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November 2010 Blog Posts (24)

Almost Done!

My husband talked to our builder today, and we should be totally finished with the log home in about 1.5 weeks. The only things left are to grade the property, install gutters and screens, and move the kitchen island a bit and secure it to the floor!

I am looking forward to having our cabin complete, although the process has been pretty smooth ... so far. (knock on wood!)

Paula

Added by Paula Sandridge on November 30, 2010 at 6:49pm — No Comments

Hand Building Custom One Of A Cedar Log Funiture

woodfurnitureproductions.com

Living for most of my life in northern Michigan were log homes are being built even in such a down economy I’ve had the privileged to hone a skill helping to create peoples dreams of owning an furnishing their very own log home. I’ve been creating custom one of…

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Added by Carl Hartman on November 30, 2010 at 12:15pm — No Comments

Thanksgiving at the Cabin

It's been a few weeks since my last posting, and a lot has happened!

On Saturday, 11/20, we moved into the cabin with the help of my brother-in-law, nephew, two of his friends, and our son, Mike. The move went very smoothly and we were in and then spent the next few days setting up beds, loading the kitchen cupboards, and visiting the local Super WalMart to purchase the little odds and ends you tend to forget to pack or buy ahead of time. The cabin still has a few things left that… Continue

Added by Paula Sandridge on November 29, 2010 at 10:29pm — No Comments

A tough nut to crack

Mr. Seals recently stepped out of the wood shop and into the kitchen. He wasn't very satisfied with the way his steel wool, turpentine, and tea brew colored the ceiling panels, so he kept looking for a solution. What he came up with was Van Dyke crystals, a traditional, natural dye made from walnut husks. He experimented with different shades on the… Continue

Added by John Duke on November 25, 2010 at 1:25am — No Comments

Anyone with Carpenter Bee/Boring Bee and or Woodpecker Damage to their log homes?

Looking for testimonial from anyone with Carpenter Bee/Boring Bee and or Woodpecker Damage to their log homes? And or log home repair companies with photos and testimony?

Bill Mathews
866-922-7754
386-697-1357

Added by Bill Mathews on November 24, 2010 at 9:47pm — No Comments

Geothermal Exchange - NOT radiant heat

Hello,

Looking for anyone who has geothermal exchange that can give us some tips. We are looking into the direct exchange using underground tubing- not heats pumps - as a means to power our cabin. We are finding the technology is relatively new and just wanted to see if there is anyone who has this technology that can give us their thoughts.

Thanks,

Anna

Added by Bill & Anna Johnston on November 23, 2010 at 9:22am — 1 Comment

No sympathy for the devil

We hired a man with a truck to clear away the dead bamboo in anticipation of the trenching work that is required for the geothermal coiled tubes that will be buried in the back yard. He took one load two weeks ago and hasn't been back since. I'm afraid he has fled in terror after struggling with the bamboo and we won't see him again.

Read more… Continue

Added by John Duke on November 21, 2010 at 12:00am — No Comments

November 19, 2010

Big "comfort" day at the cabin today. I was able to install our washer/dryer units and the final set of screens to the loft windows. The washer hook-up was easy once I figured out how to remove the knock-out plug on the washer drain in the wall. Quick word of advice: When working around water valves, turn off the water at the main first, otherwise you'll make quite a mess.

So after I toweled off the floor, washer and myself I finished the install.

The screen install took all… Continue

Added by Mike & Barbara Higgins on November 20, 2010 at 12:02am — No Comments

Energy Saving tips

Being around the log home industry for a while, I am always amazed at the care and craftsmanship going into the building and maintaining of these beautiful homes. Please share your energy saving tips. For example, have you found that high performace doors and windows are helpful? Are those new light bulbs (CFL) really what they were cracked up to be? Please share any experience you have, I would love to hear about it!!

Added by Elaine Nosaka on November 18, 2010 at 3:19pm — 3 Comments

The Log and Timber show in West Springfield MA is this weekend

http://www.thelogandtimberhomeshow.com/shows/83

Stop in and see our representatives from all over New York and New England. We are introducing our full line to date of the the High Peaks Designer Series. 10 new models.

www.lincolnlogs.com

Added by Shale Miller on November 18, 2010 at 10:00am — 1 Comment

Getting Ready for the Furniture Move!

