CountryPlans Forum

I followed MtnDon over here and thought I would share our little cabin project.

My wife Jill and I have been working on our cabin for the last 10+ years. It started out as a 16x20 one room summer lake cabin that a friend of the family had. When they decided to build a retirement home on the same site as the cabin, my Dad, my brothers, and I moved the cabin on to our 5.5 acres about 4 miles away. The original cabin was gutted to just a shell. An 8x12 bedroom addition was added on to the back and a 6x20 foot porch was added to the front. Windows were added and some of the originals raised up to the correct height. One 5x6 corner of the cabin has been walled off for a future bathroom. It has been insulted and drywalled. I restored a small cast iron wood stove for heat and a small cast iron and tin propane fired cook stove.

We are off-grid running on a new Honda EU3000i generator. We will eventually put a small inverter and a deep cycle battery for a few lights at night and the occasional cycling of the compact frig when the generator is off for the night.

We finally got a functioning outhouse last summer and spent our first nights in the cabin this past Thanksgiving. Still lots of work to do, but we are having fun.

You might ask why it took us 10 years to spend the first night in it....the biggest thing is we are about 830 miles, one way, from the cabin. We get there 2-4 weeks out of the year. We are also doing all of the work ourselves....when we are there.

Here are a few pictures....
(https://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/jaransonT3/MNTripPics/DSCF2232.jpg)

Adding the porch.
(https://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/jaransonT3/MNTripPics/DSCF2370.jpg)

Porch mostly complete.
(https://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/jaransonT3/MNTripPics/DSCF2370.jpg)

Bedroom addition.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/MNCabin2009/MnCabin2009_02.jpg)

Adding some dormers.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/MNCabin2009/Dormer5.jpg)

Wood stove for heat.
(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/602397_578303955516612_258826772_n.jpg)

Our privy.
(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/481765_578303982183276_1764730410_n.jpg)

Restored propane cookstove.
(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/61216_578303895516618_1389786879_n.jpg)

This past Thanksgiving. Closed up til the next time.
(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/374442_578299285517079_516122076_n.jpg)

Our full-size murphy bed.
(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/215952_578304082183266_1955778084_n.jpg)
(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/263674_578299362183738_1679004177_n.jpg)

I have enjoyed surfing around this forum. We are looking forward to sharing more of our cabin experience and contributing to the forum.

Awesome little place... id love one of those.  Darn minimum footprint covenants on my land!  I've got 0 sq ft so far :(  800 minimum.

It looks very nice. I'm glad to see more Minnesota projects on the forum. What part of MN are you located in?

830 miles has got to be a record and for ten years.....  WOW   w*

Well there is UK4X4 and where ever he is at now....... and there might be one or two others...... but you have got to your 'sky miles' card filled out.   ;)

Sort of ashamed to complain about our 60 mile drive..... are we there yet?  Ya we are here but that is not there!

Nice place and I like the work you are doing to it.  Keep on posting.....

Thanks for the welcome. It is a bit of a haul when we go, but we always drive it. Only 14 hours our so one way. We are on the Iron Range, half way between Duluth and International Falls. We get back up there 3 or 4 times a year for a week at a time usually.

I will post some more pictures later.

Ya I was just kidding about the sky miles.  We had some very good friends from Texas.  They and their kids about our age to would visit, vacation and fish that area every year for a couple weeks.  Their annual trips were always filled with a major adventure or misadventure of some type.

Any idea how old the cabin is?  Did you move it yourselves?     

Found some pictures from 10 years ago when we moved the cabin to our site....

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/CabinMove1Web.jpg)
Jacked up on cribbing at the original location.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/CabinMove2Web.jpg)
Backing the trailer underneath.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/CabinMove3Web.jpg)
Making sure everything is strapped down.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/CabinMove4Web.jpg)
Starting the 4 mile or so trip.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/CabinMove5Web.jpg)
At my brother's place for staging while we finish the foundation. This is about 1/4 mile from the final site.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/CabinMove6Web.jpg)
Almost in place. We lowered the cabin into the logs and used them to skid it in place over the pressure treated post foundation.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/CabinMove7Web.jpg)
Getting ready to jack it up, get the logs out, and the beams in.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/CabinMove8Web.jpg)
Some minor tweaking with the backhoe of the position of the cabin.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/CabinMove9Web.jpg)
Finally settled in place. You can see the posts for the future porch sticking up in front.

The cabin was originally built in the late 50s/early 60s.

Thanks for posting!  Great to reuse a building that has a lot of time left in it!  Around here you seen a lot of that being done.  I had a 20 x 24 foot shop moved from my dad's to my place.  He sold the property and they were going to demolish it.  They gave it to me if I would move it.  I hired it done because I had no time plus the permitting and all.  It all went real smooth.  Now they mostly jut use a excavator and crush and load it into trucks and it all goes to the landfill.         

Quote from: rick91351 on March 19, 2013, 01:05:09 AM
830 miles has got to be a record and for ten years..... 

Sort of ashamed to complain about our 60 mile drive..... are we there yet?  Ya we are here but that is not there!

I'm lucky with only a 50 mile drive.

But I am sure some folks here may have followed this cabin-building blog:

http://www.mvr1.com/timberframing/timberframecabin.html

really great read if you haven't.  This guy lives in Lincoln Nebraska but has his cabin a mile from the continental divide in Wyoming (Sierra Madre Mountains). 

Quite a ways, but actually I just checked on Google maps and that is still under 600 miles, so it looks like jaransont3 still has him beat.

Now that I looked that site up, I will have to post an image for Mtn Don's roof snow thread (http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=12954.msg168627#msg168627). 

Re-use.......man, it really doesn't get any better than that. Grew up on a farm house that was 143 years young, built and then added on to by 3 generations using trees from the land. ..... they salvaged all they could from it in the 80s when the farm was sold off. The pocket doors were between 3.25 and 3.4 inches thick, 60" openings,  and 8' tall, harvested from the black walnut trees that were on the property. I never saw them when they were actually removed but as a grown guy I was dwarfed by them. 3 sets of them in the place.....someone somewhere is mighty blessed to have salvaged all they did from there. Lead windows, hand made walnut cabinets and furniture.... makes me wanna cry.
I wish it had been me - but I was 1800 miles away and didn't see it coming. Learned of it 2 weeks after the salvage and burning of the rest of the place....

Keep the pics coming as this evolves in days ahead. Well done! [cool]

Thats a cool project ya got there.  thanks for sharing! c*

Nice project

Heading to the cabin for the next week! Lots of projects planned.  Will see what we actually get accomplished.  Supposed to be a bunch of snow up there, so I might be spending the first day just digging out. We have our new maple sap gathering buckets and stuff.  Temperatures look like they will be ideal for the sap to be running.  Going to try our hand at making some maple syrup.

I will take and post some pictures.

Got up to the cabin late Saturday night.  Spent the night at my Mom's place since the road in was still unplowed.  Lots of snow up here.  Had some good friends and neighbors with a small bulldozer plow out the 500 foot drive into the cabin this morning.  Then I spent the rest of the day shoveling the critical paths to the cabin, the wood pile, and the outhouse.  I also shoveled off the entire roof.  Got the vehicle unloaded and the generator hooked up.  Staying at Mom's one more night since we visited my brother and his family this evening and got back late.  Here are a few pictures from the adventure so far....

(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/8342_644364868910520_1925697914_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/526927_644364875577186_1230407128_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/601123_644364882243852_960399418_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/525141_644364912243849_214328902_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/562200_644364958910511_682432255_n.jpg)

(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/31911_644364995577174_1995947038_n.jpg)

Looking forward to getting the batteries and inverter/charger hooked up tomorrow.  Going to play around with the Kill-A-Watt some to.  Then it is sanding and painting drywall, installing the hardwood flooring and a few other projects.

oh yeah, we are going to tap a few maple trees tomorrow too.  Sap should be running.  Will be fun to see what see can collect.

Despite the near perfect weather for the sap to flow heavily we have collected less than 5 gallons in 2 weeks off 17 spiles I have set up. I know the trees in past have really kicked out so not sure if it is just the weather or more likely trees have dealt with a lot of stress (lack of water etc) the past couple of years.
Freezing nights - days into the high 30's to low 40s should really have it running but not so far.  ??? d*

Yup...no sap at all here yet....

