then the windows will go in and we'll have the cabin secure before Christmas.

I'll have some photos in the next day or two for sure...cold but dry, I hope.

More coming
z

Deck, porch and weather

I know what you're thinking..."sure is foggy a lot". It's only foggy when we are on the leading edge of some weather change. Remember, in the mountains, if you don't like the weather just wait a minute!

Tim and James started on framing the wrap around deck and porch. What you have on the photo to the right is, at the bottom, the garage door and above it a deck. The deck will also turn toward the orange insulation on the side of the garage and head toward the front door. There will be a small porch there to shelter the front door from weather. At the far right, where you see the white truck, the deck will turn again and head toward the viewing porch.

This photo shows the start of the viewing porch. Our viewing porch simply 'faces' the view and will see a lot of use. It will be covered as will the deck all around. Our plan is to use metal roofing on the porches' roofs and the deck walkway. We'll use asphalt shingles on the main house. The photo above showed the dormer and it will get metal roofing as well.

We're expecting light rain most of today and turning to snow Wednesday with clearing Thursday and Friday. If things get too wet outside then we have some interior framing yet to do.

All in all these little weather blips are not that much of an issue. The issue will come in when it snows, starts to melt, re-freezes and makes the 2 mile private road to our cabin slick as a tick's butt. The locals say I'm starting to talk like them...that's a real compliment!

More coming,
z                                            

Busy, busy day

We're on a roll. Today was a busy one. Lots going on.

Tim and James were busy installing collar ties to the roof rafters. Collar ties help strengthen the roof system by preventing the weight of the roof from spreading out to the exterior walls. The ties connect the opposing rafters and lock them in place.

Wood padding around the basement windows and doors was also installed. This creates a nailing surface when installing the windows and doors. Without padding, you have concrete blocks that are hard to fasten windows to.

I ordered some 4" x 12" x varied lengths of pine from a local sawmill. These pieces will be cut to form the stringers and steps for the stair system going from the main level to the loft level. Once they are cut to size, but before installation, I'll use an axe to rough up the edges. This will give the appearance that they were 'hand hewn'. Should be a dramatic look when finished.



We are going to use milled pine for the walls, floors and ceilings. Sounds like a lot of pine so we are considering using some old weathered/painted wood as wainscoting. The pine on the walls would be installed horizontally above the wainscoting while the weathered wood is installed from the floor up vertically 42" or so with a top cap. The pieces to the right are cuts from the wood available. Scrub them lightly with a wire brush and then a sealer coat of satin polyurethane and it should be neat.

Late in the day, we got our first load of pressure treated lumber to start the deck and porch. We try to get material delivered earlier in the day but the lumber company was slammed today. The deck and porch will start to take shape on Monday.





The last photo is of a small pot belly stove that a good friend gave me while I was in Raleigh at Thanksgiving. I enjoy seeing Junior when I'm back in Raleigh. He and I speak the same woodworking language and enjoy sharing ideas. I told him about a stove I bought for my workshop when he offered up this beauty. I couldn't stand it, so today I brought it outside (it isn't installed yet) and threw in some wood and stoked this baby up. I can't wait to install it once the windows (see them through the open door in the background) are installed in a week or so.

Thanks Junior...you made my day!!!


One final note: I was reminded today that the first blocks for the foundation were laid on October 14th. We've made tremendous progress in a short 50 days.This blog has had 1068 hits since we started. Heck, I barely know 10 people!

More coming,
z

Something to look out of while staying dry

Bright and early the windows arrived as planned. Matt, our window guy, delivered them in perfect order. The best place to store them is the workshop to keep them safe until we install them next week.

Our windows are a forest green on the outside and natural wood on the inside. The inside will be clear coated to keep the natural beauty of the wood in tact.


Tim and James completed installing the roof panels today. That gives us significant protection from rain or snow...not that that would ever be a problem. The panels are called 'Zip Panels' meaning they come with a waterproof membrane attached. No need to use tar paper. While the guys were finishing the roof I contacted a recommended roofer who can install the shingles next week. They'll install them on Wednesday. Lowes will deliver the shingles on Monday.

