Gloomy but busy

More going on today...the last of the walkway and front porch rafters were installed. The photo to the right shows what is really the front door and porch area. We plan on extending the front porch tin out a bit (you can see from the little jut out). The front door is being designed, as we speak, because it's 42" wide, not your normal 36" width. I'm researching sources for cherry, oak and walnut that will be used in the construction of the front door.

I got a chance to install the cross member for the front drive post today. The little fork to the left will have a 4" drop chain with a hanging light. That will be installed after we complete our final inspections.

Our neighbors from across the street dropped by today. I gave them the 'cook's tour'. Needless to say, they loved the cabin. Actually, they looked from our living room and said, "our cabin looks tiny from here". 

The view to the right is of the view side of the cabin. The guys will be installing the viewing porch rafters Monday and starting the tin installation. If you visit, you'll be able to sit out on the viewing porch, with wine in hand, and feast upon the mountains of NC and listen to all the stories about the wonderful mountain folk we've met!

We're just moving around the cabin to show the walkway porch that wraps the cabin...don't want to get wet when it rains!!!

Here's a view from the garage side showing the wrap around walkway covered porch.

We're getting close to finishing the exterior...another major milestone.

More coming,
z

Great way to end a Friday

Most Fridays are good for a number of reasons like it's the end of the week and we get to go home or TGIF or we got a lot done this week. This Friday was a celebration on how much we got done!

As you can see, our cabin number is officially on the property. The numbers are laser cut from 1/4" steel and I'm hoping they'll turn a neat rust brown before too long. The background is a piece of roof tin. Of all days, I didn't have the address up and here comes the FedEx man to deliver a package.






He bought this vessel sink and a faucet that we ordered online. These are for the guest bathroom. We're giving some thought to what it will sit on...maybe a column of stacked stone or a hollowed out log. We'll report back when it's installed. We had a vessel sink at our home in Raleigh and loved it. Nothing but the best for our welcome guests.

The cabin is beginning to make a dramatic change in appearance. The locust log posts to support the walkway and viewing porch are all installed. Some of the walkway rafters are in place as well.

The viewing porch is to the right in this photo. I took an old bucket and sat there, after the guys left, and just spent some time looking over the mountains. I'm sure glad we picked this place to live.

The photo to the right is looking from near the front door entrance toward the view. The locust logs have bark remaining and make a 'rustic' statement. This walkway will be covered with tin.













This photo is from the corner looking toward the viewing porch. You can see the bark better from this photo.

The photo to the right is an example of what cold temperatures can do to standing water. This column of ice was in a 55 gallon drum that I turned over and pulled the drum up and away. It was frigid this past Tuesday and Wednesday but you know what? It's part of winter and even though you might think we're a bit 'crazy' it is a beautiful season to enjoy... tell that to my toes!

One last note: if you're just joining us on the blog there are a bunch of posts since our start in August. You can visit any month by clicking on the column on the right of the blog.

More coming,
z

Rockin' and rollin'

 Lots going on today...the stairs to the loft are complete. This is a welcome addition because we've been using an extension ladder for weeks to access the loft. You can see the thickness, 4" for each step. This is pre-planning. As I get older I expect to get heavier by at least three fold (I'm 130 lbs now). I want to make sure that the stairs can take my heavy butt up and down. Darlene, on the other hand, will no doubt maintain her perfect weight vs height and not be concerned about how sturdy the stairs are.

 Tim attached our gable element today. This was made using natural, dried wood from the mountain. I have another one for the gable of the viewing porch (the porch that face the view). Together, they'll compliment the poplar siding already in place.

Tim and mostly James are setting the first of 10 locust posts to hold the viewing porch and the wrap-around porch as well. These locust posts were harvested from an old widow's farm without her knowing (just kidding). They were harvested near where NC and Tenn meet. Each post weighs in at about 150-200 lbs.

For those that don't know, locust is extremely dense and bugs don't like it. Ours have the bark in-tack which adds to the rustic charm (sounds like I'm trying to sell the place).

Thank you James, you are the man!!!!

I ran to Boone to pick up some beams for the face of the viewing porch. When I got back, the guys were gone but they set 3 post and are starting on the support beams. The beams I brought from Boone will span from the right post to the left post. Then, we'll add a vertical beam and two beams set at a 45 degree angle. Don't get all caught up in that, I'll post the photo tomorrow and it will make perfect sense!