However, we getting some stuff done...

(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/530085_645256332154707_433482891_n.jpg)
Generator Power!

(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/483758_645256342154706_627279765_n.jpg)
Sasha is fitting right in with the cabin life.

(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/535856_645256358821371_1396525982_n.jpg)
Luggable Loo is a nice luxury in the middle of the night instead of running out to the outhouse.

(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/578091_645256385488035_1123472246_n.jpg)
Getting ready for the Brazilian Cherry hardwood floor.

(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/484728_645256435488030_908424452_n.jpg)
First few course installed....

(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/601212_645256428821364_1703200773_n.jpg)
Getting there...

(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/483321_645256412154699_938147534_n.jpg)
This is enough for the first session.  About 5 hours to get 3-1/2 feet x 20 feet installed.  Lots if 1-1/2" wide sticks.

More tomorrow....

Made more progress on the flooring today.  Got about half the main cabin done now.

Got to this point...

(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/253688_645858648761142_785453576_n.jpg)

and had to move the pile of trim boards and remaining flooring to make room for more progress...

(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/581553_645856828761324_837224780_n.jpg)

Then had to raise the stove up and get the new flooring under it.  Was an adventure with the fire still burning in the stove...
(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/481910_645856862094654_252856820_n.jpg)

Got to here and called it a night.  Time to move more stuff to be able to continue...
(http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/303332_645856875427986_1904539894_n.jpg)

BTW, still no sap running up here. :(

We are back home after spending the last week up at the cabin.  We had so much fun and got so much done.  We really didn't want to leave...but we both have work today.  Although I am getting a very late start since we got home at 3am.:)  On to the pictures....

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/Cabin_March2013_01.jpg)
My beautiful wife, Jill, installing more hardwood flooring.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/Cabin_March2013_02.jpg)
Our sister-in-law, Janet, putting the first batch of cookies ever in our restored cookstove. We had to let the stove cook for an hour or so first to get the paint and insulation to outgas completely, but after that it was fine. Cookies were wonderful.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/Cabin_March2013_03.jpg)
She even got almost all the walls in primer. One gallon was not quite enough.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/Cabin_March2013_04.jpg)
Me installing more hardwood floor...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/Cabin_March2013_05.jpg)
My brother, Todd, getting the electrical panel all straightened out and ready for the battery back-up system...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/Cabin_March2013_06.jpg)
Here is the Tripp-lite inverter/charger and pair of 6V golf cart batteries all wired up. This system worked great for lights and such at night. Need a proper sized fuse for it to handle the frig. This set-up is only temporary. I will build a box to hold it all and make for easy transport and install.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/Cabin_March2013_07.jpg)
Finally all of the hardwood flooring installed. 1.5" wide Brazilian Cherry tongue and groove. can't wait to see it sanded and finished.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/Cabin_March2013_08.jpg)
Another shot with the murphy bed re-installed and lowered.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/Cabin_March2013_09.jpg)
Speaking of the murphy bed, I built a fold down desk into the bottom of it. This is the desk folded up...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/Cabin_March2013_10.jpg)
and here it is folded down. I need to come up with a better folding side support and put one on both sides. Next trip.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/Cabin_March2013_11.jpg)
Outhouse is now official.....it has the moon shaped screened window in the door.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/Cabin_March2013_12.jpg)
Installed our "mail" box and the porch light I modified. The light still need the electrical hooked up.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/Cabin_March2013_13.jpg)
Jill had a great idea to use some of the left-over flooring for the kitchen countertops. We brought some home to build them here and bring back next time.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/Cabin_March2013_14.jpg)
Everything cleaned up and put back into place....for now.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/Cabin_March2013_15.jpg)
Our Luggable Loo worked out great. No smell, easy clean-up, and much more convenient in the middle of the night than a trip to the outhouse. Only temporary until the bathroom is done, but it was great.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/Cabin_March2013_16.jpg)
Last night at the cabin for this trip...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/Cabin_March2013_17.jpg)
aaahh..... the cabin life. Snuggle under the blankets with one dog in the bed and the other sleeping in the corner. Yes, Jill is under there some place.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/Cabin_March2013_18.jpg)
Everything packed up and put away until next time. Moth balls are scattered about.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/Cabin_March2013_19.jpg)
A little light snow to say good bye...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/Cabin_March2013_20.jpg)
Heading home to Dearborn....

Hey neighbor, I live in Redford Twp. Nice job on your cabin. 830 miles one way would be a killer for me. My build is a little over 200 miles.

Crazy times for sap. Saturday we got maybe 2 gallons of it from 3 trees and they shut down totally again.
Not a drop today again - tapped 2 more this morning that looked like they had started to show promise with wet bark near the lower limbs but no go.
Lets hope this week brings better weather

Great Thread!

Forgot to post this picture. 

(http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/64173_649531388393868_2101457588_n.jpg)

These are the custom grates I design and had cast for out cook stove.  Seaport Casting in Toledo did them for.   They turned out excellent. Still looking for a way to turn them dark brown or black.

 [cool]   what metal are they?

Would stove black work?

Quote from: MountainDon on April 04, 2013, 09:43:36 AM
[cool]   what metal are they?

They are yellow bronze (brass).

Quote from: Abbey on April 04, 2013, 09:53:39 AM
Would stove black work?

Stove black just might do it.  Didn't think of that.  I have some too for the cast iron boxwood stove we use for heat.  hhmmm....  Thanks for the suggestion.  I tried liver of sulphur.  It is supposed to turn brass and copper dark brown or black.  Didn't do anything to these.  There are other recipes for adding patina to brass/bronze online that I might try.  I like the stove black suggestion the best though.

I just think they look off in the yellow/gold color when the rest of the stove is black, white, and silver.

Jill and I are a little disappointed we didn't make the trip up to the cabin this weekend.  Just too far to go for a 3 day weekend.  Planning on going for the week of the July 4th now.

Anyway I decided to tackle a little project for the cabin this weekend.  About a month ago I picked up a load of rough sawn wide pine boards and some 2"+ thick, rough sawn cedar planks.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/PorchChairs1.jpg)

The wide pine will be used for some of the interior trim at the cabin.  The cedar was for some adirondack chairs for the porch. So yesterday I started out by planing all the cedar down to 1-1/2" and 1" thick planks.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/PorchChairs2.jpg)

After modifying the plans I had to better fit the material I had available, I made some full-scale templates and started cutting out the pieces.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/PorchChairs3.jpg)

I managed to get one of them fully assembled.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/PorchChairs4.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/PorchChairs5.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/PorchChairs6.jpg)

I still need to decide what I want to do for a finish and assembly the other chair.  They are super comfortable....

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/PorchChairs7.jpg)

Perfect for relaxing after a long day with a cup of Diet Mountain Dew...

Very nice job on the chairs

Thanks.

Got the second chair assembled today.  Had enough cedar left over to build a small side table to match.  Jill got them all sealed up with some Thompson's Water Seal.  Should be good to go for a long time and they shouldn't turn too grey with the UV blocker in the Thompson's.  Can't wait to get them up to the cabin and start enjoying them on our porch or deck.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/PorchChairs9.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/PorchChairs10.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/PorchChairs11.jpg)

I hope everyone a good and safe holiday weekend.  We are jealous of those of you that got to spend it at your cabin.

Wow!  I should try that!

Did you use a jig saw or do you have a bandsaw?

Jigsaw
Picture 3 on 5/25 post.

Thanks!

Where did you get the plans?  I'd like to try that and I'm sure they are all over the place but if you have a link that'd be easier :)

Yup, I used a jigsaw.  Bandsaw would probably make better cuts, but for a rustic porch chair the jigsaw worked great and it is what I had.