As you can see, the cabin is starting to really take shape. I suspect we'll be dried in completely before Christmas.

Sounds like a great Christmas gift!

More coming,
z

Lessons learned on the mountain

Another cold, snowy day on the mountain and I've learned a few lessons.

Lesson #1    Never, never, ever leave your truck window down 1" overnight. Why you ask? Because, after a long night of blowing snow you'll end up with a driver's seat, dashboard, interior door, steering wheel, etc. covered in snow. Can you imagine anybody doing that?

Lesson #2    Never leave your roof off before s snow storm. Why you ask? Because, after a long night of snow, you'll have enough snow in your living room to make a snowman or start a ski resort.

When the cabin is completed, I'm going to make sure I take a photo from the same vantage point and make a print of each, framed in a double frame. I don't want to ever forget.


Wait a minute...I hear blowing snow!

Gotta go.

More coming,
z

Rough on the mountain

View at 4pm from by digs

There's not much to tell today except we got snow and could only work until 1pm.

Dagnabit!

More coming,
z

Back on the mountain

After a few days off for Thanksgiving, I'm back on the mountain. Lots of fog, rain, wet, etc. The guys have been moving forward until the weather came in and have sheathed half of the roof. I stopped by on the way in and took this photo of the garage side of the cabin.

As you can see or maybe not because of the fog, the dormer is framed and the sheathing (plywood) is installed on the roof.

We're expecting rain thru Wednesday. I spoke with Tim and he's on alert if the weather breaks ahead of schedule to get back on the roof.

The windows were to be delivered tomorrow but I'm going to see if we can take delivery Thursday instead. It will be dry but cold. Better than wet!

A quick note about Thanksgiving...it was wonderful to take a few days off and share great time with my family. We missed Marlene and Don but otherwise all of us met at Kyle and Olesea's retreat in West Virginia. The turkey and all the fixings were excellent. Can't wait to see everyone (Amy will be in Albania and will be missed) in Miami for Christmas...Santa will be in shorts I'm sure!

More coming,
z

Happy Bird from West Virginia

Spending the Thanksgiving holiday with my family!

Hope everyone has a great one too.

More to come,
z

Biscuits, rafters and Thanksgiving

Tim and James are back at it today setting rafters. These rafters are 20' & 24' long and a bear to move around but they make it look easy.

Lots of heavy lifting for the today and tomorrow.

You're looking at the garage side of the cabin on the photo above where 4 rafters are in place. The small box shape mid way along the upper wall will morph into a dormer once the rafters are completed.

The photo to the left is from the opposite side. This is the part of the roof that will have skylights to help bring in light from above into the living room.

I stopped by the local Hardee's for a biscuit this morning and happened upon this scene. What are the chances that two women would be wearing the same pants and be at the same place at the same time? Somebody needs to take my iPhone away from me before I hurt myself.

Happy Thanksgiving. I'm heading home tomorrow to be with my family and I can't wait!

More coming,

z

Looking more like a cabin

Saturday was another busy day on the mountain. The last of the SIPs panels were installed and now the shape of the cabin is starting to show itself.

The next step is to install the roof rafters. Each rafter is cut specifically to fit from 20' and 24' long 2"x12"  lumber. Once that's completed then the roof decking is installed and we go to shingles. Almost dry at last.

The decking is in the lower center of the photo

The guys decided to take Sunday off. It's supposed to be a day of rest but I decided to build the doors for the workshop before I head out for Thanksgiving. They're made of 2"x10" pine. They weigh a ton but provide added security.

Speaking of Thanksgiving...I'm not one to get overtly excited about stuff but I am about Thanksgiving. I've been here since August 18th and I'm really looking forward to seeing my family for what I consider a great holiday. I like Thanksgiving because nobody exchanges gifts...we just spend great time together, laugh, eat, drink and be merry. I have a wonderful family that sure makes me proud. Our sons are terrific but the women in their lives and mine are the best!!!

What's could be better than that?

More coming,
z

p.s. speaking of Sunday being a day of rest...I'm going to start looking for a church after Thanksgiving. I miss being in God's house!

