Eat your heart out Cougar Annie...

[Smiling_Knowingly]

http://s1187.photobucket.com/albums/z390/tom436/

;)

[Mrs-M]

Are the pictures courtesy of your handiwork, Smiling_Knowingly? They make my heart go pitter-patter. Log homes/cabins/cottages are weakness. They speak of such warmth, homeyness, and welcoming spirit.

[Smiling_Knowingly]

Hi. Yes, I just thought I would share with you nice folks the place I go to make time stop. Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong century. Little cabins fascinate me too. I just figured enough was enough and it was time to turn those dreams into reality! I have loved every minute it.

[Mrs-M]

Please share more. Is your retreat on acreage? How long have you been working on it? Is the log home going to be your main residence, or is it simply going to stand as your personal private getaway? Do you have a completion time in order? (I was definitely born in the wrong era). :)

[Smiling_Knowingly]

Sure. Yes this would be more of a getaway cabin. I honestly did not have much of a design plan for the cabin- i just started and let it evolve as it came to me. There are two eight foot overhanging sleeping lofts on the gable ends.

I have had little log cabin dreams for as long as I can remember. I could not get the vision of snow-shoeing in to a remote cabin with family or friends during a snowstorm and scurrying inside to get the fire going- out of my head! Christmas was another one. I have often fantasized about spending a quiet unplugged Christmas with family in one. I think that would create memories for the kids that would last forever.

So, last year I found a local logger who had some nice cedar and I took the plunge. I am building it out at my FIL's place because he has all the space one would need. I started in May and I am just finishing up now. I have done all of the work by myself- with the exception of the use of my FIL's nice forklift. I was even able to set that ridge pole alone because the tops of all those posts have tenons on them that slipped into mortises on the ridge pole. Was I ever happy that my math worked out on that day!

Lots of work but it did not seem like work to me. I tell people that my inner child was screaming! There is something about scribing that does something for me too. After you are done and you roll that log over and it goes "thunk" and fits perfectly you really get excited.

The cabin is meant to be numbered and taken apart then reassembled at another site. This is not really all that difficult as it can be taken down in less than a day. I have some property that I will be putting it on in the spring. Maybe next Christmas I can make that dream come true!

Thanks!

[Spartana]

Great pics smiling! I lived for a number of years in a lake and snow ski resort town and had a really cute little cabin (around 900 sf). No pics of it on my computer (yet) but here's some of the area. I had thought about buying some land there and building a tiny one room cabin (12 x 12) but there were so many small cabins for sale and rent that it was just easier to buy. Might end up moving back there this winter and again this summer and renting another little cabin - hopefully around 500 sf.

http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=571&d=1321552536

http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=570&d=1321552497

http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=572&d=1321553493

Cute village:
http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=574&d=1321554484
http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=575&d=1321554955

Not my cabin but it looked almost exactly like this - will post pic later of mine:
http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=573&d=1321554445

[Wildflower]

I would love to live in a tiny A-frame cabin by a lake and mountains. That would be my dream...

[Smiling_Knowingly]

Wow. Thanks Lindi. Wildflower- A frames are fun aren't they?

I wish I could figure out how to post pictures directly to this page but for now I went back to photobucket and assembled a little slideshow from beginning to end. Enjoy!

http://s1187.photobucket.com/albums/z390/tom436/

[Spartana]

Wow. Thanks Lindi. Wildflower- A frames are fun aren't they?

I wish I could figure out how to post pictures directly to this page but for now I went back to photobucket and assembled a little slideshow from beginning to end. Enjoy!

http://s1187.photobucket.com/albums/z390/tom436/

Even more great pics! Are you doing the whole thing with a chainsaw? What kind of flooring and interior will you have? Any plumbing & electrical or are you keeping it rustic? Did you need to get a permit since you're building it on your FIL land? What part of the country are you in and is it way out in the boonies? This is the problem with building anything here is SoCal (I lived in Big Bear Lake, CA) - it's almost impossible to build anything rustic anymore because everything has to up to current buiding code and you have to have all the "modern facilities" even in a 100 sf cabin (lots of small log cabins in Big Bear). I spend alot of time (too much) looking at those log cabin kit houses and fantasizing about living in one. But I'm too much of a (small) city girl at heart and would rather live close to town and not out in the boonies like I'd have to if I lived in something like that. Nice to dream though!

I couldn't find any pics showing my whole cabin (it is a steep-roofed traditional chalet actually) but here's a shot of me at the entrance - it looks almost exactly like that other photo I posted. It was kind of rustic too but cute. I sold it a couple of years ago - wish I would have kept it as I do like the area and it was a great place.

http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=577&d=1321654977

[Mrs-M]

Smiling_Knowingly. Absolutely lovely. Please any/all updates/milestones as you reach them. (Will be keeping my fingers crossed for you that you will get to live the dream and spoil yourself with a special Christmas present)! :) P.S. Thank you so much for the posting the additional slides! Fantastic! I love how (picture, bottom lower right corner of page one), the logs fit together so precisely.

Spartana. Magnificent pictures! Straight out of a Disney Family Movie. Love your cabin, too! Right down to the window in the front door! And the balcony is to die for!!! Homey, homey, homey!

[Smiling_Knowingly]

Phew! I finished it tonight! Now I can put it to bed for the winter. I posted the latest pictures on the photobucket link. Spartana- yes, mostly with a chainsaw but also with a generator and a few other handy tools. 'Round these parts (northern midwest) permits are not really an issue mostly because it will be on my own property and I will be keeping it "off grid". I will be drilling holes for wiring it in the future- most likely with the thought of a generator in mind. I honestly have not put much thought into the plumbing etc. I guess I have all winter to think and plan for those items!

[Mrs-M]

Enjoy the rest! :) Winter will allow you to ponder additional ideas while at the same time, recharge your batteries, and in no time at all, spring will be here once again and you'll be able to get outside again and continue on. Really looking forward to seeing future progress pictures! P.S. Loved the latest photos!!!

[Spartana]

Phew! I finished it tonight! Now I can put it to bed for the winter. I posted the latest pictures on the photobucket link. Spartana- yes, mostly with a chainsaw but also with a generator and a few other handy tools. 'Round these parts (northern midwest) permits are not really an issue mostly because it will be on my own property and I will be keeping it "off grid". I will be drilling holes for wiring it in the future- most likely with the thought of a generator in mind. I honestly have not put much thought into the plumbing etc. I guess I have all winter to think and plan for those items!

Congrats!! I'm impressed you did it mostly by chainsaw (a scary tool!). Glad to see you can do it without permits and can keep it off-grid in your area. No such luck around here - well.. at least not legally :-)! Loved your photos too (mine seemed to have disappeared - I must have hit delete by accident - doh!). now it's time to build your outhouse :-)!