Thanksgiving

Posted on November 27, 2014 by Granite

We spent Thanksgiving at the cabin last year, pulling out the old loft (then stayed at the fancy Inn up the road to celebrate). This year, we spent the day before Turkey Day at the cabin, and we’re off to visit family today. So, a post in case they want the most up-to-date photos.

We are still in the midst of Windowfest 2014. But we’ve done a lot over the last week. Here’s the rundown:

: Say hello to my little friends! These little guys make it possible to work when it’s on the chilly side.

: We had to pull the panel at the end of last session, in order to caulk behind it during the last warm spell of the season (probably).

: And then yesterday, this newly restored sash went in! A favorite view – all rock.

: It was colder yesterday, so we turned on the propane blast furnace. Works really well…

: It actually got up to 70 degrees shortly after this photo.

: K added horizontal bracing to the walls. We are getting ready for projects during our winter break in a few weeks.

: This is why I got a good cover for my phone. It’s been through a lot and keeps on workin’.

: A foot of snow was on the way, but we had one more window to install.

: After much craigslist searching, we decided to use the sashes I bought for $5 each in September. They are Marvin wood and have integrated storms. A little carpentry and they were ready to install.

: And another favorite view. Our bathroom might have the best views in the house.

We have three more of those cute Marvins to install – hopefully this weekend while we have a little time off. And two more original windows are hanging out in our basement to be restored. We see the finish line on the window project. Hopefully we’ll get them done before New Year’s.

Amazing technicolor dreamcoat

Posted on November 16, 2014 by Granite

Nothing like a cloudy day with snow on the ground to bring out the colors in everything. Today we had a third attempt to sample a lake (for work) near the cabin. The normal trail is abnormally flooded and very impassible. We tried a couple of new roads/trails in, ending with no success. We will try again next weekend. However, the hike did take us through a lovely area with many other examples of the historic cabins in the Village.

: Cheery red on a cabin up the hill.

: This is a gorgeous one – love the chimney. Ours used to have this, but it was removed before we bought.

: Over the rooftop of yet another cabin, looking at islands in the lake.

: The bedroom is revamped to a living/dining area out of the staging/work area for winter.

: Two walls: new colors; one wall: old colors. Getting there.

: Most of the bathroom is caulked. Thank goodness – what a pain.

We ended the day with a workday, putting in another restored window, taking one out, and caulking almost the entire remainder of the bathroom. One more caulking expedition and we will have that room done!

Dark-thirty

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Granite

Got back from our trip, and got going on finishing up the windows that were ready to install just as we left. And then…we got a huge snowstorm. Like a foot, on the 2nd of November. In case you haven’t heard about it. So that slowed everything down a bit. But it was pretty, and nothing fell on the cabin nor on our house, which was lucky. And the snow has now melted already.

So, given the end of daylight saving time combined with cold temperatures, we are running out to the cabin every spare hour we can grab to do temperature-sensitive things. For example, we are continuing to caulk the interior logs. And man, is it quicker when you have a flat floor to stand on, rather than doing ladder acrobatics with a 30-oz caulk gun in one hand! The bathroom is nearly done – we are waiting for a new shipment of caulk (and a warm day), and we’ll be done.

Of course, we started another window too. There’s one more “living room” window to finish up, and it’s now here in our main house to work on when we have time off and it’s too cold for cabin.