We have light!

I ordered a couple of 12 volt LED bulbs which fit a standard Edison base, from Backwoods Solar. I installed one last weekend and hooked it up to a marine battery. Primitive but it is nice to have light at night. I will definitely get more of these for the lofts and the cellar.

I was able to nail up a good amount of the siding on the end of the cabin. I have been using Cabot stain on it before I nail it up.

It rained one afternoon, so I started to insulate the roof. First I stapled up some screening where the sheathing meets the ridge board, to make sure I don't get any bees making nests inside.

I bought some Styrofoam spacers to make sure I have air flow above the insulation at the eves and then installed a few fiberglass batts.

More windows installed and first fire in wood stove

The 2 casement windows arrived for the kitchen area recently and I installed them. The front window was easy to install but the window on the side is located directly over the bulkhead door to the basement, so that took more time. I had to build some staging from lumber on site, to stand on while working. After that was built the window installation was easy. I could even place the window on the staging from the inside of the house; I didn't need to push it up a ladder!

I finished staining the rest of the siding for the front of the house and was able to get about 2/3 of it nailed up. I like the natural wood look.

I also made my first fire in the new wood stove. The stove has to be broken in slowly by lighting several small fires first, before making a roaring fire. The stove has good draft and was easy to light.

Here is a view of the interior looking toward the east side of the house. The kitchen will be in the left corner and the bathroom in the right corner.

This is a view toward the west side of the house from the kitchen area. The windows lighten up the inside a lot.

Front door and back windows in.

Making progress; starting to look like something other than a big green box! A few weeks ago my front door was installed and I put in the lock sets. Now I can lock the door and leave some of my stuff inside!

This past weekend, a friend came up with me and we were able to install the rear, south facing windows. I have more light inside and some cross ventilation for warm days. Now that these windows are in, I was able to sleep inside the cabin for the first time, instead of sleeping in the cellar!

I had previously stained some of the pine siding so we were also able to get the siding started on the front of the cabin.

Odds and ends to close up exterior

I picked up my front door and moved it safely inside next to the door opening. I plan to have a local carpenter install the door so it is done correctly; I don't want it to leak and I want it level so the door stays where I put it.

I finally assembled the bulkhead door in place. It wasn't that hard, although the doors are heavy to align the hinges by myself. I was missing one hinge pin, so I made due with a 16 penny nail temporarily. I still have to build some stairs for the cellar.

I installed the soffits on the front of the house. I used screening between the 2 boards. That was a long job by myself. I must have gone up and down that ladder 150 times!

Then it was time to relax on the front steps.

This is a view of the back of the house, which faces south.

Getting shower inside

Spent a couple of hours cutting out the front door opening.

I needed to get the stall shower inside before installing the front door. 1 inch of clearance on each side!

Shower safely inside. It will most likely sit in a corner for the next year until the bathroom is done!

I ordered a simple 6 panel exterior door with glass in the top 2 panels at the local lumberyard. Door should be delivered in a week.

I started work on some temporary front steps. Eventually I plan to have a small screened in porch on the front of the house.

Water tank

I bought an IBC tote recently for water storage at the cabin. The tote had been used to deliver sunflower seed oil, so the first task was to clean the tank.

Getting the tank into the basement by myself was an interesting task. The tank is only 90 pounds empty but due to the size, it is awkward to move. I used some 2 bys to get the tank out of the truck.

My hand truck was used to move the tank into position and more 2 bys to hold the tank while I tied it off to my rope and pulleys.

Once in position, I removed the boards and lowered the tank down with the rope. The tank will live against the rear cellar wall.

Metal roof on

My roofer installed the green metal roof and chimney pipe last Friday.

Spring 2016 !

I made my first trip of the year up to the cabin in mid March. Mud season was in full force. I was excited that my basement was bone dry; the perimeter drains and landscaping that my excavator did last year, worked like a champ!  My driveway was also usable with the crushed stone, letting it drain properly.

My first task was to get the sub-fascia and finished fascia boards installed, so my roofer can install the metal roof. This took longer than expected as usual, working by myself. I also got one of the final triangular pieces of sheathing installed on the east gable end.

I picked up my wood stove at the store, in my new to me pick up truck and lifted all 250 pounds of stove into the cabin with the help of ropes and pulleys.

I set down 1/2 inch cement board on the floor and covered it with concrete pavers to form the hearth under the stove. Then I put the stove in it's final location with the rope and pulleys.

I assembled the black stovepipe and ran it up to the roof, so my roofer knows were to make the hole in the roof. I also brought up the sections of Class A chimney pipe on one of my trips.

I also installed my first window on the front side of the cabin.