Stress Relief at the Cabin

Today was a good day to get away from everything and have a mental health day at the cabin. After a trip to Menard's, I picked up Kuma d.o.g. and headed for the woods. It was windy and the temperature continued to fall all afternoon. I built a fire in Beulah, put a pot of coffee on and hung about 12 ceiling boards that Brandon helped me stain this week. We fell short of our goal of preparing 50 boards but the 40 that are stained and ready to hang will keep me busy throughout the weekend. With Nic working at Hocking Inn, Brandon going to the OSU game and Robbie going to an auction in Jackson, it looks like I'll be working alone. Sometimes it gets really difficult getting a 10 foot board's tongue in the groove. Your arms aren't long enough to work both ends so you just have to have patience and be innovative with a mallet, hammer and nails.

I'm still amazed at Beulah's efficiency and value to the cabin. I hope we have a cold winter where both the stove and fireplace are providing warmth as I'm sure it will be cozy. I opened a can of Spaghetti-Os, poured them in a sauce pan and set them on the stove. Within just a couple of minutes they were piping hot and steaming. The coffee is getting better too as I continue adjusting the amount of grounds and time on the stove.

Before leaving, I put pinto beans in a pan to soak. Saturday will be a day of corn bread and soup beans slow cooked on Beulah. 

Cabin Update

With today's rain, I didn't want to deal with Kuma d.o.g. going to the cabin with me. Like all Labradors, she loves water, mud and just basically getting filthy so I left her home (and dry). Working alone, I completed another 10 ceiling panel boards today. This makes 30 boards ready to hang with hopes of completing 50 for this weekend. We're trying to find someone that has scaffold to reach the peak but if we're unsuccessful we'll just rent it. Sharing a few update pictures in today's post.

Fireplace illuminated with recessed spot lights mounted in ceiling.

So impressed with LED lights. A 7 watt LED PAR30 light is equivalent to a 50 Watt light. 7 watts is like a
night light. Although bright, they work great off the grid when powered by solar, generator or batteries.

Today's finished product. Ten more ceiling panels ready to install.

My Paula Deen percolator and tea pot.

South Bound Flea Market canisters under $10 for set.

Bathroom ceiling light

Bar Snacks or Dog Snacks? ...Both. Now we need some pickled eggs.

Another South Bound Flea Market purchase. Wooden measuring spoons for $1.

This is supposed to be a votive candle holder. Its a stemless wine glass in my opinion. Might need to get
more of these; only $7 on Internet website.

Back to South Bound Flea Market

I gave Robbie, Brandon and Nic a break from helping me out this weekend.

Nic left for school last night and is moving back into Hocking College this weekend for his last year of Culinary Arts. Brandon planned to spend the day watching college football with friends while Robbie had things he needed to do at home. Solitary days like today can actually be rewarding if time is managed effectively.

After filling the squirrel and bird feeders, reading the morning paper and drinking coffee on the porch at dawn, I returned to the US 23 South Bound Flea Market. I'm becoming a regular and some of the vendors I buy from remember me and are very friendly; they know I'm a 'buyer' and not a 'looker'. I had an agenda as I was looking for a wood burning stove skillet lift handle and a short stove poker. I found the perfect stove poker and a vendor promised she would bring me a lift handle next week so it was a successful visit. While looking around, I picked up a set of smoked mason jars with glass lids in descending sizes to use as canisters for flour, sugar, coffee and tea. The set was only $8 and looks great on the counter. A lady had a unique set of wooden measuring spoons on leather cord for $1 that I couldn't pass up. I also found a buck deer head toilet paper roll holder for the bathroom for $10. Lastly, I found a cast iron corn bread mold that makes "corn cob" bread for $5 and a cast iron muffin pan for $6.

Upon return to the cabin, I fired up Beulah and put on a pot of hazelnut and cinnamon coffee to percolate while sanding and staining another 100' of ceiling panels. The boards Brandon and I prepared this week are ready to hang but the goal is to get about 500' board feet completed before focusing on installing them.

I'm going to try to get Laura to visit the cabin this weekend to share progress. She hasn't been very interested in it so far while under construction but I think that will change as it gets closer to completion.

Father and Son

This week I invited my oldest son Brandon to help with work on the cabin. I regret that he hasn't been more involved and as a result, he hasn't gained the same appreciation of the progress and accomplishments on the project as my youngest son, Nic. All is not lost as there is still many tasks left to complete and we worked together on one this week. With only 400' of 1900' of ceiling panels stained and installed, we still  have a major project needing completed. Brandon found out how slow this progresses as each board must be sanded, vacuumed and stained at least 3 times before installation. He also found out how much I appreciate the help and how much quicker the job goes with 2 people working together. We only prepared 100' of paneling this week but these boards are some of the best looking panels yet. They are smooth and shine like glass so I'm pleased with our efforts.

