I miss my puppy!

We head back to Michigan on Saturday morning and I'm looking forward to seeing my puppy!

I have to say that Wisconsin is a beautiful state! I had such a great time at the log home training and meeting all the other people. (I recently joined Expedition Log Homes as a dealer. The previous company I worked for unfortunately went out of business.) I have some great mill photos to share with you later this week.

I had our breeder watch Scout and knew she would have a good time with the other dogs there. The above photo is of Scout greeting and kissing her mom. It was so sweet!

Looking forward to catching up with all of you! Let me know if I missed something major! (Betsy, Leedra and Mildred - weren't you glad you had a break from reading my 50 blogs? Ha,ha!)

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! This pumpkin is carved to be the state of Michigan. It was at a halloween event we attended a couple weeks ago.

Well I'm off on my broomstick to head to the log cabin! Watch out for witches who like to make Christmas CD's!






P.S. If you are interested in a log home, I am hosting an open house on November 8th in Gaylord, Michigan. Please contact me if you would like to attend!

Preview - Log & Timber Frame Expo

Greg and I are in Chicago (Schaumburg Convention Center) and looking forward to the Log Home Show beginning tomorrow. People are setting up their booths and already I see some I would like to personally visit - especially the Lonesome Cottage Furniture Company. Here is a little preview taken with my phone.


Here is Hiawatha's booth! (I should note that I did not set this up - Bob at Hiawatha arrived early and did it all himself. I am going to owe him big time!)

I think this copper tub is a dream come true!

Log Home & Timber Frame Expo - Chicago!

ATTENTION Log Home Enthusiasts!

The Log Home & Timber Frame Expo is coming to Chicago! The event runs from October 3 - October 5 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center.

I will be exhibiting there on behalf of Hiawatha Log Homes and would love to meet you! So if you're in the Chicago area and decide to attend, please stop by booth# 702 and say hello!

Greg and I loved attending these shows when we were in the early stages of planning our log home. We came away with such valuable information and it really helped educate us on the process. Even if you already own a log home, I believe it is still worth attending to see the latest in design, maintenance and decor.

This event should be great with all the exhibitors they have and all the seminars they are offering. Some of the seminars at the expo include:

• Log Home Care & Maintenance


• Selecting a builder


• Construction lending


• Design is in the details

Check the website for more information. Hope to see you there! This is my first log home show as an exhibitor and I'm hoping I can help someone else make their log home dream come true!

"That's a lot of wood you have here!"

"That's a lot of wood you have here!"

If my friends and family are reading this right now, I guarantee they are laughing their butts off as they have heard me tell this irksome story so many times!

A person (who shall remain unnamed) came to see my log home for the first time. The very first comment out of this person's mouth after looking at the walls up and down was to say "That's a lot of wood you have here!" (The silent retort in my head "well genius, this is a LOG HOME!"

The second comment came as they were pointing to my loft floor - "That's too bad that they couldn't have brought that floor across so you could have more room upstairs." (The silent retort in my head - "well then I wouldn't have a 2-story living area and it wouldn't be a loft!")

And then that was it. No compliments. Nothing afterwards to say "this is a nice log home" or "I like that lamp you have, etc.." The retort in my head at this point was "Don't you realize that this is a craftsman work of art? It's a log home! Isn't there anything - anything you like about it?"

Yep, my family and friends are laughing - they can't believe I let that comment get to me. In fact, when my brother-in-law signed my guest book at the log cabin, he had to put down that phrase "that's a lot of wood you have here". (No, he wasn't the original culprit.)

I do have to laugh about it now. I will forgive but NEVER forget. I know not everyone likes log homes (it's hard for me to fathom in my log obsessed world) - everyone has their own taste and style. But still...don't you think a log home is cool??

Today is the first day....

My log home really inspired me. Because I love it so much and what it represents - a connection to nature and family - I wanted to concentrate on it full time to help others make their dream come true. Yesterday was the last day at my "Fortune 500" company job. Yes - a lot of people told me I was crazy for leaving a good paying job! And I did wake up at night like a cat on the ceiling thinking "am I doing the right thing?" I have a loving & supportive husband that told me to go for it. It's not too often you get to do what you love. Plus he said "hey, Maria is out of the office next week, you can come help me." Ha! So yes, I will be helping him at his company as needed too. So today is the first day of the rest of my life!

Also, Marvin our log cabin cat has said I must have a giveaway to celebrate this new venture in my life and I agree. It's going to have to be fall related as I love fall and "tis the season." I'm going shopping today to see what I find. Stop back tomorrow for details!!

P.S. My public service announcement for today - if you are looking for a log home, please visit me at Elk Country Log Homes!