To-Do List Update

One of my favorite things in life is crossing off a long list of to-do items. It's so gratifying to take a pen and mark through each item that is completed! Not to mention how it inspires me to keep motivated and finish the list. Oh, yeah!

As of Sunday, May 27th, we have owned the cabin for four weeks. It may not seem like a lot to look at the cabin in it's current state, but we have accomplished several important things on our to-do list.

Namely:

• New Driveway Poured
• 2 Toilets Repaired and Working
• Upstairs and Main Floor Cleaned and Ready for Furniture
• Kitchen Cabinets Cleaned and Papered
• Mouse Traps Placed and Holes Plugged
• Ugly Shrubs Removed, New Plants Planted and Mulched
• Trees Cut Down For Improved View
• Windows Washed (Inside)
• Basement Stairs Handrail Stabilized
• Carpenter Bees Sprayed
• Wasp Nests Treated and Removed
• Kitchen Curtains Sewed and Hung
• Comforters, Etc, Bought for Upstairs and Master Bedrooms
• Goodwill Furniture Painted
• Furniture Bought from Craigslist
• Appliances Purchased from Lowe's

Nandina Removed and Angelonia, Verbena, and Lantana Planted!
I researched the plants, and they are not supposed to be attractive to deer.

Hoping this will NOT  be a tasty deer  treat!

The old shrubs were UGLY. Besides, I like flowers. :)

There is still a long list of to-do items, but we are making progress! Here are some items that will be done in the next few weeks:

• Install Electric Outlet for Fridge
• Clean Basement Carpet
• Clean Basement Bathroom 
• Find Out Why Back Door is Leaking and Repair
• Polyurethane Dining Room Ceiling, Walls, and Floor
• Pick Up Furniture from Clarkesville and Move It In
• Meet Lowe's Appliance Installers
• Pressure Wash Driveway (Old Part)
• Pressure Wash Porch
• Buy Towels, Sheets, and Pillows
• Repair Outside Back Faucet
• Find a Way to Get Our Cell Phones To Work!! (Maybe Transfer Service to Verizon)

There you have it, folks! Lots completed, but lots still to go. We have a goal of 2 weeks to be able to spend the night at the cabin for the first time. I think it is doable. Stay tuned.

Closet Repair

For whatever reason, the loft bedroom closet shelves were ripped out of the wall and left hanging by a thread, and the supports bent. There were two shelves and rods that were left, but one was missing. Luckily, Lowe's had the shelving and rods, and even the same kind of supports. So after measuring, I bought the needed supplies (including anchors and screws) and VOILA!

Loft Bedroom Closet ~ Before

Closet completed!!

Loft Bedroom Closet ~ After!

Here's a pic of the wildflowers along the road to the cabin. So purdy.

And here is the road leading to the cabin. Lush and green with all the recent rain, the drive through the forest is magical, as though the fairy folk should be hiding among the trees.

See those ferns growing along the banks? I am hoping to dig some up and plant them in the yard. Gotta love those free, native plants!!

Drive-able Driveway

After! :)

Being able to drive on the driveway is a great advantage!! 

Yay for getting the new driveway in!

Before :(

After!! :)

As of this Friday, May 25th, we will be able to actually DRIVE on the driveway, which means we can get our appliances in. Woot! Happy 30th Anniversary to us! :)

Cabin Decor on a BUDGET

This cabin will be decorated on a tight budget. Really tight. There are so many necessary things that MUST be done to make it livable, that the decor will be done with a truly skimpy budget. Since we had our contract accepted a few months ago, I've been going to flea markets and the local Goodwill to find cheap things to use, but that are good quality. Maybe just a coat of paint will make an old piece look fabulous, and all cabin-y and rustic. There is also a fabric store that sells close-out fabrics at huge discounts. So, I have several projects lined up that need attention. The first on the list is kitchen curtains. The front of the cabin faces the road, so there needs to be a way to have a little privacy when needed. Also, window panels for the the bedroom that faces the sunrise are going to be recycled from our den. Who knows--maybe we will want to sleep past dawn, and want a nicely darkened room in which to do just that.

