Cabin in the Woods

The back and side view of the almost finished cabin. You can see the pond out in front of the cabin. The window holes are there, but the windows themselves aren't in yet. Larry made each of the windows by himself. Later on they were all replaced by Anderson windows when we moved in permanently.

Note there are still logs on the ground that weren't used.

Bleaching the logs

Unfortunately the logs got very dirty from the pine pollen that always falls during the months of May and June. We had to clean them up with bleach.

Insulating between the logs

Here's Steve and Scott putting insulation between the logs. Note Scott's hanging there by a rope. (By the seat of his pants) It was quite an itchy project, each strip had to be cut first to fit between the logs. These guys hung in there every day, we couldn't have done it with out them.

Remember this??? Grampa Cramer

Grampa Cramer goofing off. He was the one that had the heart attack, but I was the one feeling like I was going to have one if he didn't come down off that roof.

The Cabin and Porch Roofs

The rafters are ready for the roof(s) You can see the camper that we stayed in while we were building the cabin.

(Scott and Steve)

Loft logs are in

I can't believe how skinny I was. Scott and I in the front doorway which has been framed in.

Raising a log up with Ropes

All the logs were lifted into place by Grandpa's forklift/tractor except this one, which was done with block and tackle or ropes.

Notching for the loft

Larry/Dad

Window Holes

Sue helping Dad/Larry with the window openings

A Good Start

5 logs high! You can see the doors and windows starting to appear. It's starting to look like a real log cabin The cabin was originally built with a single sliding glass door where Larry is standing. In later pictures you'll see where that was expanded to a 12' wide door! The log protruding out in front is for the porch.

Notching the sill logs

Larry notching a log for the floor joists to fit into it.

Scott finished them by chiseling them all by hand.

That first log...again

That first log for the sill slipped so Larry had to put chains on it and try again

Placing the first log

Larry riding on that first log as Grampa Cramer drives his tractor and moves the log with the forklift. This log was used as a sill and placed on the footers.

Burning branches and bark

Steve and Sue

Some times the fire was humongous. One day a state trooper stopped by to see what was going on. He said the smoke was so bad on the highway that one couldn't see the car ahead of you. He just told us to keep it down a bit.

Peeling the logs

Scott and Shari peeling a log

That's me above and Larry and I below

After each log was peeled we would drag the bark to the fireplace and burn the bark and branches, otherwise the woods would be a mess and much harder to clean up later. Note Sue's comment under " The Log Cabin Begins"

Scott giving a push so the tree will fall over

Steve and Scott

THE LOG CABIN BEGINS

TIMBER !!!!!

One of the first trees to come down and the largest

I thought it quite scarey to hear the chainsaw buzzing, then a cracking noise as the trunk gave way , someone yelling "timber" and then the tree fell to the ground with a thud. I was sure that Larry knew what he was doing but it was still frightening to have your husband and kids undertake such a huge job of cutting down the trees. Grandpa, who was the expert logger and had cut logs for years, was around a good bit of the time, giving lots of advice.

Cabin Scrapbook

I took pictures but unfortunately we didn't have digital camera's back then, so I didn't take too many pictures. This is the first page of the scrapbook that I compiled

Larry's Dad "Perry" was recovering from a heart attack so was very limited in how much he could get involved in building. He was a logger by trade so he was right in his element and he became "overseer". He owned a tractor with a forklift which we used to lift most of the logs.

The main contributors helping us to building the cabin were our children: Steve, Shari, Scott and Sue. There were others that dropped by occassionally and would lend a hand. Note the list.