Saturday, December 30, 2006

WOW...I didn't realize how long it had been since I updated my blog. I have been working on the house but not everyday. We took off for 1 1/2 weeks to go to South Carolina for Aaron's graduation from basic training during the first part of November, then we took off a week for Thanksgiving to travel to Mississippi to be with Randy. We get back home to everyone sick for a few days. Well you know that since we took off so long as soon as we ready to work the rain shows up! Rained all first week of December, then we did little things as we could because it was way to cold to chink, was in the mid teens a few nights...brrrrrrrrrrrrrr. We finished our last window finally! Then you might be able to see in the pics above the top log on the two long sides was open right below the roof....We now have it all closed in and, some of it weatherized already. We now have about 3/4 of the house chinked and hope to finished that soon. All this new stuff done really didn't change the house much as far as looking at the pics. We did however finally get the boards from the saw mill to finish the gable end that we never completed...Till now that is. Pics in order are back of house where last window was installed...Kit side...Laundry side....Front of house...Open area...Our Christmas tree....LOL..Thought I'd throw that one in there...Hope to work a lot more next few days because I go back to work on Wednesday. Harder to work on house and get much done. Will try to upload more pics as I get them.

Saturday, October 28, 2006


Now we have started chinking on the other side of the house. Its not done yet but getting there. Randy and kids have framed and installed the last door. We only have a deadbolt on one, so we are able to lock it. You would be surprised at the people that come up this hill when we are gone to browse thru the house. Knobs and other deadbolts will be installed soon. Upstairs is now ready for electrcity! Also recieved Aaron's basic training pic yesterday so I added it here. I added his rank and name with the frame also. Aint he cute!

Monday, October 23, 2006




OK while I was down for 2 weeks trying NOT to get on a ladder...LOL...I re-did this very old kitchen flour cabinet ( this has a built in flour sifter and below has a metal drawer that has a metal cover awesome) I purchased it from someone near here for twenty bucks...As you can see when you look at the pics, its all taken apart, painted many different colors, and was even stored in two different locations when I bought it....My kids thought I was CRAZY! LOL I on the other hand saw how beautiful I could make it. It had layers upon layers of paint, top was black and red, under that was yellow, under that was white, with a thick layer of varnish, under that was white milk stain, drawers were yellow. Now all of it came off with a lot of elbow grease I might add, EXCEPT some of the white milk stain...But, that makes it look even older now. I then stained it with a warm pecan stain and added a satin finish. I also had to strip the counter top ( this is a slideable top, it slides forward to make biscuits I guess)it had some kind of vinyl and it had something like tar paper under it, was very hard to get it all off but then under that was glue that wouldn't budge sooooooooo beings it couldn't be removed I added a checker board style layer of ceramic tile. These tiles were made in a near by factory in the town of Roanoke quiet a few years ago, the factory has been shut down since I lived here for sure and that's eight years this Nov. I bought this about 7 years ago, and have enough to do the kitchen counter....I'm thinking about doing it. Periwinkle blue and beige, not to modern but hey neither am I....LOL ...Let me hear your feedback on this!

Thursday, October 12, 2006


Well, yesterday was going pretty well. I did all but the last row of chinking on the one side. I was standing on the ladder about 6 Ft in the air, when the ladder started to fall backwards. I had my hands full of the EXPENSIVE chink loaded in the gun, but I let it all fall and I went with it. Good thing Wyatt was walking by. He tried to help catch me...haha I would smashed him like a bug, but he did break my fall. I thought I broke my foot and thigh, after I regained my composer and got over the initial shock of falling, I as hardheaded as I am ( its an Allemand birth right ) decided to call it a day and sleep on my wounds before going to the Dr. I tell you it scared me very much and was like in slow motion. Actually I think I scared Wyatt more than falling scared me. Blake had set the ladder up for me and I climbed right up before I even checked, and he had set it up backwards. I never noticed till I got to the top, then it was to late. That ladder is history at this house, its been a thorn in my side since we started using it, its one of those folding in different directions, all in one ladders. It's GONE!
UPDATE....Went to the Dr today( day after fall ), he said nothing was broken, just sprang and a possible torn/pulled muscle in my thigh. Have to stay off ladder now ( can't believe people think im to old for a ladder...Sigh...LOL ), Dr's orders...and Kelly's...LOL....Have to take a few days off to heal, but will be back to work soon enough. Heres a pic of the chinked side, well all but the top row is chinked...Looking good huh?

