Slow Going

Only got 3 more logs on today. Starting packing the center cuts with insulation. I just about blew a gasket on the back log. Just mutilated the notch on the south side. Think we are all about worn out after being here for a week. Supposed to rain on Saturday so we may just head home a day early. We are coming up for 3 days over the 4th of July so we'll hit it hard again then.

George Jones Isn't Getting Any Younger

Actually felt sorry for the poor guy for the first 3-4 songs. He got warmed up and did better the rest of the show but he doesn't have too much voice left. Still had a great time and the usher was cool enough to let me sit in some empy seats down front for some better pictures. The show was so exciting that the guy in front of me fell asleep before George even came out. I think I counted about 10 people who were younger than me. One was my brother in law. Back to cabin work tomorrow.

Notching is harder than it looks

Took me all day today to notch the flat logs and get one more side log on and notched. Not happy with my notches yet although the last big side log is the best one so far. Covers up some of the ugliness on the one below it. We are taking Thursday off to build new stairs for the A-frame and then we are headed to a George Jones show at a casino about 40 miles away. We've earned some "fun" time.

First Logs pt.2

Cut sides off of the first 4 logs with a chainsaw using a 2x6 as a guide. Then used a power planer to smooth them out. At the end of Tuesday we had the first logs down.

First Logs

Starting moving some logs today. Started out by making a couple of log stands to make it easier to cut. Cut my first notches and its definitely harder than it looks. Going to take some practice to get them tighter. I'm making saddle notches which require a skarf cut on the bottom log which makes the notch above pretty straight. The scriber I'm using it also give me fits. Hopefully this will get easier with some practice

Dance Floor Boogie

After an early morning breakfast in Bemidji (and a trip to Home Depot for the other 3 decking boards I didn't get on Sunday) we finished the floor up early afternoon and had a nice dance floor to play on. Nora enjoyed playing and acting on it. It's almost a shame to build a cabin on it. Almost. Tomorrow we finally get to play with some logs. We enjoyed the early afternoon off by cooking a couple of chickens on the open fire and playing some dice.

Floor by Fathers Day

My goal was to have the floor in midway through Sunday (Father's Day) and then spend the rest of the day sitting on a lawnchair and drinking beer. We didn't quite make that goal but I at least had floor joists to lay decking and plywood on to accomodate a lawnchair come 5:00pm. By the end of the day Sunday I had already been to Home Depot in Bemidji twice to get more lumber and realized that I would have to go back again Monday morning. At least it's only about 70 miles round trip to Bemidji. I would be S.O.L. if we were any further away. Maybe that would make me a better planner. Shelly would LOVE that! Seriously.

The fun work starts

After Ike we took Friday to pack up and get ready and then headed up north at 5:00am Saturday. Picked up the kids at M+D's at 6:00 and rolled out with them behind with their camper at 6:30am. Made it there around 11:00am and layed out all the tools and wood. Terry's (My father in law) cousin Steve owns a lumber yard in Red Lake Falls and delivered the lumber during the week. How handy is that? Was real happy with how the concrete came out and it's even close to level. Nothing a few shims can't fix.

Best Vacation Ever!!!!

My first day of vacation and we were lucky enough to have Mom and Dad take the kids so we could go to Ike Reilly. M + D just got back from Alaska today. We're so excited because Ike might as well be the Beatles or Elvis for us. Saw him at the Turf club which is a real dive bar from the 40's but talk about up close and personal. Shelly was literally shaking when I pointed out that Ike was right behind her. He was nice enough to pose for a picture. I LIKE IKE!!

Still time for fun

As usual we found time for some fun this weekend in addition to getting concrete done. Dennis and Roxie were nice enough to have us over to their place on Sand lake on Saturday and Sunday evenings for some fishing. Jonah had his friend Adrian with this weekend and all 3 of us caught some decent size Northerns. Enough for a huge fish fry on Sunday night. Didn't have a camera with but maybe Roxie can send us her pictures. The kids also found lots of time to ride 4 wheelers and got to stop and see Paul and Babe in Bemidji on they way there.

Concrete work is still better than peeling logs

Poured the concrete for the footings this past weekend. 52 80lb bags of quickcrete for 13 4+ foot posts. Dad and I hauled the concrete in last weekend and this week I was lucky enough to have friends Dennis and Roxie around to help too. Denny also had a lot of good advice and saved me some time and money! Nice to have people around that know what they're doing. Lumber is being delivered this Friday and then I have 11 days off. The next pictures ought to involve lumber being stacked in a vertical direction and maybe even some actual logs on this until now imaginary log cabin.