This was the 1st of the four bungalows that I built here at the farm.
The name of this one says it all. What seems like a lifetime ago, 34 years actually since the construction was completed, three boys ages 10, 8, and 2 were in the picture. Needless to say, my dear partner in crime had her hands full. Being the mother of three rambunctious boys leaves little time to sit back and SMELL THE ROSES.
That being the case, I decided to give her a place to get away from it all, even if just for a little while when we would visit the farm on a weekend here and there. This cottage overlooks our pond and is far enough away from the main house that a state of freedom from the storm of constant activity could be enjoyed.
After 34 years, #Mother #Nature had taken its toll and the place was due for some repairs, both inside and out. Besides staining the exterior of the cabin every 7 or 8 years, no other maintenance had been done. All in all the place was in pretty good condition.
With the weather being absolutely gorgeous, as is usually the case in September, I started addressing the repairs that were needed on the exterior of the cabin.
The floorboards on the porch that were not protected by the overhang had succumbed to the elements . This was where I would start making the necessary repairs.
Although the stairs were still structurally sound, their appearance was less than pleasing.
Knowing that everything on the outside was going to look like new when it was finished, I just couldn't leave the stairs as they were.
Removing the calk that made the transition between the front wall and the deck which made everything water-tight, had stood the test of time. I was surprised that it peeled away so easily and in such long pieces.
Before applying a fresh coat of stain I power washed the entire exterior, knowing that the stain would adhere better to a clean surface.
After installing a handrail for the stairs and staining the front of the cabin it was time to move to the next side.
The side of the cabin that I would address next needed to have a broken window replaced. Before ripping out the old window I needed to make several new pieces that were required for installing the new window. Having a stock pile of wood on the premise always makes me smile, knowing that I'm saving money using wood that I milled.
Putting in a new replacement window was not a big deal. The trim pieces I had fabricated in advance worked like a charm.
Two sides down two sides to go.
All of the cabins are built on blocking rather than your typical foundation.
Back in the day when the cabins were built, money was tight to say the least and supporting the structure in this fashion saved us a few bucks. With the amount of #surface #runoff we get in this neck of the woods all of the cabins need to be jacked up and leveled off every so often. With this cabin being placed in an area that is subject to erosion, I built a berm around the entire footprint of the cabin. The berm should stop the water from making its way under the cabin and eroding the earth around the blocking that the cabin sits on.
The rear side of the cabin where the stairs were secured showed the most damage.
Being that this side is in total shade 24/7 and that water and snow collect between the stair and the kickplate, the constant moisture had rotted out the kickplate. Repairing this was rather simple as the rot didn't make its way into the main floor joists that support the structure.
In this picture you can also see the berm that I put around the entire cabin.
After re-staining the door and reattaching the stairs it was time to move onto the last side. The final side only needed a fresh coat of stain which only took a little over an hour. Now it was time to move indoors.
The first thing that I addressed was the window.
Finishing the interior of the window with the trim pieces that I had made in advance also worked out without a hitch.
After spackling some of the dents in the sheetrock that had happened over the years, it was time to paint the interior.
Choosing to go with the same basic color, cutting in around all of the trim was made much easier.
With new window shades installed and valances hung above the windows, this project was coming to an end. Installing a new smoke alarm was the last step, safety first as @farm-mom always says.
Robin was in charge of picking out the blinds, curtains, bed coverings, and lighting.
The restoration that we started on the 22nd of September was finally completed on the 18th of November.
As I do things around the farm I realize that many of the projects that I address have been done for the last time, at least by me.
Our children grew up vacationing on this piece of dirt and still love coming to visit us here. The FARM will be left to them when it's time for us to say goodbye. Four generations of our family have experienced all that this place has to offer. Hopefully, future generations will continue to come to this sanctuary and be hypnotized by its magic!
Our children grew up vacationing on this piece of dirt and still love coming to visit us here. The FARM will be left to them when it's time for us to say goodbye. Four generations of our family have experienced all that this place has to offer. Hopefully, future generations will continue to come to this sanctuary and be hypnotized by its magic!