More coming,
z

The stairs are getting some stares

 The stairs are in the process of being built and probably will be completed by tomorrow. They're built with locally milled 4" thick x 12" wide pine. The stairs come down from the loft to a landing and then down to the first level of the cabin.

When the guys finish with the steps I'll use an axe to rough up the edges to look more like hand hewn lumber from yesteryear.

While Tim and James were busy with the stairs, I started to install the rafter vents. They're styrofoam baffles that run from the eaves to the ridge to allow air to flow through and serve as a cooler for the roof system. Insulation will be placed over the baffles in the next month. No it's not high tech, it just helps the roof shingles to last longer...the cooler they stay the longer they last.

I'm heading to town tomorrow to pick up the ordered piping for the fireplace chimney. I'm going to get the piping for the workshop stove also.


More coming,
z

C-O-L-D!

 Tuesday was brutal. Very cold, blowing wind and flying snow. We got about an inch but it mostly spent its time in the air being whipped around by a westerly harsh wind. The mountain peaks about 400 yards above our cabin and then drops facing northwest. That's where all the wind comes from. Fortunately, we're facing south and the wind hits the peak behind us and shots right over the cabin.

I ventured out yesterday for a peek and was amazed with how the roads fared. Not much accumulation on the roads except powder in places. Very much like our side deck.

Even on a cold day, our view is beautiful.

Today, Wednesday, I'm off looking for a 6" x 6" x 8' post for our stair system to the loft. The guys most likely will have a delayed start. They have to travel 2 miles up our road to get here.

Moe coming,
z

Snow is brewing...

We watch 'Ray's Weather' faithfully and the word is that we'll get between 1" and 3" of snow by tomorrow. Any other time I'd be thrilled but we've got a cabin to finish and snow slows down the process.

I love the phrase "it is what it is" and that's exactly right...it is what it is!

Even though 'it is what it is' the guys worked today. Tim and James were moving forward with adding the stair system from the main level to the loft level.

They are routing out the slot for our stair treads to fit into. Notice the thickness of the piece of timber that Tim (timber sounds like a cold Tim) is routing. It's 4" thick. James is following up with a chisel to clean out the corners so the tread will fit snugly.

They installed the wall pine for the area where the stairs rise to the loft area. This had to be done because the stringer they are working on will rest against that wall and it's easier to install the wall now than after the stringer is installed.

The guys from Yadkin Well Co. came by to finish the geo-thermal connection from the well hole to the cabin. What you're looking at is the piping coming out of the well hole (340' of pipe in the earth in an 800' well hole). This pipe is filled with water and recirculates from the cabin down the hole 340' and back up again and returns to the cabin where it's core temperature (55 degrees year round) is transferred to the hvac system in the cabin.

The pipe from the well hole makes its way through the basement wall and into the mechanical room where it's processed. In conventional hvac systems, in the winter the system is constantly trying to take cold air and make it warm while in the summer it's trying to take hot air and make it cold. With geo-thermal, the system only has to deal with 55 degree input which makes it much more efficient both during the winter and the summer.

On a totally different note, this sink we bought several years ago to one day be used in our cabin. That day is fast approaching. It looks dirty because it's been stored but it's an old farmhouse kitchen sink that will make its way into our kitchen on the mountain.

Darlene asked me to measure it so she can layout the kitchen with the sink in mind.






I wanted to end on a beautiful note...this sunset was shot from the deck of the cabin where I'm staying. It's just around the corner from our cabin. We are so blessed to enjoy God's creation on a daily basis.

More coming,
z

Happy New Year

2012 is upon us and we're plugging away at our cabin build. Been making steady progress with some weather delays. The next few days weather is predicted to be snowy and cold. Cold is OK but snowy creates some problems getting up and down the mountain. Hopefully it will be light.

Dar visited this weekend after a restful Christmas vacation in Miami.

Living room / fireplace

We took some interior photos to share. The interior is next up on the agenda. You'll notice some stacks of wood around. These are for the walls, ceiling and floors. These photos will give you a glimpse of the floor plan.

Loft office

Master bedroom

Dining room

More coming...weather permitting,
z