As for plans, this is the one that I used/modified. http://plansnow.com/achairottom.html (http://plansnow.com/achairottom.html)  I modified it some to fit the wood that I had available.  I made a  photocopy of these plans over 10 years ago and just now got around to building them.  8)

Cool thanks!  I'll have to try this since I have plenty of wood (pine) and saws :)

Very pretty grates. As an artist I appreciate neat details. I will be in bear lake Mi but we our commute is  800 miles right now. We live in Delaware so we will be doing some driving at first. Brad will go to his dads house in Westland so he can work at our place for a few days then go to Westland for a few. We are looking to complete in 3-5 years but have a livable space in one. I can appreciate the dedication this will take and all the dedication you are giving your cabin. Good luck.

Very nice.  Good going!

Bought those plans thanks :)  Now I will be trying to make my first chair!

Made my first chair but could not get the templates online :(  The link they have on he plans doesn't work.  I've sent an email to them seeing if they can provide a new one.

Did you have full scale templates?  Or freehand like I did mine?

I created full-scale hardboard templates from gridded drawings in article I had.   

Post some pictures of your chair.

I did! lol  Only in my cabin thread ;) But here are a couple:

(https://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af102/emcvay/IMG_0444640x157_zpsca2d7014.jpg)
I did a screen capture on the PDF then cut out the grid, blew it up to scale and printed it out on multiple sheets.  Then I pinned it to some pine and drew it out.  I'm going to make more permanent templates using some 1/4" ply I think as I'll be making several of these!

(https://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af102/emcvay/Cabin/IMG_0440534x640_zpsa3f70bc3.jpg)

(https://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af102/emcvay/Cabin/IMG_0443494x640_zpse3c5157c.jpg)
We love the chair and while I goofed a couple times (like when I drew out the curve for the upper back support which is why you see the first pic above -- I'm re-cutting it now) but otherwise it worked out VERY nicely!

Looks great.  What stain did you use?

Golden Oak.  We like the way it stains the blue stained pine.

OJ What brand are you all using? 

Minwax

(https://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af102/emcvay/Cabin/IMG_0446519x640_zpsfff6f4ca.jpg)
Because I posted earlier about the template here's a shot of the chair with the new upper support :)  It makes quite a bit of difference!

Jill and I are getting excited. A week from today we are heading to the cabin for the week of the 4th. We are looking forward to getting some more projects done there and enjoying some R&R amd family time.

Sounds like us!  Every time we plan a trip we just get excited! :D

Over the last couple of days I have been working to get the dining chairs for the cabin done.  I finally got all the pieces sanded and then got them stained...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/CabinTableDone8.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/CabinTableDone9.jpg)

got them all glued up...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/CabinTableDone10.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/CabinTableDone11.jpg)

and got a couple of coats of polyurethane on them...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/CabinTableDone12.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/CabinTableDone13.jpg)

I even got the leaf for the table finished...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013Misc/CabinTableDone14.jpg)

Just in time for our trip to the cabin next week.

OK I can't keep up with that!  WOW!

Maybe some day though!

Very nice work, tapering legs, mortising, hand scraping?  Looks like an advanced project!

Beautiful wood work!

Jill and I made it up to the cabin on Saturday afternoon.  We are looking forward to spend a productive and relaxing week up here.  First order of business is clearing the road into the cabin.

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/947203_692853724061634_1602261325_n.jpg)

Only one tree this time.

Everything safe and sound. Ready to open the cabin up and unpack.

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/1044844_692853677394972_929264870_n.jpg)

The wild flowers were ready to greet us along with some woodland friends....

(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/931238_692854077394932_1032507374_n.jpg)

(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1010794_692853744061632_1845023620_n.jpg)

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/11515_692853654061641_2073050430_n.jpg)

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/1013744_692853777394962_1965316010_n.jpg)

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/999506_692854010728272_852370164_n.jpg)

First project for this trip is to get some finish on the hardwood floors we installed last time. Emptied the cabin and swept and dusted them off.

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/1013116_692853820728291_1225557185_n.jpg)

First step is wiping them down with some mineral spirits.

(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/600487_692853837394956_169314325_n.jpg)

Waiting for the mineral spirits to dry, but it gives a sneak preview of what they will look like with the poly on them.

(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1003692_692853880728285_716888617_n.jpg)

Next is a coat of sanding sealer...

(https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1016303_692853930728280_1734945503_n.jpg)

After the first coat of polyurethane. We are using Minwax's "Super Fast Drying" Floor Poly. This coat was dry enough to walk on after 4-5 hours. The second coat is got put on at about 9pm last night. Should be able to walk on it by lunch today. Nice thing about this system is you don't have to sand between coats and two coats is all you need. We are very happy with the results.

(https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1001345_692853964061610_1819821054_n.jpg)

More later....

Floors look really nice!

OK...on with the adventures....

While we waited for the polyurethane on the floors to dry, we attended to some yard work and other outside activities.  We borrowed my uncle's walk-behind weed whip (awesome machine, btw) and knocked down some of the ferns and weeds around the cabin....

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_16.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_17.jpg)

and one of my absolute favorite and simple pleasure things from the whole trip...my screen door closing spring.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_18.jpg)

See, we never had a closing mechanism on the screen door before and I told Jill that I didn't want one of the new shock absorber style ones.  I wanted a simple spring that when you let the door go, it banged shut and the spring and the screen rattled and revurbed.  To me, that is what a cabin screen door should sound like. :)  Found an actual screen door closing spring at Menards!  Couldn't believe it.  Had a small spring within a spring that you could twist to adjust the tension and everything. I was very happy.  Jill thought I was a little nuts.

Other outdoor activities included pulling up the 100 feet of tri-plex I had buried to my nearest neighbors power meter a bunch of years ago.  Fortunately I planned this to be temporary and only buried it about 6 inches deep.  Wasn't too bad to pull up in our sandy soil.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_20.jpg)

The day after apply the poly, you could walk on it, just not but furniture and stuff on it.  So we got in the cabin and started painting.  Jill and our sister-in-law Janet picked out some great colors for the main space...yorkshire pudding yellow and queen anne's lace off-white.  The wainscoting and trim will be the white, the walls above that the yellow.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_21.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_22.jpg)

Once the poly had cured for a few days, we could start moving stuff back in....

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_23.jpg)

Including the table and chairs I had built. We are very happy with the way they look in the cabin and they functioned very nicely.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_24.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_25.jpg)

On Wednesday night, my brother and his family came out to hang out with us and give us a hand at the cabin.  His girls stayed at Gramma's but Todd and Janet became our first overnight guests at the cabin...sleeping an the new floors with a blow-up mattress.  It was great.

Todd also brought along his ASV...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_26.jpg)

...to do some dirt work.  We trenched for the re-routing of the tri-plex out to the future location of the generator/storage shed...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_27.jpg)

and for the sewer line for the indoor toilet...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_28.jpg)

and the greywater drain field...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_29.jpg)

and he dug the hole for the 300 gallon rainwater cistern...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_30.jpg)

...to be continued.

Ok....after digging the hole, we got the cistern tank in place...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_31.jpg)

The bottom of the hole is about 6 feet.  Our frost line is about 4.5 feet.  the tank is about 4 feet in diameter.  So we covered the tank with earth to the top of the lid and then placed 3 inches of 8 foot by 8 foot foam on the top and then an addition 1-1/2 inches about 6 foot by 6 foot and then another 1-1/2 inches that is 4 foot by 4 foot.  That gives me a total of 6 inches over the entire tank...the equivalent of an extra 6 feet of buried depth.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_34.jpg)

All this plus the proximity to the cabin and the undisturbed snow cover should keep the tank from freezing in the winter.  We will see.  Next time we are back (hopefully in September) we will dig up the access to the tank and get the gutters and other plumbing to it hooked-up.  Right now it is just storing 300 gallons of air. :)

One of the other tasks for this trip was to cut down a dozen or so very mature poplar trees that were a threat to the cabin should they fall down.  My brother and I used a rope and snatch block along with his ASV to help make sure the trees fell were we wanted them to.  Worked great.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_32.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_33.jpg)

Little side project one afternoon was to make and install a small copper vent cap for the outhouse vent stack.  Copper roofing sheet, some tin snips and a few sheet metal screws and you get this...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_35.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_36.jpg)

We also changed were we park the car and how we access the cabin steps. In the process we decided to add some patio blocks to form a little walkway.  These are cast concrete from Lowes and are all the same shape.  We were surprised at how natural they looked when the spacing and orientation wasn't very precise... and they were on sale for $4 each.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_38.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_40.jpg)

,,,to be continued.

