To Build A Log Cabin

Available in print from iUniverse

If your plans of escaping to a simpler life in the country harbors dreams of living in a simple log cabin you built yourself, I want to assure you it’s entirely possible. 

In fact, I can even show you how, or at least inspire you in a book I did on my experiences with four differently log cabin projects.

Growing up in New York City, living in a log cabin seemed the remotest of possibilities. But when my wife and I moved to Tennessee in our early 20s, the log cabin became a fixtureand focus of our lifestyle. 

Hidden within our old farmhouse in the scenic hills was an authentic one room log cabin we later restored and built our home around.

When It came time to expand our home for our growing family, I had no choice but resort to the old methods, butting poplars off our place, hewing them with a broadaxe and adze, cutting the dovetail notches locking them all together.

Later, when I needed a peaceful office for my writing career away, I built another cabin. Using rounded logs, with saddle notches,it was an easier project, and is where I’m writing this today. I had an opportunity to expand on it by taking down and resurrecting yet another original cabin, this one so early there were carved wooden pegs holding down the floorboards.

Available as an eBook from Smashwords

When we started the first of these projects my wife and I had absolutely no carpentry skills or experience, only youthful idealism and exuberance. Through hard work, determination and patience we saw each project through.

If we could do it, so can you!!!

In fact, I was so proud of our accomplishments, I combined my love of log cabins with my writing career in a book I self published a few years ago. A Home From The Woods tells the story of all four of these projects. Part of each section is a narrative, our story, to give you an idea of what it’s like and the rewards that come with these projects. The other part of each section provides more straightforward “how-to “ advice which can be adapted to your own projects: restoring an old log cabin the hand-hewn log cabin; building with rounded logs; and taking down and rebuilding an original log cabin.

I just published the ebook version of the book published through Smashwords, and the printed version has been available through iUniverse for several years. You can also read excerpts on our Atticcorner website.

If you like what you see, and want to purchase a copy of a Home from The Woods, please click the pictures or  these links for the ebook version or for the print version.

Thanks and good luck!

World's Biggest Treehouse in Crossville

Tennessee has all sorts of hidden treasures, and this past weekend we explored one: the world’s biggest treehouse, just off Interstate 40 in Crossville up in the Cumberland Plateau.

Words and pictures can’t fully convey the marvel of what Horace Burgess has created at the end of Beehive Road there. Inspired by God, since 1993 he’s been working on this expansive complex built on an around a towering white oak entirely of scrap and donated lumber.  The house itself sprawls up and out in all directions, much like that massive tree.

It’s like a fun house on a grand scale with crooked, winding stairs, halls to nowhere, many rooms, layers of decks and ample seating area throughout.  If you climb all the way to the top, you can ring the bells in the bell tower.

At center of this sprawling complex is a chapel which commands a moment of pause and reflection on all one man has achieved with  materials which would have otherwise been thrown away. And he’s opened this labor of love to all, free of charge.

If you go, bring a marker to show you’ve been there, and don’t miss the donation box near the winding stair climb along the tree into the complex. 

His generous spirit deserves a little support; if he asked, many would be more than willing to pay for the privilege of rambling though the treehouse

You can read an article and see some great shots here

A Good Neighbor...

       ...is hard to find. They find you, or you find them, by chance. You choose your place, and once you do, you’re stuck with the neighbors, for better or worse.

       We’ve had the good and the bad. 

       I’d rather speak of the good. The bad speak for themselves by their lack of civility, and how their ways intrude on the peace of your life.

       Here in the country, a neighbor is more than someone on the other side of the fence. A good neighbor is a lifelong friend, someone you can turn to or depend on with confidence. He or she will  they’ll do what they can, whatever you ask. A good neighbor always has time for a friendly word, a smile and a wave. Good neighbors become members of your extended family, people you cherish for who they are.

       We lost a good neighbor last week. He fell in his wintry yard, struck his head, and couldn’t get back up as the life bled out of him. 77 years old. Last time I saw him I could see his health was failing. Last time we spoke we shared a laugh, wished each other well.

        I tried to express my sense of loss with these words, in his book

         Our valley will never seem quite as full without him

        but always richer for him having been a part of our lives.

       Rest in peace, Price.