We started our build on August 13th and the title
of this blog says it all … we are thrilled
with the progress and results!! None of this could have been accomplished
without the help of friends and family along the way. THANK YOU!!!
As I look back at our accomplishments I cannot help but to
remember how daunting some of the tasks seemed from the start. Trusses are near
the top of that list as I lamented for days upon days on how we would raise
them to the roof height and later install them. Granted we had a group of
engineers with plenty of welcome suggestions along the way. I also feel blessed
to have a very understanding and supportive wife who could sense my anxiety. She
knows me well and more than once during this process she provided wisdom by
stating “sometimes you just have to start”. Those simple words provided support
and encouragement to move forward. No one knew if “Plan A” was going to work for
any given task but I must admit there were a few days when I thought the
generator would run out of gas before a board was cut or a nail was driven!
We watched the leaves change colors and fall from the trees.
We felt the temperature change. We donned hats and gloves by the bonfire and
enjoyed the conversation “late” into the evening. (Truth be told, we struggled
to stay up to 9pm each night!! We were tired, but it was good tired).
We accomplished our goals as we have the cabin semi enclosed
for the winter. All the doors and windows are installed. The cabin is wrapped
in Tyvek and roof is covered with a synthetic underlayment. The metal roof will
need to wait until next year. Rest easy … we have a contractor lined up for the
roofing! For a group of DIYers I think we made excellent progress!
Looking back upon the work one of the most gratifying tasks
was installing the windows. The transformation was amazing as each window framed
a new view. The large bedroom window is 103”x47”. We installed it by building
and lifting a pallet platform with the bobcat. Trust me, we are only installing
that window once! As we pulled the protective film off the glass it felt like
Christmas. Another reason why I loved installing windows was the fact that I was
finally done moving them!!! We purchased about half of the windows from an
outlet. Some of them we have stored and moved for over 10 years. Nailing them
into the cabin meant that we were done moving them! Woot!!!
As the bears settle into hibernation we’ve prepared a few
work items for this winter. We hope to work on building the interior walls, electrical
and plumbing rough ins. We also have the porch green treated substructure in the
cabin waiting. At this point, everything is staged in the cabin as snow will
prevent us from using “Chuck the Wagon” to transport tools and supplies to/from
the garage.
I will confess that when I head up for a weekend that I’m
too amped to sleep. I have to grab a flashlight and walk around the cabin. I’m
proud of what we have accomplished and humbled by the support of friends and family.
We love the serenity of the forest and the calming reflections of the small
lake. We all love to see those little cabins nestled in the woods … when I look
at them, I’m reminded that some crazy fool had to build them!
Stay tuned as this adventure is just beginning …
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| Gable windows installed! |
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| Crew Selfie |
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| All wrapped up |
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| Lookin Good! |
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| 8' tall front window seat - is this a church? |
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| Bedroom window - Nice view!!! |
M&M
Congrats, Mark! It's absolutely amazing to see what you (and friends) accomplished in such a short period. Especially considering that you're still punching the clock. I was hoping to help you out a little this fall, but we spent most of October on the road. Keep me informed about about work weekends this winter/spring.
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