Door to the log cabin

Here is the side entrance to our log cabin (log home now!) I'm looking at the door we went with (it met our budget at the time) and I'm already making plans to replace it - maybe a carved wood door. Check out these doors at Rich Door http://www.richdoor.com/ . There's just so many laws when you own a log cabin -You have to mount a deer head on one of your walls, have a cozy fireplace, a carved wood door, rocks and the list goes on. But that's another post....

Staining the cabinets

I've been looking at the rustic pine cabinets for the past several weeks just thinking something is missing. Greg and I had thought about putting a clear coat on them and just letting the cabinets darken over time with the sun hitting them. 10 minutes before we were due to leave the log cabin and head back home downstate, I was dragging Greg to Lowes. I had to stain the cabinets, it was driving me crazy. We ended (well really I ended) up deciding on a pecan color. Then we headed back to the cabin w/ our tarps and brushes and stained about 50% of the cabinetry. It really compliments our maple hardwood floors. Now I just need those 3 missing cupboard doors. The builder had thought the cabinet maker would have them this week but I think he had another job. I'm dropping down on the priority list..... Also, the stove guy never showed either to hook up my gas range. Do you think the cabinet maker and the stove guy are out fishing together?!

What's a Log Cabin without a deer head?

My husband's 8 point buck that he shot (I'm not allowed to say killed) 8 years ago has finally found a home. What's a log cabin without a deer head? Log homes seem to typically have moose, deer, elk, etc. all mounted like a trophy above the fireplace. I'm a little conflicted because one - I'm a big animal lover - so once my friends see this deer I'm sure they'll be shaking their heads wondering how I fell in love with a deer hunter. (It was easy - he was handsome and agreed to go skiing and birdwatching with me!) Second - I don't have a fireplace....yet. The hubby keeps suggesting various places in the log cabin (under our 2nd story loft windows, in the dining area, etc.) and I keep stalling. I'm not sure yet...but eventually I'll find a place for him. Now I just have to make sure that he doesn't add to the collection....

Quote of the Day

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.

Henry David Thoreau, Walden (1854)

Log Cabin Tip - Landscaping

Rocks are always a necessity in landscaping your log cabin to complete that "woodsy, natural feel." As I mentioned before, we are electing not to use grass but want to incorporate mulch, bushes, wild grasses and rocks. What's even better is if they're free! Greg went "rock hunting" with our log cabin guest Jim this weekend. They came upon a side road that had been grated with all these great large rocks strewn about. I did think it was funny when they were describing their process. Jim would run along the road and put them in a pile, and then Greg would drive by to pick them up and throw them into the flatbed of the truck like a garbage man. But the end result is we have all these wonderful rocks! And we probably saved about $900. We are going to use these rocks to build into the slope where we have our mulch path to the deck.

The Log Cabin has a name - and we have a winner!

Saturday morning definitely determined the name for our Log Cabin. I stepped onto our deck early in the morning, the sun was just peaking out from between the trees and there was a foggy mist on top of the lake. The first thing I heard was the Loon's call across the lake. I couldn't see them but could hear their haunting call off in the distance. Thus - The Loon's Nest is born! And now for my winner of the subscription to the Country's Best Log Homes.....drum roll please...Congratulations to Brandi!! (Brandi, please email your address to me.) Thank you to everyone who voted and came up with other ideas - so many great ones to choose from. I appreciate everyone who visits and love your comments!!

Log Cabin Guests & Birds

This weekend we had our first official guests to the log cabin. (I have the guest room pictured here.) I am happy to report they found the room very enjoyable and comfortable. The guestroom is now known as the bird room. I incorporated a bird cage and an antique clock (with a bird on it of course!) and a framed Cornell bird print. We had a great time going to Hartwick Pines State Park, hitting the Stampede Saloon for wings and beer and of course viewing all the birds from our deck this weekend. It was a bird bonanza! Juvenile Eagles, Blue Heron, Loons, Cormorants, Bufflehead, Rose-breasted grosbeak, goldfinches, red winged blackbirds and Canadian geese just to name a few. I was alternating between camera and binoculars all day! I will be posting these pictures this week on my birding blog - www.birdinginmichigan.blogspot.com .

P.S. Today is the last day to vote for our log cabin name and entering the contest for a free subscription to the Country's Best Log Homes! Be sure to leave a link back to your blog.