Back on a dry track

Worked started early this morning with the arrival of the 'boom' truck and our roof package. The roof package consists of rafter 20' and 24' long and Zip-panels for the roof decking. All of this is heavy stuff not to mention awkward to move around and the boom truck made it easy. We had to go from the ground level to the second floor level so you can see why this was a big deal.

While the boom truck was at the job site we had the operator move all of the second floor SIPs from the garage to the second floor. Again, this saved us a lot of difficulty and time. It took about 2 hours to complete the task but it was sure worth it.

Many thanks to Blevins Building Supply for helping us out on the material placement.

We started setting the second floor SIPs about 11am and by 3pm most of the second floor was in place. What you're seeing is the front of the cabin (view side) with most of the SIPs in place. If it looks odd it's because their is another layer that will be placed on to to form the gable end ^ of the cabin and complete the right front wall. It'll make more sense after my next post.

The guys are working tomorrow and Sunday in hopes of having the roof system in place and the decking on before Thanksgiving.

More coming,
z

Rained all night and drizzle starts the day

Got to the job site this morning after an all night rain in time to find it still raining. The photo to the left is from the loft level looking out. The broom helped move standing water off the decking. Nothing was damaged from the rain. We've actually had very good weather up until today BUT things are going to go back to GOOD at least until next Wednesday which should give us plenty of time to set the second floor SIPs and build the roof system.

We bought Zip Panels for the roof. They're 5/8" pre-finished with a waterproof membrane that seals the roof from water leakage. It gives us ample time to get the shingles installed without worry of a leaky roof.

The plan this morning included having the roof system delivered with a boom truck (one that can lift material on a long arm and save our backs) AND have the second floor SIPs delivered at the same time so the boom operator could lift both SIPs and roofing system to the second floor. Did I say plan? I got a call from the building supply company early this morning informing me that their boom truck was leaking gas and they had to have it fixed before letting it head our way. I've seen this boom truck and it's not old and run down so I suspect it just decided to take a break for the day. I did get a call later in the day that it was repaired and delivery is set for 8am tomorrow morning.

The SIPs truck did show up on time and we decided to off load the SIPs into the garage and let the driver head back to Winston-Salem. It actually might be better this way because with 2 large trucks jockeying for position, etc. it might have been a nightmare.

Tomorrow morning's delivery will let us arrange the material without being rushed because...after the rain stopped, the snow started. Snow makes things very slippery and dangerous so after a brief meeting the guys called it a day.

The sad face is right in front of where our fireplace is going. The brown under the lines of the sad face is floor decking...the white stuff is SNOW.


I'm going home #!*$!@ !!!


More coming,
z

I'll do my crying in the rain...

The Everly Brothers nailed it...They did their crying in the rain AND that's exactly what I'm doing today...crying in the rain. I really can't complain because we've had exceptional weather up until today. Today is another story. R-A-I-N, you know, the wet stuff. The stuff that puts a halt to everything.

We couldn't work today because of the weather. R-A-I-N, R-A-I-N go away, come again another day! The photo to the right is from the workshop looking at the cabin. Notice, no worker bees, no sun, plenty of clouds and R-A-I-N.

I'm not complaining, just making sure everyone knows what we're up against today.

The photo to the left is not of a mirror placed on the floor of the garage, it's water on the floor of the garage. Not to worry. They say we should be in good shape if the weather changes in 24 hours and guess what? It will. Colder but dry. Then mild and dry. Good enough for us to take delivery of the second floor SIPs tomorrow and start the roof system.

I had a break today and spent it going to Wilkesboro to check out two lumber mills. I'm looking for our second floor stair system. We want 4" x 12" x 16' pieces of rough hand hewn lumber for the stairs. These stairs will be visible from the first floor and we want them 'neat' looking. If you have some, let me know!

 I'm listening to rain hitting the metal roof where I'm staying and I'm just looking forward to dry weather tomorrow.

Again, the photo to the right isn't of a mirror on the floor...it's a good shot of Mother Nature at her best. Ever wonder why they call 'her' Mother Nature and not Father Nature?

More coming,
z

p.s. wait, I see some blue on the horizon...better days are here again!