Monday, October 02, 2006

Well finally! We started chinking! Randy and Nathan (teach him to stop by for an announced visit...LOL...J/k) worked on cutting out framing and installing the frame on the last kitchen window, then the next weekend I started chinking. Wyatt and Blake helped of course, but it takes a lot of patience and a steady hand. Can't waste it, cost way to much to waste. You have to look really close to see the backer rod put in between the logs, then you add the chinking. After that you sponge it to make sure it adheres to the logs. I sprayed the foam insulation that grows to fill spaces in the large spots in the corners, then had to cover it with tape so that the chink wouldn't stick to it and peel from the logs. The picture where its just a close up of the logs. That's the finished chinking. In the pictures roof looks silver but its actually beige, the same colors as the windows. Tarp is up because we still not finish painting windows and staining logs. Hope to have that down by Tuesday evening.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

What a trying two days this has been! We bought a ROCK not land! As you can see from the pictures, there is so much rock instead of dirt. But finally after many hours of labor Mr Joiner broke through and was able to complete the septic system. In one of the pictures you have to look close but you can see he has all but one wheel off the ground, I was biting nails into...Man what a relief its over! Started out by digging about 8 foot deep and 8 Ft wide. I believe the length was 188 foot on one and who knows on the other two drain lines. Was a lot there is all I know. The concrete tank is 1000 gallons 5x5x9 and has 3 lines flowing from it. Wow at the plants I lost! But it was all worth it because it was a needed deal. Mr Joiner and his crew worked so hard and worked around all kind of obstacles in my yard. They took such care as to try to NOT tear up anything. As you can see its all down hill also so they had a task at hand that wasn't very easy, but they did a great job! And...They worked in the rain! His crew seemed to know his next move at just about every step, so things went along pretty smooth except for the finding rock stage if you look closely you can see in some of the pictures it was raining. Wyatt and Blake worked really hard helping them, and had a blast doing it, and sure got muddy! I watched for this part of the job, and did the cooking...LOL...In the first picture you can see the finished look, for now that is. I have lots of yard work to do now, found some of my bulbs so I shall get busy replanting. Chinking should start Monday if nothing else comes up (crossing fingers).... Joiner Septic Service 334-863-0050 or 334-863-4345




Saturday, September 02, 2006

We have doors! Finally! Randy designed them and boys and I helped him build them. Then I stained and added weatherproof clear seal. Doors are very heavy! But look great. Pictures were taken before stain was put on....Those pics will come next blog. Stained same as gable ends, golden pecan. All other logs will be stained soon as the chinking is completed....which I hope is soon! Outer and inter facings of the doors are different for strength. Anyone bored is welcome to help, just bring your energy!



Sunday, August 27, 2006

Aaron leaving for the Army NG. He'll be gone 6 months. Hopefully the house will be done when he gets back! Notice the window.....looks good huh....well i installed it sideways...what a goof....so I had to use the sawsall to break the nails then reinstall it...grrrrrrrr
Blake sanding the window so we can kilts it and then paint to match the roof. After it was installed right....lol

Gable ends almost finished being stained,and a few more boards need to be added.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Woooohooooo we have moved on to windows and doors downstairs. Randy cut out while Blake guided the logs to the ground. Then Randy framed the window and door frames. Clint cut the other gable end out and with Blakes help framed it and we all helped put the window up. Clint cut out the gable end vent area and after making the frame for me, I made the vent with 1 x 1 wood from the trees we had milled and the strip's from Cummings-Griffin Int'l in Etheisville, Al 205-658-2445. Its an awesome place check out their website ProcessingWood.com They were very kind to us and gave us a tour of their work area. The wood I used for the stripes on the gable end vents, was from some of their work and the wood is over 100 years old. I also added screen, and then chicken wire behind that so the squirrels wouldn't move in. These people do awesome work, need something for a log home or hardwood floors, floor beams, walls, doors, stairs, etc., you need to check ProcessingWood.com out first!I would like to thank them VERY much! Gable ends are finished except for the clear coat, so now we shall work down stairs, the logs will be stained as soon as their chinked. I'm going to start chinking soon. ( Chinking is a flexible mortar-textured sealant specifically designed for log homes. This goes between the logs for insulation, used with backer rod or a similar product. ) Also want to Thank Cypress Logs of Heflin cypressloghomes.com they gave us some really great advice and even gave us a tour of one of the owners homes. Wow what a nice job he did on his house! And gave me great ideas for ours!