Meet Pippin!

I just realized that we haven't "introduced" our new cat, Pippin, on the blog. Pippin showed up on our wood pile around Thanksgiving (he knew where to come!)--and he has settled in nicely, bringing us "gifts" of birds and mice. Included are a picture of Pippin with chickens in the background and one of Poe and Beaker "nesting" on the window sill.

Out with the "New" and in with the "Old"!

Last fall, Lance and I hired a carpenter in Abingdon to make replicas of the original 2 over 2 wood windows in the farmhouse. To be environmentally responsible, though, we had him double-pane them with one pane of the old glass and one pane of new. Finally, after working for over 6 months on them, he finished the job. Larry, carpenter extraordinaire, is installing them--and they are BEAUTIFUL! Now, when I drive down the driveway, I can see the waves and bubbles in the glass...maybe the ghost of old Blocker John will peek out one of these days too!

Martin Cabin

In a streak of good luck, Lance and I were GIVEN another cabin to use for the addition. One of Lance's co-workers (who lives in a lovely early-20th-century four-square house), told his neighbor (who owned the cabin) about our restoration here at the farm. The man, who had previously turned down offers of thousands of dollars for the cabin, told us, "If you take it down, it's yours." How could we refuse? So, we sent Mike and Mark to dismantle it. The cabin, which was probably built between 1830 and 1860 by the Martin family, was turned into a general store in the late 1800's. The original store counter was still in it--along with piles of styrofoam tobacco plugs. Getting rid of the styrofoam (and keeping the curious cows from stomping all over it) proved the most challenging task. Of course, many of the old timers advised us to break the law and, "Ah, just burn it!"--but we finally found a dump that would take it, and that's where it will stay...for centuries.

The cabin wasn't in perfect condition as several of the logs were rotted, but the original attic rafters were pristine--and labeled with Roman Numerals! We're planning on joining this cabin to the Birdwell-Bradley cabin so that the entire back portion of the house will be logs.

Included are a picture of the cabin and of me peeking out of the attic.

Logs-a-stackin!

This week is destined to be productive with the first logs from the Birdwell-Bradley cabin getting stacked, installation of the our reproduction windows, continued garden work, and the much needed dust bath.

Pictures are:
1) First OLD log floor joist.
2) Mike with his adze.
3) Louie, Phoenix, and Delaware taking a dust bath.

Lance