Goodwill had some fantastic deals a couple of months ago. Two solid wood night stands in a chunky, rustic style will get a coat of dark brown paint, and some new antler door pulls from eBay. I only paid $15 for each of the night stands, and $8 for the pulls. SCORE! There were also two 3-drawer nightstands that were $10 each, so they went home with me, too. They will also be painted, but as of now I don't know what color they will become. Goodwill also had some nice, heavy drinking glasses, a hand mixer, an iron, various cooking utensils, bowls, colanders, and a couple of lamps. Thank you Goodwill, as we are now functional in the kitchen. Minus our appliances and a coffee maker. The Blue Willow dishes that I already have boxed up in the basement will be going to the cabin as well. I've had them so long I got tired of them (about 20 years I think!), so they've been boxed up for a couple of years, just waiting for a new home.

My great-great-grandfather's iron bed will be repaired by our local welder (one of the footboard rungs has popped off), then given a fresh coat of paint as well. Gotta love those free antique pieces! It's been in my basement for several years, so I'm excited to get it out and fix it up! My sister and I went up to Helen, Georgia for a family reunion, and our cousin gave us a tour of our great-grandfather's old store. It's closed but still standing, and full of old family junk. The bed was inside, rusting away. So, being the resourceful girl that I am, I asked for it. Ask and you shall receive!! I went home with it in the back of my mini van, and couldn't be more thrilled to use it in the cabin. I'll hang a picture of my great-great-grandfather over the bed.

Fabric World is my very favorite fabric store. It has affordable (CHEAPO) fabrics, with prices from $1.99 a yard for fabric on the bolt, to remnants for 50 cents! I got lots of different fabrics for pillows, from stripes and plaids to some owl fabric that is just too fun. So happy. *sigh* For $93 I got enough fabric for the kitchen curtains, the loft bedroom, main floor guest room, basement bedroom, and shower curtains for two bathrooms. That includes decorative pillows, but not the comforters or pillow inserts. Still and all, $93 is not much moolah for all that! 

Where is your favorite store for decorating on a budget? Maybe you have a little local flea market that always has great deals on just the right piece, or a sweet little grandmother with an attic full of 'junk' that is an antique lovers dream, and she let's you go 'shopping'. Oh, wait...I'm dreaming...  :)

Stack of remnants for 50 cents to $2 each!

Bolt of 20 yards of fabric for $1.99 a yard

For the main bathroom shower curtain and window treatments.

Mouse War

Did you know mice can squeeze through a hole as small as a dime? Well, I had heard that, but really? Seriously? My dad (God bless him!!) owned a pest control company for about 40 years. He came up to the cabin and showed me where the little devils are coming in. It's the tiniest little bitty crack. He also told me to pack it with steel wool so they can't chew thru it. (Yes, it's now on my list!) But why are they coming in? There has been no food in the cabin for 2 years. One would think that they would go where there is food, but noooo. Maybe it's shelter they want. Too bad for them, because I'm moving IN and they are moving OUT. Trust me, any hole I find is getting packed tight with steel wool. Going on a mouse hunt, I am! This is war.

The neighbors have already warned us that in cool weather the mice will get into the engine of your car, and chew up the wiring. We have been told to buy some rodent repellant and keep it in the car, or risk having to have it re-wired. Destructive little critters, aren't they? The mice. Not the neighbors.

The same neighbors told us that there have been several bear sightings around our street, and once a bear was even seen going down our driveway. We live in the wilderness. You have to expect these things. But I'd rather see a bear than a mouse. I reserve the right to edit this post if I ever actually see a bear, and change my mind.

There are deer, too. Lots of them. Every time we have been to the cabin there have been deer tracks all over the front yard. Deer are so beautiful. I saw a whole herd of them in a pasture last week about 2 miles from the cabin. My hubby hunts them, and loves a good venison steak. We will have some deer heads on the walls, too. Yes, we are rednecks. If I catch another mouse in the traps, I should have it mounted and put it up on the mantle with my hubby's deer heads. Maybe it would help scare all the other mice away. I would consider that a trophy as much as my hubby's deer.

Productive Day. Sort Of...

View from my kitchen window this morning!

This morning was just gorgeous!!

Perfect day for a trip to the mountains, and to get some work done.

New gravel on our road!!

