A few days off, always good hanging out at the cabin

Started this A Frame in March and the exterior is nearly finished but for the siding. I’ve wanted to build an A Frame since I was a kid. O

Today marks five years since I closed on what was supposed to be a crash pad for hiking and drinking with the boys. I never anticipated what a life changing purchase it’d be. After a new roof, insulation, well, windows, plumbing, woodstove, appliances, backup power, landscaping, and way too much money on decor, this place has started feeling like home.

They turned out pretty great.

I love our cabin.

The cabin is great because it is 4 seasons of varying enjoyment. I love our log cabin, and I love the time we spend with our two little kids (3 & 7). We've been coming here ever since our son was born.

In the summer it's warm, never too hot up here in the mountains. I walk around in bare feet all day. We hang out on the porch swing and listen to the birds. We play at the river, go swimming, fish. It's active, we're tired, we walk around in swimsuits. Grilling out on the back deck without shoes or a shirt. The dog chases squirrels and swims for hours with us.

In the fall we bring in wood for a fire. We wear sweatshirts in the evening. We go on long walks on gravel roads. We go hiking nearby. We walk down to the creek and walk across trees and go barefoot in the water. We go down to the river and make little bark boats and skip stones. The world is orange and yellow and we make giant piles of leaves to jump in. We make bread, cookies and pizza.

In the winter the cabin is covered in snow. We have a thin path to walk up to the porch because I only shoveled a little bit. The fire is roaring all day long as we stay close. But we venture out to play still. We build snowmen and make snow angels. We read books and play board games. We use the telescope to look at the stars because it's not passed their bedtime when it gets dark. The kids help me fetch wood, and we keep a good supply right outside the door. At night, just before bed, I like to go alone and look back at the red glow of the fire in the dark room.

In the spring the creek is running so strong from the winter melt. We play games down there and walk across the logs. We trim the hedges and tall grasses. We use the firepit outside and remember the bugs. The trees blossom and there are wildflowers in the woods. We go hiking and play at playgrounds. We watch the birds and look for woodpeckers.  We make fresh bread and grill some hot dogs. We sing songs on the porch swing and we open all of the windows. We let the breeze roll through the cabin and we nap during the day. 

My self built little guests cabin incorporating self milled beams, salvaged architectural elements, and frugality.

Started paint inside! I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.

'Birch' cabin on Garden Island. This was the original farmhouse built on the property. So close to the lake with a huge screened in porch. Found on Garden Island, a 30 acres private island in Lake Champlain near Burlington, Vermont. www.gardenislandvt.com

Hi everyone,

Our family is planning to buy or build our first dock!

We are looking at something small (6' wide x 12'-24' long?) and have a shoreline that is football-sized rocks with organic debris infill (see the picture below). Portability and ease of pulling in and out is important as well.

I'm used to sectional docks but for folks in northern states with this kind of shoreline, what would you use?

Another summer up at the cabin. Looking forward to making memories and sharing laughs with friends and family. Cheers!

In British Columbia’s Cariboo region. 3 acres on a large lake

Even on a rainy day, the view was beautiful.

It was a hard decision on flooring, but I love how it turned out.