Finger Lakes Trail

This afternoon we hiked a portion [about two hours' worth, however long that is] of the Finger Lakes Trail that runs through Tuller Hill State Forest, about fifteen miles southwest of us.


It was a lovely day, and a lovely place.


We especially enjoyed the mostly evergreen woods with a brook running just below the path.


All three of us had a great time! Roscoe slept pretty well when we got home too. :)


It was a lovely change of pace and a great way to spend an afternoon.

Log Walls - COMPLETED!

The front (south-facing) wall of the house, with the living room to the left, the front door in the middle, and our bedroom to the right. The plywood on the floor marks the staircases.


Continuing clockwise around the house, this is the west-facing wall, including our bedroom to the left and the second bedroom to the right.


This is the back wall of the house (mostly), with the second bedroom to the left, the bathroom in the middle, and the kitchen to the right.


Mick putting the finishing touches of spline and caulk on the east wall, with the kitchen to his left and the living room to his right.


The southwest corner of the house. The lumber is bracing the log which protrudes from the N-row and will provide a roof for the porch.


The northeast corner of the house (taken from the back yard), with the living room on the left and the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom along the right (north) wall.


Completing this stage of the building process represents 176 logs (14 rows) ranging in length from 4'0" to 16'1" + many boxes of log hogs, tubes of caulk, and rolls of gasket + 9 work days (generally as long as there was daylight) between November 20 and January 2 + 6 workers (not counting additional moral support) = log walls completed! Thanks to both our dads, John, and Steve! It has been a long time since we have been able to check off as completed a step in the construction manual. Huzzah! :)

December in Review

Mick and I headed from Cortland to Ontario County when he had drill in early December. That same weekend, Marty headed from Ontario to Cortland County to hunt, and he returned not too many hours later with a beautiful buck!


Mick made brack in the chicken fryer on top of the stove -- so much quicker than making individual loaves, and it turned out great!


A spruce tree that Mick dug up on Thanksgiving and repotted became our Christmas tree.


I finally finished my woolen knee socks, and boy, are they warm!


I then turned my attention to Christmas-color potholders/hot pads.


Mick completed log rows K and L, finishing just as the sun disappeared behind the western hills.


We celebrated Christmas with the Cressmans in Andes. Mick made a beautiful and delicious rosemary roasted garlic dip in his own savory bread bowl. It was the most we have used our rosemary since we planted it two years ago, and it has really come into its own!


Mick is taking excellent care of his plants this winter. The top of the plant stand is lit by flourescent lights with a daylight-like color temperature, with foil situated so that it reflects as much light as possible to the plants. Contents include: 4 pots of sage, 2 pots of sweet leaf [stevia], 1 pot containing several peppermint plants, 1 pot of rosemary, 1 window box containing oregano, garlic, thyme, and rosemary, and another window box with chives, garlic, lemon balm, thyme, and mint.


He also set up a plant area in one half of the bottom of the plant stand with 4 CFL lights at appropriate color temperatures. It is quite bright (hence the shades)! He is nurturing several honey locust plants that he started from seeds collected at SUNY Cortland while I was "at work", as well as a couple of burr oak acorns collected by Marty and Heidi on their road trip from Arizona to New York.


Steve came down this past week, and we enjoyed our visit with him. He and Mick completed row M, the first row of logs to span the doorway and windows, so the first row to go completely around! Only two rows of logs remain.


A Christmas gift from my folks, imagined by Mom and executed by Dad. The little bit of log cabin is a lovely reminder that we won't be living in a trailer in a village forever!


I made pizza crust and sweet potato bread yesterday and, true to form, made a mess. :) Both turned out deliciously though!


Merry Christmas.