Today was only a semi-productive day. I left this morning to go to the cabin, and  tackled a couple of projects. First, I had to rid the cabin of a dead mouse! Ew, so gross. After taking it out, I had to scrub the bathroom floor, light a scented candle, and open the windows. That took a while. As I was working, I heard a huge crash, and a beautiful glass pitcher had tumbled out of a big box that was on the kitchen counter, so I had to clean up all the broken glass. Moving on! Next,  I hung the shelves in the closet. Well, I hung 2 of them. I didn't have enough of the the right size anchors, or screws to attach the third shelf. So next time I'll take the correct ones and complete that project. One more shelf to go!

I also did some unpacking, and organizing in the kitchen.

Carpenter bees are making holes all in the wood of the deck and porch, so they got a good dousing with spray. Ditto the wasp nests and hornets nests that are in every corner of the deck!

To Do List

Driveway

We have a MAJOR to do list. 

For one thing, we can't drive on the driveway, or it may swallow our car! This photo was taken back in August. The sink hole has gotten much deeper. Driveway guy is supposed to start this week, and hopefully have it fixed soon.

Next thing on the list: Gutter is overflowing and spilling water onto the deck, which is splashing up under the threshold and getting into the house. Gotta fix that. Pronto. Water problems can quickly cause $$$ damage!

Back Door

This one has been done. Yay!!! All the kitchen cupboards scrubbed inside and out, and pretty red checked paper put inside. THANK YOU to my daughter in law and my mom for helping to get this project completed! We need more prep space, and more storage in the kitchen, so we want to add an island.

Kitchen and Family Room

Master Suite needs finishing. There is space for a nice size bedroom, bathroom, and walk in closet. Wish list for this suite: All wood finishes that match the rest of the cabin in the bedroom part, and if the budget allows a window seat with built-in bookcases. In the bathroom: tile floor (wood in the bathroom is not a good idea), double sinks, shower with no tile or grout (who wants to scrub grout? Not me!), a claw foot tub (oh la la!!), a linen closet, toilet, and of course the closet with wire shelves. We will have to see what the budget allows, but the claw foot tub may have to go. You can't really see from this pic, but the corner windows are some type of textured glass. Not crazy about it, and we may change it.

Master Bedroom, Bath, and Closet

This is an easy one. The built in ironing board cupboard has not been polyurethaned. No problem to slap some on!

Laundry Room

Just look at this view! This is from the loft. Don already took some of these trees down, and they will be getting cut up for firewood. I've got plans for some of the logs: cut some for a base for a birdbath, and some end tables. Love me some FREE stuff!! Also, this view is from the window in the loft. We want to add a window seat to maximize the enjoyment. I can imagine sitting here all curled up with a cup of tea and a good book.

View from the Loft

This is the walk in closet upstairs in the loft bedroom. Those shelves will need to be rehung with some heavy duty anchors! I already bought them, and this is my next project.

Upstairs Bedroom Closet

The downstairs (basement) bedroom used to have a window that now looks into the unfinished part of the basement. The wall needs to be properly finished.

Basement Bedroom

This is the back of the cabin. Can you imagine a mountain cabin with no deck to enjoy the view??? Deck will be added, and I'm already dreaming of mornings with my coffee, watching the deer...

Back of the Cabin

For some strange reason, there is no electric outlet in the utility closet. So an extension cord goes out into the basement bedroom, resulting in not being able to close the door. My dad has graciously offered to add an outlet! So thankful that he knows how to do so many things!

Basement Bedroom

The outlet for cable (or satellite) is on the short wall to the right of the fireplace. I think it should be moved. My hubby does not. We are in negotiations.

Fireplace in the Family Room

The one last project: Furnishing the whole place. I have been buying some things at Goodwill and Flea Markets that need painting, and a friend from high school sold us a leather sofa, chest of drawers, and 3 TVs for $300. Gotta love a deal like that! But there is still the the table and chairs, beds, basement living area, and all the sheets, towels, and bed linens. Not to mention dishes, glasses, small kitchen appliances, rugs, trash cans, we need it ALL!

So there you have it. All the major projects that need attention. I haven't mentioned all that has already been done: Scrubbing all the floors, scraping off the gooey stickers that were applied to the door by the foreclosure company, scrubbing the bathrooms, bringing up boxes of cabin things that were stored in our guest room, getting a plumber out to fix the well,  etc. etc. etc.