OK....one more post from this trip.

Another small project one afternoon was to make and install the screens for the dormer windows.  Really nice being able to have these windows open and let all the hot year up there out.  Helps with the cross flow too.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_41.jpg)

Couple more significant milestones this trip.  We got the greywater drainfield in and got the kitchen sink drain plumbed in...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_42.jpg)

We got the sewer line in to the septic and installed the new toilet.  Have to flush it with a bucket until we have water supply, but Jill really liked not have to go out to the outhouse in the middle of the night. :)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_44.jpg)

We got the tri-plex buried in its new home and installed a 60 amp A/C cut-off box to connect the tri-plex to a short piece of heavy SO cord with a twist lock to the 30A outlet on the generator.  Got all the temporary wiring at the breaker box in the cabin switched over and closed it up with the panel cover.  We also ordered and installed a Shurflo 4008 12 V on-demand pump.  So far we have only verified that it pumps from one buck to another until we get the rest of the plumbing hooked up.  Nice quiet pump, btw.  You can see the pump, our battery box/inverter, and our 20 gallon holding tank in these shots...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_43.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_49.jpg)

You can also see some of the pex tubing my brother started to run.  Here is one more shot of the pex install...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_48.jpg)

The pex is really nice to work with.  Looking forward to getting the rest of it plumbed up and collect some water.

and finally just a few shots on the last day after cleaning everything up and shutting up the cabin until the next time.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_45.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_46.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_47.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_50.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/Cabin_July2013_51.jpg)

We had an absolute awesome week of family fun, relaxing, and extremely productive work.  Looking forward to the next trip back already.

Lots of great work!  I'm surprised you didn't put a manhole riser for the cistern so you can access it later.  The guy that installed mine did the same thing and I had to dig it out and install one.  Once I got to the cistern and opened it up the algae was pretty bad (not yet toxic) and it made me realize that others might not realize you need to do this.

In my location we can see -35f in the winter and my tank doesn't freeze despite having the 22" riser to the lid and no insulation in the lid.

Something to ponder ;)

I wonder where the algae was coming from and how it was growing without sunlight?  I assuming your tanks is fully buried from your description.  hmmm..

I do plan to have a small inspection port/access to allow me to check the level, sample the water, and add chlorine as necessary.

Quote from: jaransont3 on July 15, 2013, 03:59:14 PM
I wonder where the algae was coming from and how it was growing without sunlight?  I assuming your tanks is fully buried from your description.  hmmm..

I do plan to have a small inspection port/access to allow me to check the level, sample the water, and add chlorine as necessary.

It doesn't need light to grow but light allows it to grow much better -- at least that's how I understand it.  Our tank was buried under 2 feet of earth with a black lid and yet was full of algae though luckily not at a toxic level yet.  Read this: http://www.ehow.com/info_8522005_blue-green-algae-water-cistern.html

(https://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af102/emcvay/Cabin/Cistern1.jpg)
This is our tank which is a certified UG cistern.

(https://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af102/emcvay/Cabin/IMG_0360.jpg)
After changing the outlet to the bottom and installing the riser so the lid could be at ground level.

In order to inspect and clean the tank you need to have access.

One of the projects I am working on before our next rip back to the cabin is  the kitchen countertops. We are using some of the left over hardwood flooring for the countertops.  I have managed to get the flooring nailed and glued to an OSB base and trimmed to fit.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinCounterTops_1.jpg)

I still have lots of sanding to do and then putting the polyurethane finish on.  I am also planning on wrapping the exposed edges with a bit of copper sheeting to tie it in with some of the other bits in the cabin.

I have both pieces ready for sanding.  You can also see the double drainboard sink we are going to be switching to in this picture...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinCounterTops_2.jpg)

This sink is in a bit rougher shape than the single drainboard one we have at the cabin now, but it has 8" spaced holes for the faucets unlike the 6" spaced ones on the sink at the cabin.  Will open up lots of other options for the faucets.  Pretty limited selection in 6" spaced faucets.  I will be sandblasting off the old porcelain finish and then powdercoating the sink white again.  Should be very durable...especially for the use the cabin sink will see.

I really like that sink!

I got the counter tops for the cabin polyurethaned this weekend.  Just need to add the copper edge wrap and they will be ready to go to the cabin over Labor Day week....

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinCountertops_3.jpg)

We also dug out the sink for the bathroom, got it cleaned up, and test fit the faucet.  It is a small bar sink.  Will be perfect for our small bathroom at the cabin...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinCountertops_4.jpg)

We are really looking forward to our next week back there.  Lots of little projects to do before the trip including getting the kitchen sink sandblasted and powdercoated.

Got the countertops finished, including the copper edge wrap.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinCounterTops_5.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinCounterTops_6.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinCounterTops_7.jpg)

Now we just have to wait a couple of weeks for our next trip up there to get them installed.

Jill and I had a great week up at our cabin last week. We got lots done and even took some time to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet a couple of times. The weather was perfect. I will post pictures later today.

As promised, here a bunch of pictures from the past week...

New kitchen counters in place. Same Brazilian Cherry as the floors.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201301.jpg)

New sink and faucet installed. Faucet is only decorative right now....still need to finish the water supply system.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201302.jpg)

Friendly neighborhood spider.....NOT!  We found three of these in the cabin the first day we were there.  No more after that.  This was the largest of them...that is a full rough cut 2x4 it is spanning...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201303.jpg)

Jill refinished the bathroom door.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201304.jpg)

We built and installed kitchen shelves and put them to use.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201305.jpg)

Shed floor framing with pressure treated 2x6s.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201306.jpg)

Floor frame complete.  Shed is 6' x 8' with 8' walls.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201307.jpg)

Getting the frame positioned over the concrete foundation blocks and the blocks in position.  I used 4x4 pressure treated posts at each of the 6 foundation blocks.  They were cut overlength, the floor leveled up and then nailed to the posts.  Then the excess length was cut off.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201308.jpg)

Floor leveled up and the first sheeting going on.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201309.jpg)

First wall going up.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201310.jpg)

Wall #2
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201311.jpg)

Wall #3
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201312.jpg)

Hey...we need 4 of these wall things.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201313.jpg)

Rafters built.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201314.jpg)

Gable overhangs.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201315.jpg)

Me noodling on and trying to get the rafters evenly spaced....
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201316.jpg)

Most of the roof sheeting installed.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201317.jpg)

Corner kitchen shelves I built and installed to match the long shelves on the opposite wall.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201318a.jpg)

Very cool metal breadbox we found for $10 at a local antiques shop.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201318b.jpg)

More corner shelves and Jill hung the leaf placements on the wall as decoration until we need them on the table.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201319.jpg)

Coat rack I built and the cool barn-style sliding bathroom door.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201320.jpg)

Close up of the door hardware. The rollers are modified v-belt idler pulleys from some car. Jill found them at a swap meet and I modified them.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201321.jpg)

Door handle we found a few years ago at an antique show.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201323.jpg)

Table with a left-over center piece from our wedding.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201324.jpg)

Overall shot of the kitchen.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201325.jpg)

Storage shed let us finally clear the porch off and get the Adirondack chairs and table on it instead of a bunch of lumber and drywall.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201326.jpg)

This is the exhaust vent for the generator in the shed.  You can also see the screened air inlets up under the eaves.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201327.jpg)

Access panel for starting and stopping the generator without opening the larger door.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201328.jpg)

Electrical hook up for the generator and an inside view of the exhaust vent. Will be adding a fan to actively ventilate the shed anytime the generator is running.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201329.jpg)

Shot of the finished shed...  Shingled roof.  All of the walls facing the cabin have been insulated to help with the noise.  Really just can't hear the already quiet Honda generator when it is in the shed.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201330.jpg)

Jill built the very stout and solid steps for the shed.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201331.jpg)

All cleaned up and shut-up until the next visit.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201332.jpg)

Cleaned up porch.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201333.jpg)

View of the shed as you come down the driveway. the cabin is just around the corner to the right.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSept201334.jpg)

We also took some time to relax this trip...

