Take 2! Cabin Video

My apologies Blog Cabin Fans! This video uploading isn't easy! I decided to take a quick video so that you can take a virtual tour of the place, but for some reason my first attampt was a bust and my second attempt is only allowing me to upload half my video :( Boooooooo! Well...at least half of it is working...maybe one day I can figure out how to upload the full file and it will give us all something to look forward to :) Please excuse the following in the video: 1. The large pile of tools that we have accumulated in our "soon to be" kitchen area - it is still a construction zone after all :) , 2. the lack of bathroom wall that is still on the list of "things to build" - the curtain works ok for now, but a wall with a door is coming soon to a theater near you :),3. the camera shake - as soon as I started filming the "low battery" icon began flashing red so I kinda' rushed through it a bit. Oh Yeah...also take notice of our new shower stall complete with hot water and our new spiral stairs! The stair treads are temporary, but we are planning on making them oak! Enjoy and I will cross my fingers that you don't get too motion sick ;)

Another Footing Down!

Yesterday, despite the weather, we were able to start and finish the footing for the entire right side of the Blog Cabin! Here is a refresher course just in case anyone forgot… it has been a while since we did foundation work: “The bottom part of a foundation is called a footing (or footer). The footing is generally wider than the foundation wall and is located about 12 inches below the frost line (the average depth at which soil freezes year after year). The footing distributes the house’s weight to prevent settling or movement.” For New England, the frost line is 4 feet down from ground level and the footing needs to extend 4 inches past the cinder block on either side. So, without going into detail, P and I had to dig one, giant a$$ ditch in the ground ;) We have been working on the one giant a$$ ditch for a couple of weekends now and it was completed this past Saturday! Hooray for us! 8 O’clock Sunday morning, P and I woke up ready to work! Our Wayne met us with coffee and shovel in hand. The three of us were all geared up to start mixing cement and all of a sudden,…it started to pour. We were like "WHAT??? - it hasn't rained in like a year and it has to start now???" :( We waited inside the Blog Cabin for a while, played a couple of games of checkers - I won of course ;)ate some snacks and then, when we realized the rain was not going to stop, we all agreed to suck it up, get soaked and git er’ done! We braved the weather, shoveled the gravel, mixed the cement, carried it over to the giant a$$ ditch 5 gallon bucket by bucket, dealt with the mud, soaked our clothes completely through and in 2.5 hours and about 40 buckets later we had completed the footing! YEAH! Now we can start stackin’ the cinder block! Once we complete that side only two more sides to go and the entire foundation will be complete! Hip Hip Hooray!

Here are some more pictures!



-J

Help Us Pick Out Our Siding!

This past weekend we began wrapping the outside of the Blog Cabin with Tyvek. “Tyvek” or house wrap is a material that is made out of polyethylene fibers, it is very thin, strong and it creates a water barrier. Once we wrap the entire Blog Cabin in it, we can then choose our siding and shutters to finish the outside of the Blog Cabin! P and I are having some trouble agreeing on what kind of siding we want and what color. We know we want a country cottage look and we want low maintenance so an imitation or vinyl siding is necessary. We have to choose a style such as barn board, cedar shingles, clapboard etc. Once we chose the style, we have to choose a color, a trim color, a shutter color and a color for our front door. Any suggestions Blog Cabin fans?

Here are some examples...

MOOSE!

Yes and actual Blog Cabin moose sighting! We spotted this friendly little guy a few miles down the street from the Blog Cabin! We were driving along on a peaceful Saturday afternoon and then all of a sudden I looked out the passenger window and yelled, "MOOSE!" P quickly stopped the car and we jumped out for a closer look. We were able to get pretty close, about 25 yards and we decided that since this woodland creature was about 4 times our size, we were close enough :) Enjoy the pics!
-J

















Here are some fun and interesting moose facts courtesy of: http://www.moosefoundation.org/moose_facts.htm

DID YOU KNOW???

The word "moose" comes from the Algonquin Indians. These were native people who lived throughout the northern regions of Canada. The Algonquins called this strange looking creature mooswa. It means "twig-eater" or "the animal that strips bark off of trees." Early explorers heard this work and through the years, it eventually changed into "moose."

For the Algonquins, the moose was an important animal. It supplied them with food and other things for their survival. Moose meat was a source of nourishment during the long winters. The hide was used to make clothing and provide shelter. And moose bones and antlers were shaped into useful tools. (Information from "Our Wild World" Series on Moose by Anthony D. Fredericks, published by NorthWord Press, Chanhassen, Minnesota)

The moose is the world's largest deer. The moose can run 35 miles per hour and can easily swim 10 miles.

Moose eat willow, birch and aspen twigs, horsetail, sedges, roots, pond weeds and grasses. Moose eat leaves, twigs, buds and the bark of some woody plants, as well as lichens, aquatic plants and some of the taller herbaceous land plants. Can actually feed under water.

