The Mountain Cabin

When we first found the cabin we had to park at the end of the lane and walk up a winding path to the cabin. No one had been there for a while and the forest was trying to take it all back; it was too closed in for a vehicle without getting a paint job messed up.

After making our way down the long driveway we made it to the cabin.  Awwww….. poor thing! It was sitting there in the middle of the woods and barely visible. The forest was trying to take it back too. We were instantly smitten! The cabin was sitting there all hidden in the woods waiting for someone to love it again.

In spite of the years of neglect the structure was sound and we knew it had lots of potential. The view was spell binding off the front deck. The elevation on the deck of this cabin is 4412'. At this elevation the climate can be harsh and cabins need to be maintained promptly so they can weather the harsh winter. The cabin was needing some attention. 

So, we bought it and jumped right in. Because winter comes early at that elevation we started on the outside as quickly as we could before the first snowfall comes. The Husband power washed the house, storage building and all the decking. This took a couple trips to the cabin to complete but made a huge difference. 

Look at the difference the power washing made to the deck

  

Power washed cabin .... already looking better      

 Once we had this step completed it was time to paint. The Husband wasn't thrilled with my plan for the cabin paint job but he followed through with it. Thanks goodness for his power spray painter. Whew!

Two coats of primer went on first. 

Then 2 coats high gloss enamel. 

The Husband wasn't sure he needed to paint that last coat of paint. The carpenter suggested he could wait till spring and see how the one coat held up. The Husband liked that idea.  Then the carpenter said "if it needs another coat then you can paint it again but in the spring you will have to tape all the windows and doors because the news ones will have been installed". The Husband didn't like that thought; he muttered a bit but he did the second coat of paint. We started calling The Husband "Darth Vader" because he wore a respirator while painting and sounded just like Darth Vader.  The force was with him; two coats of primer and two coats of paint later Darth Vader was finally finished painting the main color on the cabin. It was well worth his effort; the siding is well protected and feels great.  

The little ugly duckling is changing everyday    

 After the painting was complete Darth Vader confessed his secret. He only painted the storage building one coat; "I want to see which paint job lasts longer".  Hmmmm ….. storage building protected by trees vs. cabin on side of mountain taking the brunt of the weather and wind? No fair! No wonder Darth Vader was a villain.

When the windows come in the cabin will really start to look great. I can't wait. Now I have to work out a front door color.  I wonder if Darth Vader has any suggestions? 

The carpenter has started replacing the trim boards, which I have already painted white. I can't wait to see them all up. He should start putting in new windows next week. Once the ugly brown windows are replaced with the new white vinyl ones it's going to look sharp. I can't wait!

There is lots more to come.

I'm glad you're here, pull up a chair and sit a spell.

Mountain Belle

The Mountain Cabin Storage Building

 

The Storage building is finished! 

There is a storage building on the property with the cabin. We have been working on the cabin too but the building is showing the most signs of progress so I'm starting with that. I have to attempt to redeem some of my sanity with you guys!

Poor building           

The building, like the cabin, had been neglected, piled full of things, covered with soot from a non-vented generator and the generator needed serious attention before we could use it. There was a large gaping hole in the bottom back wall that I was sure a bear could fit through.  That thought got me one of those looks from The Husband.  Yes, I am nuts! (but I still think a bear could have fit through there). The Husband said he would fix the hole so "mice and squirrels couldn't get in".  What about the bears I ask? I think our daughter inherited her eye roll expertise from him!

It's a man-thing and and The Husband wanted to stake his territory in the building before I could so he jumped right in and because we really needed to get the generator working. He worked his fanny off on the building while I was busy clearing out closets and cabinets in the cabin. The building is a lot smaller than the cabin so it is showing signs of progress pretty quickly. He did a great job!!!

The above photo is after he had power washed the entire building and he had already started to prime it. I missed a couple photos....oops.

While he is doing all this work I am still plotting on exterior colors. About the same time we were purchasing the cabin I had a birthday and The Husband handed me the keys and said "Happy Birthday". Hmmm.... I said "Cool! This means I can paint it pink!". Now a photo of that face would have been awesome! I can't wear it and it doesn't smell good but I'll take it. Planning paint colors can be a daunting task. Do you know how many shades of pink there are? I still think that building would look lovely pink. Don't you?

I kept working on paint colors and this is the compromise I came up with.

Looking nice! He then put down a nice layer of thick pine bark mulch till we decide on permanent pathways. We bought 8 bags but we need to pick up a few more to finish the job. The residue on the ground is paint from using the power spray painter. The Husband says it will go away soon; I think it makes it easier to see bears!  :)

As I mentioned earlier, I just had a birthday during all of this. Our son is in the service and he and his wife are currently on the west coast and couldn't be here for my birthday. They sent me a gift card for my birthday to use on MY (snicker) cabin. I took my gift card and bought some out door candle lit lanterns for outside the cabin. Thanks for the present guys!! The Husband stood back and viewed his awesome job on the building and decided it was missing something. He rounded up some hooks and 2 of the lanterns and put them on the building.

This is the end result. I think it turned out great. The Husband did a great job!

We are making progress!

I'm glad you're here, pull up a chair and sit a spell.

Mountain Belle

    
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