Since we could only complete the work on a finite number each day, there was also quality time available on the porch for discussing the world's issues. This is what the cabin was built for; this is one father's way to reach out to his three children and show them he has a heart, a dream and soul where they can talk about things important without the distractions of a daily routine.

I was so pleased when Brandon told me that he now looks forward to this time together.

Coffee Chemistry

Before today's rain, I cut up a large fallen tree limb into Beulah fuel. After filling the tractor's front end loader with the stove wood, it was neatly stacked on the front porch away from the moisture moving in. This evening, I loaded the stove to test the quality of the seasoned bounty and see how many BTUs could be generated. I was surprised how well the wood burned and how much heat was generated. A constant, steady rain was falling which was so very peaceful on the cabin's metal roof. Once the stove was up to temperature, I loaded the percolator in an effort to replicate the body and flavor of the coffee my mom taught me to make years ago. As a young boy, one of my 'chores' was to put the coffee on the stove before mom and dad came home from work. Mom was careful to make sure I understood all aspects of the procedure to ensure repeatable, predictable results each and every time.  My best recollection was to percolate the pot 10-15 minutes. However, timing is dependent on the size of pot, amount of coffee added, coarseness of grounds and heat of the stove so nothing is really the same as it was back then. Today, I came close but still not quite there. I percolated the pot for about 12 minutes and although the coffee wasn't weak or bitter, it still didn't have that rich, full body flavor I remember from the 60s before drip coffee makers took over. Comparing a cup of coffee percolated on a wood stove to coffee brewed in a drip coffee maker is like comparing a hamburger prepared on a charcoal grill to a burger off a gas grill. They try to tell you there is no difference but your taste buds know better.  Before the first frost, Beulah, this Paula Deen percolator and I will master this goal.

Happy Memories

Today, just after sunrise, it was 40 degrees when I arrived at the cabin. A handful of kindling and some sticks of seasoned hickory and Beulah was hard at work warming up the kitchen. Laura had recently gave me a Paula Deen stove top percolator coffee pot that I loaded with fresh ground beans and set on the hottest skillet. While things were warming up, I walked to dad's cabin to pick up a paint brush. Upon return, I opened the front door and was taken back by an aroma of hickory smoke, hot cast iron and fresh coffee percolating on Beulah. My kids have yet to enjoy this unique and special smell; it is exactly what a cabin is supposed to smell like. It immediately took me back to 1965 when we first moved into the farm house and mom would have a pot of coffee percolating on the kitchen's wood burning cook stove as she prepared a farm breakfast. I love how the senses and mind retrieves memories from the depths of your soul.

Cabin progress today included the installation and wiring of recessed lights above the living room just below the ridge beam. Two directional lights illuminate the fireplace with the buck in the middle. I  also put a last coat of paint on the utility room walls and shelves.

At the end of the day after darkness moved in, I lit some oil lamps, shut down the generator and enjoyed a glass of Crown and coke in the quite with nothing but the crackle of wood burning in the belly of Beulah to break the silence.

Cooler Weather has arrived

For those not keeping up with Mother Nature, she is sending a strong message that we better be preparing for cold weather and winter. Tonight's forecast is for 43 degrees but it typically gets a few degrees colder on the farm. This evening, Kuma d.o.g. accompanied me to the cabin. Upon arrival it was 57 degrees and falling; it was down to 50 degrees and still falling when we came in off the porch.

I've got one of those little liquid propane stone fire burners that sits next to my chair on the porch. On evenings like tonight, its very peaceful sitting and watching the flames dance above the lava stones in the bowl. It didn't take long before I fell asleep while enjoying the combination of cold weather and heat from a flickering flame. I awoke to the smell of something burning; I didn't realize my arm was too close to the flames and the smell was from my arm hairs being burned off!

It is still worth it.

Stuff Needing Done

I really enjoy the satisfaction of finishing a major project on the cabin like the fireplace, Beulah, the kitchen...

Sometimes, you just have to deal with stuff needing done that isn't fun. Work the last few days has been just that. Anyone that has ever painted inside a large closet with shelves will understand how boring it has been as I've been completing the battery/inverter/charger utility room that is adjacent to the bathroom so I can call this job complete, too.

All the scrap wood and metal from construction was stored under the cabin. The metal had to be hauled to the barn, the good wood was cut into kindling and the bad wood (treated, glued) was hauled to a brush pile to burn. Cleaning up under the cabin was necessary to make room for winter firewood.

Also spent time cutting firewood and clearing brush below the cabin to open up the view to the meadow below.

Now, I should be able to get back on some fun stuff such as paneling the ceiling again or working to finish the bathroom. No deadline or schedule to meet makes delays a little more palatable.

A primitive wood stool brother Don made about 30 years ago that I had
in my first apartment makes a great foot rest when enjoying a
beverage with some peanuts.

