Landscaping Additions: Three Mondel Pine Trees

We found a great deal on three Mondel Pine trees at our local nursery today.  We planted these at the beginning of our driveway.  Our goal is to plant over 100 pine trees on our property.  Someday there will be a big sign at the entrance of our property that reads:

"Whitings' Whispering Pines"

Finished Dormers on West side and Shower Valves

This week Gary began installing some of the electrical boxes and wiring around the cabin. He also installed the first two shower valves in the master bathroom. The following picture shows the valves for the rain shower (which will come out of the ceiling) and the shower valves for Debi's side of the shower--the shower head on her side is lowered for a "vertically challenged" person! Gary's side of the shower will include shower valves with four body sprayers. (His valves haven't been installed yet.) Gary will also make a small built-in bench seat so that Debi can sit and shave her legs easily. We have chosen "oil-rubbed bronze" fixtures from Moen's "Kingsley" series, which will complement (not "compliment"--I know the difference) the slate and rock that will be inside the shower. The dimensions of the shower are about 5' x 10'--which is bigger than the typical 1950's bathroom!

Gary installed the fireplace in the master bedroom this week. Although this propane fireplace puts out plenty of heat, we are installing it for the "romantic atmosphere"!

This is the pocket door (pushed into the wall) going into the master bathroom from the master bedroom.

And here it is in its closed position:

The dormers on the west side are finally complete with window glass!

We are getting there--slow and steady wins the race!

Finished Dormers above the Garage

This week, Gary has been working on the dormers. He made five frames, stained them to match the logs, and then added green paint to match the trim on the other windows. After he installs the frame in the dormer, he inserts a pane of window glass and caulks it with silicone. Here is a sample of his "smart jamb"--we copied that term from Middleton Timber, the company where we got our logs for the cabin.


The three dormers on the west side are still not complete. Gary will work on these this upcoming week.



Here are the two completed dormers above the garage. We went so far as to install wooden window blinds so that it would look like there are bedrooms upstairs. The dormer on the right even has a Dalmatian in the window, which makes me want to sing, "How much is that doggy in the window?"



This is the view of the new finished dormers as seen from the "Crow's Nest".



Guess what we did this weekend? We made up a bed on the cement floor of our master bedroom and slept there on Saturday and Sunday night. It was exciting to be able to sleep in our bedroom. There was a nice breeze blowing over our heads coming in through the window.