Moose are found in northern forests in North America, Europe, and Russia. In Europe and Asia, moose are called elk. (Information from the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming, Educational " Wildlife Flash Cards" Series. The Foundations' e-mail: wildlifeheritage@wyoming.com

Hooves are the first line of defense!

While a male may use its antlers to hold off a predator, a moose's sharp hooves are its first line of defense. Moose are able to kick out in all directions, but generally use their front feet.

They're faster than they look!

A moose's long legs allow it to move easily over rough terrain and through deep snow. A moose can run almost as fast as a horse, or about 30 miles per hour for a short time period. (Information from "Living in Harmony with Moose" page 5, Nancy Lord, Editor)

Moose live for a long time.

Cow moose have been known to live for as long as 20 years. Bull moose may reach 15 years of age. ("Living in Harmony with Moose")



How are antlers different than horns?

Antlers, seen on male mule deer, elk and moose, are solid bone. While the antlers are growing, they are soft and tender and covered with a thin skin, called velvet, which contains thousands of blood vessels. The velvet supplies the antlers with calcium and other minerals for building strong bones. Once the bone inside the velvet is hard, the velvet is shed from the antlers and members of the deer family are ready for their fall breeding season. Later in the winter, the antlers are shed, and the growing process starts again.



Horns, in contrast, are never shed. They have no blood supply and are made of keratin-- a hard protein which is also in fingernails and hair. This keratin forms a tough outer layer over a bone which is permanently attached to the skull. In Utah, horns are seen on both males and females of bighorn sheep, bison, and mountain goats. (Information from Project Wild, Utah, USA)





Old Bucket Nose



The moose is the largest member of the deer family currently roaming the planet. The moose seems as if it should belong to a different, larger scale of animal because it dwarfs its commonly seen cousin the deer. They are different from any of their equally proportionate relatives the deer and elk. Moose are top heavy bearing most of their body weight high in the air perched on four long legs.

The upper lip of the moose is oddly larger than the rest of its face rounding off at the end, resembles a bucket. Therefore earning the nickname Old Bucket Nose. Moose also have a beard like a flap under their chin called a dewlap or bell, male moose have large antlers that are shaped like scoops that can measure 60” or better tip to tip and can weigh in excess of 70 pounds. A full grown moose can weigh up to 1,800 pounds and stand 7 feet tall at the shoulder, making moose one of the northern hemispheres largest land dwelling mammals.

2 Windows, French Doors, a Front Door & a Bear!

We have been Blog Cabin busy bodies these past few weekends! We put in the downstairs windows, french doors & front door! P and I even stayed overnight at the Blog Cabin this past weekend and for the first time since we bought the place, we slept like babies! The Blog Cabin is put back together and OPEN FOR BUSINESS! Sleeping in the "all new" structure was delightful! No more smelly old weathered cabin wood and creepy crawlies creeping around us! All new fresh smelling, fresh cut lumber is the rage at the Blog Cabin these days! The new high ceilings and the loft really open the place up and it was nice to be able to sleep and not worry about any mice trying to share my bed! Lol - Now that the mice are gone and the spiders are at bay we have a new Blog Cabin visitor! WE HAVE OUR VERY FIRST BLOG CABIN BLACK BEAR! Grrrrr! Now hold on, before you get all excited, this is not a picture P & I took - it's compliments of google images, BUT...if we do get a good shot of our new friend I will be sure to post it! P & I have not seen this Blog Cabin crasher yet, but we have been on the lookout for him safely through the windows of our little cabin. According to our neighbor, our less than little visitor was caught in the act taking a little drink from the brook in our backyard! Our neighbor gave us some safety tips as well. P and I don't want to have any unexpected run-ins with this furry friend. We have seen the movie the Great Outdoors a million times and since we don't have a shotgun lamp to save ourselves, we paid close attention! She said not to hang any bird feeders and to always make sure trash is kept indoors. P and I did a little research of our own online and found out that black bears are pretty common in the area and they usually keep to themselves and back away once they realize your presence. We read that if we do come upon our Blog Cabin visitor that we are supposed to calmly stand our ground, not make any sudden moves and slowly back away. Hmmmm... I wonder...is this before or after I pee my pants??? lol. We are always hospitable to our Blog Cabin fans and visitors, but this is one visitor we don't want to make feel at home. We are keeping an eye out for our new fan and will keep you all posted if he stops over for anymore quick drinks. In the mean time, here are a few more pics of some of the things we have done. Enjoy!
French Doors:
Interior View of the Front of the House:
Exterior View:
See you soon!
-J

...AND CLOSER....

Getting Closer...

Today "Our Wayne" was Blog Cabin bustin' his hump! It's almost a cabin again! We are almost there - YAY!!! Stay tuned...