(https://sphotos-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p480x480/1009865_728246237189049_1606616467_n.jpg)

Jill and I got the chance to spend a long weekend at the cabin this past weekend.  We went back for my grandmother's funeral which made the visit bitter sweet, but we did get to spend the weekend at the cabin.  We didn't even bring any tools for projects....we just relaxed and enjoyed the time with family, friends, our dogs and the cabin.  We even skipped the generator this time.  We only took the battery/inverter box.  It lasted the entire 3 days without even coming off the full charge indicator light.  Granted we only used it for lights in the evening.  Didn't bother to plug in the frig.  It was also our 1 year wedding anniversary on Friday so that made it special too.

Anyway, here are a few pictures....

Jill and I exploring the logged off ridge south of the cabin.  I used to hunt  in this area while growing up, but it wasn't logged off then...weird to see it without all the trees...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/JillJohn4.jpg)

Love this time of the year in northern Minnesota...no bugs, great colors, and cold enough at night to need a fire...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinStove1.jpg)

Our "new" futon.  We are now ready for overnight guests...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinFuton1.jpg)

Futon was a hit...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinFuton5.jpg)

Just relaxed..even started a puzzle Sunday night.  Perfect way to spend the evening with the fire crackling in the stove...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinPuzzle1.jpg)

My favorite picture from the trip.  Took this picture early Sunday morning as the sun was rising...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/CabinSunrise.jpg)

Looking forward to the next trip....

Great stuff :)  I love that feeling (the one where you take the picture in the morning with the sun shining through and just feel great because you have a cabin in the woods :) )

Quote from: OlJarhead on October 16, 2013, 08:22:15 AM
Great stuff :)  I love that feeling (the one where you take the picture in the morning with the sun shining through and just feel great because you have a cabin in the woods :) )

Yup.  I think the reason I like that picture so much is that it brings back that feeling when I look at it.

Merry Christmas everyone!  Jill and I got back form our cabin late Thursday.  We had a great time with family and getting to spend our first Christmas at the cabin.  It was wonderful.

We arrived Saturday afternoon to find our neighbor had done a wonderful job keeping the drive into the cabin clear...especially since there was easily 14-16" of snow on the ground and cabin roof.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabinXmas2013_1.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabinXmas2013_2.jpg)

Cabin was only 10F inside when we got there, but we got the generator hooked up, the battery box plugged in and a fire going in the stove.  The new ottomans looked great in the cabin.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabinXmas2013_3.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabinXmas2013_4.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabinXmas2013_.jpg)

By the time we went to bed the cabin was already up to 60F inside.  Extra blankets and the dogs helped keep us warm through the night.

I love the crisp clear MN mornings...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabinXmas2013_6.jpg)

Sunday and Monday we spent time getting some of the door, window, and baseboard trim installed with my new Bostich compressor and nail guns.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabinXmas2013_7.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabinXmas2013_8.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabinXmas2013_9.jpg)

Even got some primer on some of it.  We think it definitely helps to make the cabin look more finished.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabinXmas2013_10.jpg)

We also installed a small ceiling fan.  Really helps even out the temperatures in the cabin. 

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabinXmas2013_11.jpg)

It runs just fine on our Honda generator, but I switched the wiring to try it off the battery/inverter and the fan motor has a very noticeable hum when it runs.  Guess that is what comes with a PWM inverter instead of a pure sine wave.  I switched the wiring back to the generator side for now.

We had sort of scary/hectic Monday evening.  Monday night was supposed to be the coldest night during our time there with lows below -20F.  The temps had been dropping all day.  Our little restored 50+ year old cast iron boxwood stove was keep up just fine, but we were burning it pretty hot.  I was taking a break from the trim work and laying on the couch getting ready to order some pizza when I glanced at the stove and saw a narrow bright orange streak going across the side of one of the large cast iron side panels.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabinXmas2013_12.jpg)

A crack about 12" long and 1/16" wide had formed in the side panel about 1/3 of the way from the bottom.  Pretty scare to think if that panel had failed completely.

I damped the stove down and as it cooled off the crack closed up.  Re-stoking it caused the crack to open up again.  NOT GOOD.

I order the pizza and wings, picked it up and took it to my mom's place.  Got online there and did some internet research/shopping for a local source for a new stove.  Fortunately we have a Menards about 40 minutes away that was open until 9pm and they had a Drolet Eldorado stove in stock and on sale.

We left Mom's at 8:00pm and were on our way back home with the new stove by 9:00pm.  It came fully assembled fortunately.  I had let the old stove go out when we left for dinner.  By the time we go back there with the new stove the inside temperature was down to 32F.  My youngest son, Ethan, had made the trip to the cabin with us and having his young strong 19 year old body there to help with the 270+ lbs stove was great.  We had our first fire in the new stove burning by midnight.  Inside temperature had dropped to 29F by then.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabinXmas2013_13.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabinXmas2013_14.jpg)

We stayed up for a couple more hours fiddling with the stove to get the setting rights and get it up to temperature and get some heat in the cabin.  Finally filled it wood at about 2:00am.  The cabin inside temp was near 50F.  Last time I went out to get more wood I checked the temperature with the reading in our car.... -27F

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabinXmas2013_15.jpg)

The 50F felt chilly when we crawled into bed, but it was comforting to know it was 75F warmer than it was outside.:)

The stove worked great the rest of the trip.  Is definitely more efficient.  Took some getting used to.  There is not much of a lip when the door is open and you are supposed to load the logs cross-wise.  Round ones tended to want to roll out.  I think I am going to cut my future would short enough (about 10" long) so that I can load it end-wise.  Safer and I should be able to get a little more in it.  It comes with a small blower, but it is not Ultra-quiet like the Drolet website claims.  Pretty loud actually.  Don't think we will use it much.

Christmas Eve day Jill and I headed out to get our Christmas tree.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabinXmas2013_16.jpg)

Lots to pick from...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabinXmas2013_17.jpg)

Decided this small Balsam would be perfect...

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabinXmas2013_18.jpg)

and it was.

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabinXmas2013_19.jpg)

Beautiful Christmas morning!  Nice warm fire in the new stove, drinking hot chocolate with Jill and my son Ethan, enjoying the view of the snow covered MN morning.  Doesn't get better than that!

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabinXmas2013_20.jpg)

We headed back to Dearborn on the morning of the 26th.  First order of business when we are back there in the spring....

Put up more firewood!

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabinXmas2013_22.jpg)

Only about 8 sticks left and half of those I grab from my Uncle's place the night before.

We had a great time.  It was really cool to share the cabin with my son Ethan.  He had not been there in a couple of years and he was excited to see the progress we had made.  He is also excited about making a trip there on his own in the future.  That is one of the things that I wanted to have a cabin for.

It has been great year.  Looking forward to 2014!

Thanks for sharing the pictures and the story of your last few visits, exciting to see people living out their dreams.

Good thing you were there when the crack showed up and not out playing in the snow with a fire in the stove. 

Nice looking place. Looks like you gained some usable floor space with the stove change.

We're heading up to our place soon for a week or so. I wish we had your snow amount. I think we'll still be able to drive up to the front door. (roads don't get plowed, but the snow has been sparse and melting most days.

No doubt Don.  Was a very scary thought to think of that side blowing out and dumping burning logs and embers out and onto the floor.  Scariest part was that the crack grew more the hotter the fire got.  Of course the crack opening up made the fire even hotter.  Not a good combination.

We loved the vintage look of the old stove, but the new one is definitely a better aspect ratio for the cabin and much more efficient.  It also has a larger viewing window so we see more of the fire.  However, because it is better sealed we don't hear the fire burning like we did in the old stove.

I can live with that for the peace of mind and efficiency we get from it.

Enjoy your time at your cabin.

Jill and I had a great week at the cabin last week.  Hard to believe it had been nearly 6 months since we were there for Christmas.  Fortunately the cabin was none the worse for wear.  We had a chance to relax and to get lots of projects done.

Here are a bunch of pictures....

