Finally stayed in the cabin...

Got up early and started the kerosene heater. Warmed the place up quickly, but the smell is not very nice. I went to breakfast and left the heater on. I was gone about 45 minutes and when I returned the flame was very low. Opening a few windows made the flame come back so I can only assume that most of the oxygen had been used up. Definitely don't want to fall asleep with that heater going. (When I returned from breakfast, I saw about 9 wild turkeys hanging out near the cabin. They moved away so quikly, I didn't even have time to get a picture of them)



Made a makeshift kitchen area and also found out that I don't want to use my white gas stove inside either. I will probably get a two burner propane stove.



Still have a bunch of trim wood in the cabin, but rearranged everything to make some room.



Need to get a better bed! My back was killing me...



As I was leaving, I took a picture up the driveway. The trees are starting to turn and most of the leaves will be gone shortly. Not much done... I am feeling a bit ill with a bad sore throat...

Raining today...

Came down this morning in the pouring rain and found the cabin dry inside. Spent some time foaming the cracks between the roofing and the front wall to keep the bees and any other critters out. Set up a temporary kitchen and test drove some of my old camping equipment. The heater that I purchased has been discontinued and all the people on Amazon.com are still selling it because they haven't kept up on the stock levels. The DV21 model made by Longvie has been discontinued, but I now have the name of the North American Importer and will try and get the newer model pictured below. Really want to go with a direct vent heater. I like the newer model because you can see the flame.




Brought down a old Kerosene heater and fired it up for a few minutes today. Left a pretty bad smell, but made the cabin extremely hot in about ten minutes. I will be using it tonight since it is going down to the lower 40s. Need to do some rearranging of all the trim lumber so I can come down with the wife and kids soon and have room to move around.

Weather is supposed to be nice tomorrow and depending on how I feel, I may get all the roof felted.

Bought a Heater...

Bought a US Stove DV21 heater for the cabin. I wanted to go with a Liquid Propane Gas heater with a direct vent so I don't have to worry about carbon monoxide build-up or depleting the cabin of oxygen while I sleep. Should arrive sometime next week. Looks like it will be raining this weekend so I am not sure if I will be going down...

Organ Shoot...

Here is a link to a video of the Fireworks shoot. It is very difficult to hear the organ on the video since the sound has turned down due to the loud reports and shell breaks.

CrackerJack's "Organ Shoot"

Enjoy! There is a very nice shell at 10:15 into the video...

Long day...

Woke up this morning to a woodpecker drumming on the cabin. Got to work quickly and finally finished sheathing the roof.


Back is all ready for the metal roofong. Note the nifty rope used to pull the 4x8 sheets to the top. (also used to hang on to when running around on the slippery roof!)


My temporary quarters for the past few months. Brought it back from a campground a few months ago and just parked it thinking I would move it later. I just left it there and it has been interesting sleeping on the slant.


Left the property after packing up the pop-up and headed to the CrackerJacks Fireworks Club shoot. The club got a free organ and it was set up in the field. Note the special "pipes" in the background!


This is the third year this Pumpkin Chucking maching has been there. After running out of pumpkins...Watermelons, footballs, and pretty much anything round was shot out of this gun. When shooting an 8" pumpkin, this thing can toss it well over 1200 ft and into the woods downrange.



After some warm up shows, the organist was seated and a totally awesome show set to music (Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor") I think there were about five 16 inch shells and many wonderful 8", 10", and 12" shells. The following pictures are just a few of the many shells shot. The organist was quite a trooper sitting so close to all the action and he didn't miss a beat. It was one of the best displays I have ever seen at a CrackersJacks shoot. The pictures don't do it justice... you had to be there!!







A friend that came as a guest took the following pictures located at HERE






(Can't get this to post properly...it is sideways)

(Note: The moon shows in some of these pictures)













Finally arrived home (still towing the trailer at about 12:30 am Sunday.... It's been a very long day...

Roofing by yourself 201...

Got to the property and starting putting the plywood on the front of the Cabin. I used a rope to pull the sheets up the ladder and it was a lot less strenuous. Got 5 sheets up and nailed in about 1.5 hours.


Started working on getting the back roof covered with roofing felt. Need to figure out exactly where to mount the top slat to have the correct overhang. I hope to get some of the metal roofing on tomorrow. I do have to leave early afternoon on Saturday to go to my Fireworks club shoot. I will take the camper and get it back home and in the garage so I don't have to winterize it.

The CrackerJacks club is going to have our fall shoot and it should be a good one. We got a free organ and an accomplished organist is going to sit in a feild and play while fireworks are shot. I donated 80 dollars for a 10" shell and get to sit in the VIP area. I think we have 5 16 inch shells. (The largest shell shot in the 4th of July Washington DC shows is a 12 incher!) The annual Pumpkin Busting contest will be held and real pumpkin Chucking (compressed air) will also be there. Really want to finsh up the roof, but I can't miss this shoot!

Roofing by yourself 103...

Just got home at 8pm. It has been one busy week. I used so many muscles I haven't used in years and have bruises all over my body from wrestling with the plywood.

Rolling on the Felt


Completed siding


Other side and front siding completed.


Back half of the roof covered in plywood and partially felted.


Bird blocking installed.

Roofing by yourself 102...

I must have climbed up and down the ladder over 100 times today! Everything is progressing well and I hope to have the cabin closed in by tomorrow.



This is the method for getting the plywood up on top of the cabin. The ladder is very stable and I can drop the sheet off at the top and it will stay in place resting on the two ladder supports. I am using 7/16 OSB, covering it with 30# felt, and attaching slats that the metal roof will screw onto.I was thinking that the plywood would be too thin on 24 in centers, but it is really quite strong and you can't beat the price of $7.84 a sheet.



With all the changes I have made to the original plans, it takes quite some time to figure out the siding layout. The original plan only had 5 windows and they were pretty small.






Actually sat in the dark and rested in the cabin and enjoyed Prairie home companion on NPR. Going to sleep early tonight an see it I can complete the roof by noon.

Roofing by yourself 101...

Nailed on the gable end fly rafter. Started skinning the roof by putting some stops on the end of the rafters to orient the plywood correctly. Pulled a sheet up through the loft and got it on top of the rafters. Slid it down to the stops and nailed it.



Pulled a second sheet up and nailed it in place.






Actuallt starting to get some room inside. Eating lunch right now and will post more pictures tonight.

Its cold out here...

Went down to 44 degrees last night. A bit chilly, but slept with all my clothes on and a polar fleece. Going down to 41 tonight.



Finished up all the rafters and Tyveked the last side.



Started putting the porch rafters on.



Standing under the temporary loft side. This is the only way to feel safe when working on the roof.



Stating to get some room inside now. Moved a bunch of the siding outside.



Hope to finish the porch rafter, skin the sides, and get the plywood tomorrow. Really want to get a roof on by Sunday morning.

Rain coming...

Had to take a midday break due to rain. Love the fact that I found this new WiFi spot.


Tyvek tape around the windows to seal. Have to remove the two back windows and redo the mounting to seal them like this.


Tyveked the loft side and installed the windows.


Not sure if I am going to keep the temporary loft. Maybe I will make it smaller.


It ended up not raining, but it sure looked like it. Went back at 4pm and worked until dark. Got some of the siding on.

It is supposed to go down to the low 40s tonight. Hope I can stay warm.