A focal point of the log home

I think the kitchen in a log home (or any home for that matter) seems to be a big social focal point in today's times. When you have an open floor plan, the "cook" can see and still converse with everyone in the family room area. And likewise, people can pull up a seat at the kitchen bar and converse with the cook and nibble on some snacks! It creates a family/friend connection and encourages conversation (a lot in my case! I talk too much!)

I've been picking up some odds and ends for our kitchen. I think it's coming together...



Pull up a seat! Can I get you a cocktail?











I love these kitchen towels. I told my husband he's not allowed to use them - just look at them.

I picked up this ceramic acorn candy dish. Would you like a chocolate kiss?

Decorating & arranging things at the Log Cabin

Slowly but surely, we are making progress on furnishing the interior of our log cabin. I like all the different textures and colors that look good combined with the background of logs - such as bright colored couches, leather, bronze metal and oriental rugs.


I found this oriental rug at Garden Ridge priced $100 less than a similar one I found at a major chain store.
As the dining area is small - I am putting a round dining table with seating for 4. The extra 4 seats at the kitchen bar should be sufficient for the overflow crowd.










I'm thinking about putting a small fireplace in that far left corner. I saw some nice ventless gas fireplaces at Home Depot but concerned about their safety.

I found this great bronze textured metal "Tulip" table at Pier One. It is suppose to be a side table, but with its height and size, I think it's perfect as a non-obtrusive coffee table.













Here's a closer look at the table so you can see the detailing. What do you think?

Rain at the Log Cabin

It rained all weekend at the log cabin as I'm sure it did at everyone's homes. While we didn't get to finish caulking our log ends outside, it was still nice to be there and plan our indoor projects.




This photo was taken in the afternoon - quite dark outside with all that rain. I think I need more pumpkins in the window.












One good thing about the rain, it's helping my grass seed grow! Starting to look like a lawn.

I want to plant a couple Blue Spruce trees (my favorite) next weekend.













Greg was thrilled he got to finish his work bench in the basement which included hanging up all his fishing lures.

P.S. If you get a chance, please stop over and visit Rob at the Cottage Chronicles to wish him and his family well. His wife had an aneursym and is recovering in the hospital. Rob has a wonderful and informative blog with cottage tips, product reviews and just plain having a good time with the family at the Cottage.

"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??

Arte y Pico Award for Building a Log Cabin!

Arte y Pico Award!


Okay, I've been really bad! Jen at Unglazed (a fellow log cabin dweller who has a fantastic blog that you must visit!) was kind enough to give me this Arte y Pico award for my blog back in August! Please forgive me Jen - I am very honored!!

The rules are that I must pick five blogs deserving of this award that demonstrate their creativity, design, interesting material, and also for contributing to the blogging community, no matter what language . Now that's the hard part - I can think of 100! But here goes:

• Jessica at Five Pines (a heartwarming blog about her everyday life, family, cute dogs and birds and other creatures that may come her way)
• Penny at Lavender Hill Studio (one of the most creative ladies ever!)
• Birdlady at Wings n Things (her bird photos and web greeting cards are wonderful!)
• Birds, Bees, Bugs & Blossoms (Sandy is multi-talented w/ her photos and her art- be sure to check out her other blogs!)
• Nature Nut at Nature Shows & Dreams (I'm a little partial - because she loves and blogs about northern Michigan. Check out her great photos!)

While I was only able to list 5 - please note the people that are located in my favorite links on the right sidebar - all great blogs to visit in my opinion!

To the people who were awarded - here are the rules:

1) pick five (5) blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also for contributing to the blogging community, no matter what language.2) each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.3) each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.4) award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y Pico" blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award which is here: Arte y Pico.

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Favorite Log Home Floor Plan

When Greg and I first started dreaming about our log home, I used to review the floor plan books constantly. I would sketch what I wanted on paper or superimpose a plan I found on paper and then mark my changes. I would picture myself in each room and think about what I wanted versus what I needed. Of course, what we could afford was always the deciding factor!

I knew I wanted large bathrooms, the traditional loft, an open floor plan with the kitchen/dining/living room area and a wall of windows looking onto a lake.

Homes are such an emotional investment and we all have our own ideas on what completes our "nest." For you log home dreamers - or even if you're not, I posted some of my favorite floor plans from Hiawatha Log Homes. Take a look and tell me which one(s) are your favorite and why. Is there a plan you like but something you would change to fit your needs/tastes?






























This is the plan Greg and I had originally decided upon and then at the last moment decided the Tall Timbers was for us.


















































































This is our log home. We modified the interior floor plan and added a walk-out basement.

Pioneer Woman at the Log Cabin!

Since I now have a log cabin, I have to do "pioneer things."

I am going to can the blackberries I picked last weekend and make blackberry jam at the log cabin!

Now that sounds like something one of these pioneer women pictured here would do, right??

This photo is courtesy of the Otsego Historical museum and these people once lived in my cabin town!


By the way, I learned that the method I used last year (turning the jars upside down to set) is the WRONG way and can cause botulism! Luckily all my family members made it last year without incident. In case you're curious, click here for canning tips. Want more information on blackberries? Click here.

I did purchase a pressure cooker - but after reading the threatening instructions tonight, I am returning it. I am afraid it's going to explode in my face! So I went on Amazon and purchased a water bath canner. Now that sounds a lot safer in my opinion.




Here's my new canning tool!





Now I just need to make labels for my Blackberry Jam! What to name it? The Loon's Nest Blackberry Jam seems too long...