Front Porch
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_01.jpg)

The Loon Puzzle we finally finished and Mod-Podged.  I even built a frame for and hung it on the wall by the end of the week.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_02.jpg)

Built a small fence to control traffic and to add a little visual interest.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_03.jpg)

Did it all with my chainsaw.  Will eventually replace with cedar when this one rots away.  It will be interesting to see how long the maple and balsam last.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_04.jpg)

Readying the bonfire...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_05.jpg)

Got our woodshed built.  Not many sticks in it yet, but it will be full by the end of the 4th of July week when we are up the next.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_06.jpg)

Got the deck jacked up, leveled, and on its piers and footings.  Need to build steps up to it next trip.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_07.jpg)

Had a friendly, but short, visit from Henry (just over an inch across) before his untimely death...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_08.jpg)

Jill got a  bunch more of the trim primed and painted.  Still more to install and paint...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_09.jpg)

Got the soffit and fascia and rain gutters installed on the back inside corner.  This is the section we are using to fill our cistern.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_10.jpg)

Used wedge shaped open cell foam inserts for the primary leaf diversion.  Seemed to work good.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_11.jpg)

Another view of the fence.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_12.jpg)

About where we left it for this trip.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_13.jpg)

Dug down to the cistern and got it plumbed for collection and feed.  The white PVC comes from the gutters and first flow diverter.  The blue PEX feeds the cabin after picking up from near the bottom of the 300 gallon cistern via some rigid PVC pipe in the tank.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_14.jpg)

Started wrapping the 2x4 ceiling joists with some 1x6 knotty pine...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_15.jpg)

We like the results...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_16.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_17.jpg)

They will eventually get stained darker to match the floors and counter tops.  We are also going to add a false ridge beam and rafter beams.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_18.jpg)

This was one of our thrift store finds.  Jill did a great job sprucing it up with some Old English and elbow grease.  No more living out of suitcases when we are there.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_19.jpg)

We managed to get a very relaxing canoe ride in our river.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_20.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_21.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_22.jpg)

Our first flow diverter really works!  It rained hard Friday night and by Saturday afternoon the weep holes had done their thing and drained it.  The diverter had done its thing in collecting all the pollen and shingle grit and dirt that washed off the roof.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_23.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_24.jpg)

My brother came out Saturday and we got most of the internal plumbing finished up.  We came up a few fittings and hoses short so I will have to bring those with us next time and finish it up.  Also have to vent the water heater and run the gas line to it.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_25.jpg)

More plumbing and we got the medicine cabinet and bathroom sink mounted.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_26.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_27.jpg)

Better shot of the assembled first flow diverter.  I divert the first 5 gallons.  I should collect about 60 gallons per inch of rainfall if my calculations are close.  I assumed 60% efficiency in collection.  We got it installed just in time too.  It rained all Saturday night and all day Sunday and into Monday.  Local weather station reported over 4 inches of rain total.  Cistern should be dang near full.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_28.jpg)

Jill planted lots of flowers and hostas and stuff.  Should be really nice when we get back up there....assuming the critters don't eat it all.  My mom and I built the trellis.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_30.jpg)

and finally....out other thrift store find.  The lamp and lamp shade for about $7.  Jill and our niece gathered all the greenery and Mod-Podged it to the lamp shade.  Turned out great.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2013MNCabin/MNCabin_May14_31.jpg)

We are really looking forward to getting back up there for the week of July 4th.  My youngest son is coming with us this time.  His 19 year old body will come in really handy for filling the wood shed.  Having running water will be really nice too.

Place is looking awesome! Very cool vibe.

One thing I'm wondering about, though, is your cistern. I see your first flow diverter (cool design, btw), but am I correct in reading that you're collecting potable water off of a shingle roof? My understanding was that that wasn't a good idea, and that if you wanted potable water you really needed a metal roof.

Thanks.  We are really happy with the way it is progressing.  Can't wait to get back there over the 4th of July week.

No plans to drink the water.  We will treat it with some chlorine before use and only use it for washing dishes, showering, flushing the toilet and washing up.  Will still use water from my mom's well or bottled for drinking and cooking.

You could get a Big Berkey or Crown Berkey to purify the water

It has been awhile since I updated this.  Jill and I have made two trips back to the cabin this summer, once for a week over the 4th of July and once for a week over Labor Day.  We had relaxing and productive trips each time.

Here are a bunch of pictures from both trips.

First July...

The wild flowers we planted in the spring bloomed beautifully.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Jul14_01.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Jul14_02.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Jul14_03.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Jul14_04.jpg)

We converted an old carpenter's tool box to a bench by adding some legs...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Jul14_05.jpg)

We installed a small air conditioner in the wall.  We did end up using one evening to cut the humidity and heat in the cabin.  It worked great running on our Honda 3000iS generator...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Jul14_06.jpg)

We also dragged my childhood canoe out of the woods, banged out the dents, sealed a couple of leaks and got it registered.  It was very nostalgic taking it back down the same river my brothers hunted and trapped as kids...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Jul14_07.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Jul14_08.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Jul14_09.jpg)

We did a bunch of clean-up around the property and had a chance to burn it.  It was a heck of a bonfire...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Jul14_10.jpg)

We got our antique medicine cabinet installed...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Jul14_11.jpg)

We also got some more of the false beams installed and got them stained.  WE are very happy with the look...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Jul14_12.jpg)

Jill's lamp is holding up nicely even if the leaves turned brown.  It still looks great!
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Jul14_13.jpg)

One of the more important things we got done was to mostly fill the wood shed.  There is some maple and oak in there, but it is mostly balsam, spruce and jack pine.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Jul14_14.jpg)

This is kind of where we left things for this trip...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Jul14_15.jpg)

and September.

Still some wild flowers blooming...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_01.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_02.jpg)

even as the leave begin to change colors...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_03.jpg)

Our old chocolate Lab, Coco, still loves it up there, even if he is moving pretty slow these days...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_04.jpg)

We got the rest of the beadboard, chair rail and base molding installed in the main room of the cabin...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_05.jpg)

and just about all of the window trim...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_06.jpg)

I installed the trays from the carpenter's tool box above the kitchen windows to store some glasses and mason jars with dry goods...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_07.jpg)

Added some copper reinforcements to strengthen them and to tie them in with the rest of the kitchen details...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_08.jpg)

Jill made some banana bread in our little stove and even baked my mom a birthday cake in it, but we had to bake each layer separately since we couldn't fit two 9" round pans it it at the same time.:)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_09.jpg)

Jill got out her Mod-Podge and made us some coasters..
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_10.jpg)

We had some evenings and nights that were cool enough to start a fire in the stove.  Sasha, our pitbull, found her favorite spot to be right in front of the stove when it was burning...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_11.jpg)

We got our canoe out a couple of times on the river.  Saw some Canadian geese, lots of ducks and several bald eagles.  We even managed to catch enough bluegills and sunfish to make a meal...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_12.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_13.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_14.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_15.jpg)

My brother and his family came and spent one afternoon with us around the campfire.  Todd and Janet on the left.  Jill and I on the right...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_16.jpg)

One of big projects for this trip was to insulate the water lines leading from the cistern into the cabin.  I boxed in the area under the cabin with OSB and then added 6 inches of foam insulation and sealed it with spray foam.  I also added a light socket and bulb that will hopefully keep everything from freezing if we get there in the winter.  I also dug up the top of the cistern and added a check port.  It was nice to see the cistern completely full of 300 gallons of nice cold clear water. Sorry forgot to get a picture of that.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_17.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_18.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_19.jpg)

Jill also got the windows in the main cabin painted white to match the trim.  It really unifies the look in the cabin versus the natural color the windows were originally...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_20.jpg)

We got some of the false beams up...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_21.jpg)

trimmed out the riser for the stove...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_22.jpg)

and got almost all of the green board installed in the bathroom.  We came up one sheet short, but will take care of that next time before we start the tile.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_23.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/MNCabin_Sep14_24.jpg)

Like I said, both trips were very relaxing and productive.

Absolutely beautiful work.  I am not knowledgable on this but wondering if it is ok to have the batteries that close to the stove considering hydrogen gas?  Ken

Quote from: kenhill on September 11, 2014, 11:37:40 AM
Absolutely beautiful work.  I am not knowledgable on this but wondering if it is ok to have the batteries that close to the stove considering hydrogen gas?  Ken

The hydrogen gas question came up before so I did some digging...being an engineer and all.  I posted this on another forum, not sure if I did over here....