ManCamp

Need I say more?

More new glassware.

Stocking Up

After trips to both WalMart and Krogers, I was ready to pick up Kuma d.o.g. and head for the hills. My first stop at WalMart was productive. I picked up a colander, a cutting board, muffin pan, oven thermometer, pot holders, kitchen towels, cleaning supplies and a whole bunch of food. Afterwards I went to Krogers where I found adult beverages and ice for the cooler. After stocking provisions away, I fired up the stove to check the oven temperature and enjoyed the evening after dark on the porch. A light fog drifted in under the moon light as we sat outside.

Fall's Premier

The calendar may say Fall is still 2 weeks away but calendars are for bean counters. Mother nature sets the calendar and in southern Ohio at ManCamp, she decided that Fall's premier would be today.

It was a great day to take a chain saw into the woods and start cutting fire wood for winter. Fire wood for a wood burning cook stove must be cut much smaller than for the fire place. It takes getting used to when cutting little 8-10" pieces instead of the standard 24" logs. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it before the first frost.

It was 58 degrees at the cabin upon arrival with a bit of wind chill from a steady breeze. I was able to get a fire going in Beulah in less than 5 minutes to address the chill. Within the hour, she had the kitchen up to 80 and the tea kettle whistling before I throttled her down for a slow burn. I'm looking forward to the weekend and the first pot of soup beans with corn bread from her labor. She is a jewel and a great addition to the cabin.

After putting up the saw, Kuma d.o.g. and I took in some quiet time on the porch. It wasn't raining, not even sprinkling but the air was heavy with moisture. Looking out at the western slope of the hollow across from the cabin, the mist took on the appearance of smoke wisping across the tree tops. As a 20-30 mph gust of wind passed through, leaves heavy with moisture on trees above the cabin would release their load making the sound of a torrential down pour on the metal roof, if only for a few seconds. I love Fall.

Kuma and I went to the camera and pulled pictures off from recent visits.

Always hand outs for friends at the cabin.

ManCamp Cage Match

I often witness chipmunk spats and little fights at the feeders as one running down the tree meets another running up. They will roll on the ground in a ball and fight until one gives up and takes off running.

Today I observed a chipmunk lift the lid and go into a squirrel feeder; nothing new or unexpected. Ninja squirrel had robbed the feeder of most of the grain so the little fella had to go to the bottom to fill his pouches. Before he could come out, another chipmunk ran up the tree, apparently not knowing the feeder was already occupied. He too lifted the lid and jumped inside.

They apparently weren't friends.

The two got into a big fight that was clearly visible through the plexiglas for spectators on the cabin porch. As the dust rolled out and the feeder jumped on it's nail, they squeeled and tumbled on a bed of corn. Finally they called it a draw and both ran out and down the tree. One went East while the other ran West to my amusement.

It was a great day to be at the cabin. At dawn it was just under 60 degrees with a light rain. 5 wild turkeys wandered by picking at the corn I've been throwing out. I fired up Beulah and she quickly had the kitchen toasty and comfortable. Without Kuma d.o.g., Robbie or Nic, I worked alone. I finished insulating and installing the wall boards in the utility room. I also cut and mounted the shelf supports for the 5 shelves that will be installed to hold batteries, inverter, charger and household stuff. A coat of paint and I will be ready to check this off my list. I plan to work on the bathroom to get it completed next now that the kitchen is finished and Beulah lives. So nice having a large pan of hot water and a stove to cook lunch on.

Beulah's Day

Kuma d.o.g. and I are pretty proud of ourselves today. After a year of planning, working, procrastinating and finally re-focusing efforts, we've succeeded in bringing Beulah back to life just in time for cold weather. A few minor repairs, clamps, seals and checks and she was ready for her first fire in a new home. A handful of kindling, paper towel and a match was all it took to bring her up to a steak searing temperature.

Preparing meals on a wood burning cook stove is a dying art. Asked how it's done I find it difficult to explain due to it's simplicity. Wood cook stoves are incredibly easy to operate at no cost for both cooking and heat. Its like having 6 burners on all the time; 2 high heat, 2 medium and 2 low, with no utility bill. A few sticks of kindling and you are frying bacon and boiling water while the oven is always ready.

Beulah fired up and ready for dinner.

Doesn't take long for a cast iron cooking surface to get hot with a hot fire inside.

In business now, water is boiling.

Now, sitting on the porch listening to the radio, I find tears welling in my eyes as I listen to Justin Moore sing, "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away". Its so hard to lose family or friends as they pass before us. I would love to share today's accomplishment with mom and dad, my childhood friend Mark or even Great Aunt Beulah, a strong lady in my past that the little cook stove was named after. I know they all would be so pleased to share my happiness. As Justin sings, I close my eyes and see each of them smile.