Change of Plans

It's raining! That's a good thing, since we are in a drought here in the South. And this little wren is so happy that it has burst into song. :) 

 The driveway guy is working on the road at the cabin, so there is no point in going up today. The road is blocked. So I'm home, and didn't plan on being here. Gotta love a rainy day at home, and getting things done while hearing the rain and the birds singing! I stepped outside for a few seconds to snap a few pics of my garden:

Spiderwort and Stellas in my yard:

Another view:

Ferns, Hosta, and Heuchera in a pot on the deck:

Ta-Da! The Cabin!!

So...here is our newest little addition to the family! It looks pretty good from the outside. LOL Tomorrow I'm going up to do a little work (re-hanging the closet shelves which were ripped out of the wall), some cleaning up after the mice (ew), and taking some boxes of dishes and things that we will be needing soon. If I have time, I'll do a quick coat of polyurethane on the upstairs floors. Also, I'll be meeting with the driveway guy. Notice the cracked driveway? It is now not just a crack, but has caved in. Seriously, it would swallow a small child now. The driveway guy said he could have it done in about a week. Since we can't drive on the driveway, we can't get appliances delivered. Major holdup!!

Check out the huge weeds along the driveway. Not pretty. My oldest son weed whacked them and it looks so much better. I'd love to plant something pretty there that would be kinda spilly down the hill. I'm thinking about digging up some native ferns that grow along the roadside. Since we are on a tight budget, and the ferns are Fah-Ree, than it's definitely in the running.

After getting weed whacked. So. Much. Better.

Do you think a cabin should have a name? I'm trying to decide. Any suggestions appreciated!

The Wendy House

Look, kids! Your mom is blogging! Woo hoo!

First things first..thank you for visiting! Welcome to my very first blog post! I'm glad you stopped by. Pull up a chair, let me pour you a cup of tea (or whatever. It's virtual so you can have anything you want!), and let's get to know each other.

I'm Gwen, and I live in the Southern part of the US, am married ( nearly 30 years now!), and have 2 grown sons, the oldest of whom is married to our lovely daughter in law.  I love DIY projects, genealogy, gardening, Bible study, and a couple of new ventures. More on that later.

As an American girl of the 60s/70s, I grew up with Disney cartoons~~Snow White, Lady and the Tramp, Cinderella, and Peter Pan. One of my favorites was Peter Pan, mostly because of Wendy and Tinkerbell. Wendy was so motherly and responsible. An admirable quality, in contrast with the mischievous Tink! When Wendy sprained her ankle, the Lost Boys built a small house around her, right where she was! It was for her protection until her ankle healed. Because of this story, a play house became known as a wendy house. Here in the US, we kids didn't call our play house a wendy house, but that's what it's known as in the UK. So, as an admitted Anglophile, I have adopted this name for my little blog.

I love houses. All kinds. From modern Frank Lloyd Wright houses, to Greek Revival mansions, to quirky Victorians, to log cabins. There is beauty in all of them. It would be hard to pick a favorite. And with the current real estate market being what it is, houses are quite a bargain. At least for the time being. Soooo, for the last couple of years, we have been trying to find an affordable (cheap!!) vacation home. There are some incredible foreclosure deals out there, so we took the plunge and offered a contract on one. First was a beach house. Didn't work out because the bank would not negotiate at all. Next was a house on a river. We waited a solid year for the bank to tell us something. Anything. Nothing happened there either. Couple more tries, and no results. Then we found this log cabin in the mountains that we both fell in love with. We offered a contract, and it was immediately accepted. But closing was delayed for eight long months. There was lots of red tape because of it being a foreclosure, and we were discouraged that things were not moving along very quickly. Several times we talked about withdrawing our offer, and finding something else. But we loved it so, and it really was a great deal. Never mind the sorry state it was in after sitting empty for 2 years. We decided to stick it out, and finally, on April 27th, 2012, after eight months and a day, we closed!

Now what have we got ourselves into?? The poor house has been vacant for 2 years. It's overrun with mice. The carpenter bees are making holes everywhere in the eaves. The new master bedroom addition was never finished, and only has the outside walls up. The well water is muddy. The driveway has caved in and needs replacing. But it's got great views of the mountains. The whippoorwills call in the evenings, and the deer play in the front yard. Sigh...so it will take some work, but it will be worth it. At least I hope so!

Welcome, and I hope you come back and visit soon!