Not at all concerned about the hydrogen outgassing from charging my two GC2 batteries. I was curious enough however to do a little digging in the internet. Found this site with some good basic information...

http://giantbatteryco.com/GLOSSARY/Calculate.Industrial.Battery.Hydrogen.Gas.Emission.html (http://giantbatteryco.com/GLOSSARY/Calculate.Industrial.Battery.Hydrogen.Gas.Emission.html)

Based on the formulas there and the specs for my pair of GC2s, I would make about 0.7 cubic feet of hydrogen gas during an 8 hour charge cycle. Might seem like a lot, but our small 420 ft2 cabin has an internal volume of more than 4200 cubic feet with the open ceilings.

That results in a hydrogen concentration of only 0.017 percent. The recommendation on the site is to keep the concentration below 1-2%. That gives me a factor of safety of at least 60!

Add to this the fact that our cabin is certainly not airtight...far from it. And that fact that hydrogen is the lightest gas and dissipates very easily, I have zero concern about blowing the place up due to charging my two batteries.

I do appreciate the caution. It certainly should be something to consider with a much larger battery bank that might be contained in a smaller space. I will also be sure to include plenty of ventilation for the battery power box I plan to build for transporting the batteries and inverter.

This is one of my favorite projects.  Really like what you have done.

Jill and I made it up to our cabin for Christmas last week.  We got there Christmas Eve and stayed through the 30th.  We had a great time with family and friends.  My youngest son Ethan made the trip with us which is always fun. We always brought our two dogs.  Unfortunately, we had to put Coco down a couple of months ago, but Karmann (our new German Shepard puppy) made her inaugural trip to the cabin and loved it.  Sasha showed her the ropes and introduced her to the cabin life.

Not much snow up there this trip and the weather the first few days was quite mild for Northern Minnesota this time of the year with highs around 30 and lows in the teens.  It did get cold before we left and was -16F the morning we headed back to Michigan.  Our Drolet woodstove did a nice job of keeping us warm.  Our water system worked good and the only freeze-up we had was the last morning.  The lines leading to the kitchen sink froze where they run under the cabinets along the uninsulated floor near an outside wall of the unskirted cabin.  The feedline from the cistern never froze in the insulated and lightbulb heated box I built.  The rest was fine also.

I am confident that once the floors are insulated the cabin skirted that we won't have this problem again. Probably would have been ok this time if I had thought to leave the cabinet doors open.

We burned about 7 gallons of gas in our Honda generator for the entire trip.  Not bad at around $2.00 a gallon.  Our two golf cart batteries and inverter are still working great for when the generator isn't running and easily make it overnight even with the bulb burning for the waterline and a fan running to help circulate the heat.

We got almost all of the rest of the false beams installed and added some decorative corbels under them at the walls.  We are really happy with the look.

Ok...enough babbling.  Here are some pictures....

Our little Christmas tree...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/CabinDec201401.jpg)

Sasha and Karmann enjoying a little quiet time in front of the fire...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/CabinDec201403.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/CabinDec201404.jpg)

Puzzle time...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/CabinDec201405.jpg)

Future project.  I mocked up a backsplash I want to build for our little cookstove...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/CabinDec201407.jpg)

It will be fabricated from steel and powdercoated to match the stove...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/CabinDec201408.jpg)

Yummy baked apples with oatmeal and cranberry filling...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/CabinDec201409.jpg)

The lack of snow made hiking easier...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/CabinDec201410.jpg)

Perfect...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/CabinDec201411.jpg)

The corbels I added to the underside of the beams...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/CabinDec201412.jpg)

Beams almost done...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/CabinDec201419.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/CabinDec201420.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/CabinDec201422.jpg)

My new phone has a feature that lets you take a composite 360 degree picture.  Pretty neat...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/CabinDec201416.jpg)

One last shot of Sasha and Karmann enjoying the cabin life...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2014MNCabin/CabinDec201418.jpg)

Jill and I hope everyone had a great Christmas and we look forward to sharing our cabin adventures in the new year and reading about all of your's too.

Happy New Year!

Lovely project and wonderful photos.  [cool]

It has been a long time since I updated this.  Jill and I skipped our usual trip to the cabin in the Spring, but did get back for the week of July 4th like we usually do. It was a relaxing and productive trip.

It started out a little creepy when we were greeted by this rather large "friend" in the bathroom.  Yes that is a 4 inch hinge on the window!
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/JulyTrip_01.jpg)

After dispatching of our guest, we got settled in.  The dogs didn't take long to get reacquainted with their favorite spot.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/JulyTrip_02.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/JulyTrip_03.jpg)

It rained the first night and part of the day so we managed to finish the puzzle we started last trip.  The simple pleasures of cabin life...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/JulyTrip_04.jpg)

Second morning was cold enough to require a fire to take the chill off, one of the things I love about northern Minnesota.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/JulyTrip_05.jpg)

The wild flowers were in full bloom...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/JulyTrip_06.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/JulyTrip_07.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/JulyTrip_14.jpg)
attracting the butterflies...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/JulyTrip_10.jpg)
and other critters...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/JulyTrip_15.jpg)

Adirondack chairs out and ready for the campfire nights...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/JulyTrip_08.jpg)

The dogs enjoyed the river...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/JulyTrip_09.jpg)

Jill and I even managed to get out in the canoe and do some fishing. We caught enough crappies and bluegills for at least one good meal...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/JulyTrip_16.jpg)

As I said, it was a productive trip also. One of the things that has been on my list of things to do for a long time is finish the entry end of the porch.  It has been like this for years...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/JulyTrip_11.jpg)

after a few hours measuring, cutting, and assembly, it turned out like this...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/JulyTrip_12.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/JulyTrip_13.jpg)

The big project for this trip was getting the floor insulated finally.  Polar Insulating did the job in a few hours...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/JulyTrip_17.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/JulyTrip_18.jpg)
We are really looking forward to warmer floors this winter.  Still need to skirt it all.  That is on the list for our trip over Labor Day along with adding 1" of foam insulation and new siding to all the exterior walls.

One last project was a TP holder that Jill made.  We love it...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/JulyTrip_19.jpg)

Really looking forward to the trip in September.  It is our favorite time of the year at the cabin.

That spider :o :o :o

Place looks great!

Jill and I got up to the cabin for the last week.  We had a great time and made some significant improvements to the cabin.  Fall is our favorite time of the year to be up at the cabin with the warm days and cool nights.  Almost no bugs. The start of the Fall colors.  It is just great.

This trip was pretty busy since we had some big projects planned and we managed to get most of the things checked off the list. We started with a trailer full of materials...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_02.jpg)

This is what the cabin looked like when we got there...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_01.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_03.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_04.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_05.jpg)

One disappointment was that the river was so low that we didn't even bother trying to put the canoe in this trip.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_06.jpg)

First night there it rained some so we got a chance to work on a puzzle.  Even our pitbull Sasha helped.  We nearly finished it this trip.  Love the simple pleasures of cabin life.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_07.jpg)

First order of business was to get the cabin skirted.  I added framing built with pressure treated lumber to the bottom edge of the foundation posts and then used pre-finished roofing tin for the skirting.  I didn't worry about insulating the skirting since that last trip I had the underside of the floor insulated with spray-foam.  The skirting is really just to keep the airspace under the cabin sealed off.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_08.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_10.jpg)

While I worked on the skirting, Jill moved our fire pit from the back of the cabin to the front side...closer to the porch and door of the cabin.  It worked out great.  My brother also came out and got the floor drain for the shower installed and tied into the drain filed plumbing.  Bathroom tile work and finishing can now proceed during the next trip.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_11.jpg)

Here are a couple of more shots of the skirting, including the access door to the plumbing drain valves.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_12.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_14.jpg)

After the skirting was completed, it was time to add 1" of rigid foam insulation (R6) to the outside of the cabin.  I had to remove all of the window and door trip and other exterior bits then fit and nail up the foam.  Between the added foam insulation, the skirting and the floor insulation from last trip, we should have a much easier to heat place come Christmas time when we are back up there next.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_16.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_15.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_18.jpg)

