Tete a Tete

When I used to pour through my log home magazines (okay - I still do!) - I loved how people created conversation areas in their open living space - a "Tete a Tete." When I looked up the definition, it states that a Tete a Tete is 1. private conversation between two persons and 2. A sofa for two, especially an s-shaped one allowing the occupants to face each other.
Hmm....I don't have the s-shaped sofa, but I think my makeshift Tete a Tete will do. So please have a seat, let me grab you a hot chocolate with marshmallows and we'll look out at the lake and discuss when we think the first snow flake will fall!

Windows in a log cabin

Secondary to the logs, it's the windows that make a log home too in my opinion. You want to capture the great views of your property as well as have energy efficient windows that save you money on your heating bills. I love when I'm inside our log home and am still able to see a great view of the lake and trees as well as observing the birds on our feeders. Check out some of these views from the inside of our log home:




Kitchen













Front wall facing the lake.















French Doors















Close up view of a portion of the loft windows.

Interview with the Mister of the log cabin!

I thought today it would be interesting to hear from Greg and share his thoughts on our log home as well as get a "man's" perspective.

I told him I'd ask the questions and he answer with the first thing that comes off the top of his head. This could be dangerous! Here goes:





Me: How do you like our log home so far?
Greg: I enjoy it very much!

Me: What's your favorite thing about our log home?
Greg: The windows overlooking the lake.

Me: Least favorite?
Greg: We should've went a little bit bigger.

Me: Where do you plan on putting that boat, ATV and all those trailers you have currently stored on the side of our property?
Greg: In a garage I intend to build.

Me (coughing): When do you think this will happen?
Greg: I don't know.

Me: When you see our neighbor's goat named Sugar - do you think "aw I went to pet her" or "oh I'd like to shoot her because I'm a big hunter?"
Greg: I'd like to shoot her. (Blog readers - he is just kidding....really!)

Me: Speaking of hunting, what do you think the chances are that I'll allow you to put up another animal head in the living area?
Greg: 100%. (I checked - he hadn't been drinking when he answered this.)

Me: How would you have decorated this place differently?
Greg: I would've hung up some guns & fishing poles.

Me: What do you plan on doing in the basement?
Greg: Finishing it off and making a bar and rec room.

Me: What's the funniest thing that's happened at our cabin so far?
Greg: When I left the door wall open and went fishing for three hours and then found Marvin the cat outside in the woods. (I was a little perturbed....)

Me: If you could invite any famous person to our log cabin, who would it be?
Greg: Hemmingway.

Me: Who would win in an arm wrestling match between you and our builder Randy?
Greg: Randy!

Northern Michigan at its best

There are many beautiful places to build a log home. Northern Michigan was the place for me and Greg. We wanted to experience all 4 seasons and be located out in a woodsy - nature filled area. It seems like we do more up here too then when we are downstate at our home in the burbs. Up here we are going to small town festivals, berry picking, skiing, snow shoeing, going out to photograph nature, watching Eagles splash down in our lake, having a bonfire with neighbors....the list goes on. Also - where else could I be a Loon Ranger?! (Now that's a different story and my friends and family are still making fun of me for this....)

Here are some more fall photos around our log home.......life is good.

Why I love Northern Michigan

I had the most beautiful drive this morning up to our log home. As soon as I reached Northern Michigan, the trees showing off their beautiful colors (Gaylord is at 80% peak), I saw 2 baby deer off in the field and I watched a hawk fly over the interstate. I had escaped the suburbs! But that's not the only reason why I love Northern Michigan.....this view off my deck says it all.

Fall cooking at the cabin!

Can you feel it? The air is cool, the leaves are showing their reds and golds, and it's time for fuzzy fleece blankets and wool socks. And then the food.......apple pie with a flaky crust, homemade soup and chili.....gets you in the mood to do some fall cooking!

I'm ready to whip my log home kitchen into a cooking frenzy this weekend! And some of my favorite blogs I like to read have some delicious ideas.....

1. Penny at Lavender Hill shares her secret ingredient for apple pie....
2. How about some Spiced Lentil & Barley soup from Catherine at Catherine Holman Folk Art?
3. Bobbi at Rightmeyer Recipes is making tomatoe pie!
4. Mom2 has a couple yummy things to choose from....Quick & Easy Minestrone Soup or Popeye Meatloaf.
5. Cooking with Val is sharing a recipe for Maranda's Squash Casserole.

What are some of your favorite things to cook in the fall?

I love my switch plates!

For some odd reason, I just love decorative switch plates for the log home. I'll spend a good hour in a rustic store just looking at all the different log home decor switch plates. Since our log home is called 'The Loon's Nest' I had thought about doing all Loon theme switch plates. But I got a little off track.....



This is in my Loon bathroom.

But then I had to have a Moose theme.

But then I thought these pine switch plates would look good in the hallway....

Yep! I'm hooked on switch plates!