Yesterday, we spent the day at the cabin waiting for the Dish Network technician to install satellite TV. While waiting, I did some cleaning (mainly vacuuming fine sawdust off the interior log walls) and lined the kitchen cupboards and drawers. I also polished up the appliances and tested then to be sure they worked. All went well!

A very informative and pleasant young man came and installed the dish, and we now have television!

Today and tomorrow we have to finish… Continue

Added by Paula Sandridge on November 18, 2010 at 9:05am — No Comments

Roof?

I think the title just about sums up things lately. We're pushing 5 weeks on our roof project, and while we are finally on the last main portion, the weather forecast looks pretty bad for roofing this week.

Way back when, we fell in love with this roof and decided to go with a standing seam roof system, with hidden fasteners. While it looks really good, it's really been kicking our butts.

We've had to overcome a bunch of obstacles and it's been taking for ever to get this… Continue

Added by The Mitchell's on November 15, 2010 at 9:00pm — No Comments

Hope for art

Who wavers right now in the bamboo.

-- Gary Snyder

There is a redeeming quality to art. Art can that take a thing that is inherently evil and transform it into infinite beauty. For example, bamboo.

please join us if you are in the Adirondacks this weekend.

Added by Shale Miller on November 13, 2010 at 11:00am — No Comments

HELP!! ASAP!! Invaded by Cluster Flies!

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Delete Discussion Our log home is in Gobles, MI near Kalamazoo, MI. We have owned the home for 10 years and have always had a problem with the invasion of house flies and wasps in the fall but this year there are close to a hundred on the south facing window every day that it is sunny. I have tried commercial attractants from Gemplers but to no avail. Does anyone have a suggestion and if it involves sealing around the… Continue

Added by Marcia McMorrow on November 10, 2010 at 11:02am — 1 Comment

Utilities Taken Care Of

This weekend was productive. I arranged for a local phone line, Internet, and satellite TV. These will be installed in a little over a week. Our builder is staining the exterior of the house this week because the temperatures will be good, and then he will finish applying polyurethane to the interior floors. Now we are trying to work out the date for the final walk-through with Blue Ridge Log Cabins and get our modification started on the construction loan.

Have a good… Continue

Added by Paula Sandridge on November 8, 2010 at 8:42pm — 2 Comments

Got the loan for the cabin,6 months of pain with Charles Schwab Bank

Got preapproved for second home with no problem. Then the heart ache and pain began. The company doesn't know what there doing, incompetence, stupidity, and plain lack of good phone skills, and buisness skills. evferyone seems to have three day weekends or an extra day off after a holiday. No one every calls you, you have to initiate everything. then pray they call back. Run fast from this Bank and most likely the Securities area also. Run fast and do not look back. Had to get intouch with…

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Added by Mike LoVaglio on November 8, 2010 at 1:24pm — No Comments

The cabin gets a shellacking

The Democrats aren't the only ones that took a shellacking recently. While the President was ruminating on the meaning of his party's defeat, Mr. Seals was doing a bit of shellacking on his own.

Read more at:… Continue

Added by John Duke on November 7, 2010 at 2:43am — No Comments

Sleep Deprived Thinking of the Cabin!

I guess it is a sign that we are nearing the completion of one of our life-long dreams, but I woke up last night around 2:30am and then could not fall back to sleep because I was thinking of how awesome it will be when we get to move to the log cabin. My mind was planing the placement of the furniture, and of the family gatherings that will be held there in the coming weeks, and what we will do around the 10 acres we own .... and all other sorts of happy thoughts that I couldn't… Continue

Added by Paula Sandridge on November 5, 2010 at 5:51pm — 1 Comment

Almost Done!

Yeah! The trim crew from Blue Ridge Log Cabins finished up yesterday, so left will be the staining of he exterior logs, the inside floors need to have polyurethane applied, and the HVAC system needs to be installed. This should be done within the next several weeks.

I just ordered a rug for for the dining room, and we still have to look for bedroom furniture for our 'town' house so we can bring our existing furniture to the cabin. Other… Continue

Added by Paula Sandridge on November 4, 2010 at 7:30pm — No Comments