A beautiful mist over the Sturgeon River during one of my morning runs...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_17.jpg)

After the foam, we added new pre-finished LP Smartside siding.  Really nice material to work with, although I didn't like having to nail it up by hand with a hammer.  My left thumb and index finger took a beating....literally.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_19.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_21.jpg)

One of the casualties of the siding work...apparently plate glass windows don't like to have pieces of siding dropped on them.  Silver lining is that the temporary foam filler panel has a much better R-value than the glass.  Doesn't do much for the view though.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_20.jpg)

While I worked on the siding, Jill spent her time paint the new trim and the old door and window frames with the new trim colors.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_22.jpg)

Couple of views with the siding all up...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_24.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_26.jpg)

We liked the new fire pit location so much that we decided to add a small patio around it.  We definitely have to get more of the patio stones.  Hard to believe that is 40+ of them.  Probably need that many again, but we are really happy with it.  Jill even took the time to stain the Adirondack chairs and table.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_27.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_28.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_29.jpg)

I think Sasha approves...as she surveys her kingdom.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_30.jpg)

We did manage to get a little trim up.  It is going to take a lot of fiddling around to extend the jams and sills properly...that will be a project for the next trip.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_31.jpg)

We did get all the corner trim on and the trim between the wall panels and the gable end panels.  Here are some shots of how we left it for this trip...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_32.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_33.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_34.jpg)
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_35.jpg)

Like I side, it was a great and busy trip.  It was great to see the cabin finally all sided with the same siding.  We really like the new look. We worked our butts off. This was a common scene at the end of the day...curled up in front of the crackling fire in the stove...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2015Cabin/Cabin_Sept2015_23.jpg)

Until next time....

Wow what a transformation,  looks great [cool]  I Imagine you will keep a lot of that heat exactly where you want it this winter, in the cabin.  All that insulation should help dramatically.  We still need to insulate our floors.  I hate cold floors in winter.  Keep up the awesome work  love the pics.

Jill and I had a great week up at the cabin over the 4th of July.  The visits are always too short, but we are planning on going back for the week of Labor Day.  Fall in Northern Minnesota is always are favorite time of the year to be at the cabin.

Here are a bunch of pictures from our trip...

The wild flowers were in bloom...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_01.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_02.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_03.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_04.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_05.jpg)

...and attracting butterflies.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_06.jpg)

The loons were also active and plentiful.  Love their calls...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_07.jpg)

One project was to expand the patio around the fire pit and make a stepping stone walkway to it.  Mission accomplished....I did set the stepping stones into the ground  after this picture was taken.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_08.jpg)

Built another section of fence to define the end of the parking area...and Jill planted more perennials.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_09.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_10.jpg)

We filled the wood shed also.  Thanks to my brother, the left side is all Maple and Oak as he brought a truck load of logs from his place...should burn much longer than the balsam and spruce on the right side.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_11.jpg)

ANother big project was to get the deck back in place.  I had dragged it away from the cabin last fall so that I could get the cabin skirted.  Not only got it back in place, but also skirted it with some lattice to keep the dogs out and larger woodland creatures...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_12.jpg)

I also figured out how I wanted to trim all of the outside windows and got most of them done.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_13.jpg)

Also skirted the front porch with the same lattice...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_14.jpg)

Overview of the cabin...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_15.jpg)

Will see if we get any residence when we are back in the Fall.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_16.jpg)

Sunrise on the tree tops as I go for my morning run...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_17.jpg)

Sunset over the river...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_18.jpg)

Spent a couple of early mornings carving on the mate to the loon I carved last year.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_19.jpg)

Loving the cabin life...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_20.jpg)

We tok my mom fishing on Shannon Lake.  Beautiful day and lake...not much for fish. <G>
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_21.jpg)

Did get to watch a couple of bald eagles floating around overhead...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_22.jpg)

Lots of lotus flowers in the river...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_23.jpg)

and a beaver lodge...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_24.jpg)

Sasha and Karmann loved the deck being back in place.  Built the bench in the background out of some extra boards.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_25.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_26.jpg)

Karmann waiting to ambush her sister...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_27.jpg)

Getting ready for another canoe ride on the Sturgeon River...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_28.jpg)

Love the slow lazy river for canoeing...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_29.jpg)

Lots of wild rice this year.  Might have to try harvesting some when we are back in the Fall...if it is ready.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_30.jpg)

Some Mallard ducklings and their mom...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_31.jpg)

River flower...not sure what it is, but it is only about an inch tall.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_32.jpg)

More windows trimmed and painted.  Still have to paint the window frames.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_33.jpg)

View down to the river from behind the cabin...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_34.jpg)

All packed up and ready for the next trip.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_35.jpg)

One last parting shot....we saw three of these guys flinging dirt along side the road to Shannon Lake.  Crazy how fast they can move dirt.  First time I have seen badgers in the wild.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin072016_36.jpg)

Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Jill and I got up to the cabin for the week of Labor Day.  It is always are favorite time of the year.  Fall colors were a bit late this year....just barely starting to turn on a few trees....still beautiful up there. Anywho...here are the pictures.

Couple of shots of the sunset over the Sturgeon River on our first canoe ride of the trip...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_01.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_02.jpg)

Large frog waiting for us when we came ashore...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_03.jpg)

Squirrel!
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_04.jpg)

Moon shot...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_05.jpg)

Abandoned beaver lodge on the Sturgeon River...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_06.jpg)

We had some great canoeing weather...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_07.jpg)

Finally got up on the roof and got the dormers and trim painted to match the rest of the cabin...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_08.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_09.jpg)

More canoeing pictures...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_10.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_11.jpg)

Karmann enjoying the great outdoors...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_12.jpg)

One small project was to build a simple cover for the propane tank from the left over siding...Before and After shots.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_13.jpg)

Typical...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_14.jpg)

...in front of the fire (a couple of the mornings were quite cool with lows in the upper 40s F) while Jill cooked an apple crumb cake on the stove.
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_15.jpg)

One of the big projects this trip was to run a new feed line from the cistern to the pump.  The existing line had a leak in it somewhere and it sucked air.  This lead to the pump not holding prime and the water pressure and flow being low and sporadic.  The fittings are the new pass-thru for the 3/4" pex line and the cage end that I filled with rocks to make sure it sank to the bottom of the cistern.  I drilled out the end caps to be a nice tight fit to the pex and then just tightened them on either side of the hole I drilled in the side of the cistern.  Made a great bulkhead fitting without any actual connections in the pex tubing itself...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_16.jpg)

Bonfire.  We love the patio and fire pit...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_17.jpg)

Sasha and Karmann's favorite spot...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_18.jpg)

Here is the cistern dug up and the new feed line (blue) run to it.  Only connections are to the cage in the bottom of the cistern and the pump in the cabin.  No leaks, great water pressure and flow, and it holds a prime!  Now we can hook up the on-demand heater heater next time...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_19.jpg)

Got on of the main cabins gable and boxed in with new soffit and fascia...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_20.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_21.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_22.jpg)

Our "new" rocking chair that a friend gave us for the cabin.  Still need to re-do the seat insert.  I think I am going to install a piece of tin punched copper.  It will go nicely with the other copper accents in the cabin...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_23.jpg)

The other big project was to get hte bathroom and shower more finished.  I had hoped to get the tile up, but only got as far as getting the membrane install and the floor sloped to the drain.  Tile next time for sure...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_24.jpg)

Couple of shots as we are getting everything cleaned up and put away until next time...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_25.jpg)

(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_26.jpg)

We laid some more pavers between the porch steps and the deck steps...no more walking directly in the mud and sand...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_27.jpg)

We got the windows and door under the porch all trimmed out and painted.  Installed some new hinges and a latch on the screen door...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_28.jpg)

We even installed a couple more bird houses and a couple of feeders.  So far only squirrels and a few blue jays.  Hope to see more come winter...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_29.jpg)

Jill planted a bunch more perennials and lots of wild flowers...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_30.jpg)

Even got the new soffit and fascia painted...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_31.jpg)

One last parting shot of color...
(http://www.carartbyjohn.com/2016MNCabin/Cabin092016_32.jpg)

Until next time.  Hope you enjoy the pictures.