Finishing our log home basement

After 7 years in our log home, we finally finished the basement!  Well I take that back, it's about 80% finished.  We need to put up the ceiling and add more furniture but for the most part it's ready! 

Our log home was built on a sloping landscape so we added the walk out basement which greatly increased our living space.  I can't tell you how nice it is to sit on this couch and view the lake - it's frozen but it's still a lake view.  :-)

In other news we have ventured back into the log home business.  The economy is picking back up in Michigan and there are still great deals for land to build on in Northern Michigan.  If you are interested in a log home, please visit our website at www.bearcountryloghomes. We would love to help you make your log home dream a reality.

Log Home & Timber Frame Expo - Chicago!

ATTENTION Log Home Enthusiasts!

The Log Home & Timber Frame Expo is coming to Chicago! The event runs from October 3 - October 5 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center.

I will be exhibiting there on behalf of Hiawatha Log Homes and would love to meet you! So if you're in the Chicago area and decide to attend, please stop by booth# 702 and say hello!

Greg and I loved attending these shows when we were in the early stages of planning our log home. We came away with such valuable information and it really helped educate us on the process. Even if you already own a log home, I believe it is still worth attending to see the latest in design, maintenance and decor.

This event should be great with all the exhibitors they have and all the seminars they are offering. Some of the seminars at the expo include:

• Log Home Care & Maintenance


• Selecting a builder


• Construction lending


• Design is in the details

Check the website for more information. Hope to see you there! This is my first log home show as an exhibitor and I'm hoping I can help someone else make their log home dream come true!

Today is the first day....

My log home really inspired me. Because I love it so much and what it represents - a connection to nature and family - I wanted to concentrate on it full time to help others make their dream come true. Yesterday was the last day at my "Fortune 500" company job. Yes - a lot of people told me I was crazy for leaving a good paying job! And I did wake up at night like a cat on the ceiling thinking "am I doing the right thing?" I have a loving & supportive husband that told me to go for it. It's not too often you get to do what you love. Plus he said "hey, Maria is out of the office next week, you can come help me." Ha! So yes, I will be helping him at his company as needed too. So today is the first day of the rest of my life!

Also, Marvin our log cabin cat has said I must have a giveaway to celebrate this new venture in my life and I agree. It's going to have to be fall related as I love fall and "tis the season." I'm going shopping today to see what I find. Stop back tomorrow for details!!

P.S. My public service announcement for today - if you are looking for a log home, please visit me at Elk Country Log Homes!

Milling the logs at Hiawatha Log Homes

When I went for my training at Hiawatha Log Homes, I was looking forward to seeing the log milling in action. When you witness the logs being cut and milled, you realize what a precise art this is as well as how dangerous. It takes extremely skilled and patient people to prepare these logs. Here is a rough, simple version of the process:

The logs are being kiln dried to reduce the moisture in the logs so you don't have as much settling. A moisture content of 19% or less is the standards set by the Log Home Council.

Here is a Norway Red Pine log being milled.

Look how talented this lady is! See how smooth the log is.

The logs are numbered and stacked into piles to get ready for delivery to the future log home owner!

The View is Everything!

One of the reasons we chose our lot for our log home was for the view it offered. The view is of a small, quiet lake. I loved the idea (and am now experiencing it) of sitting on my deck looking at the lake and the mature trees across the way. Windows became important in our endeavor - thus we had the 2-story living area with a wall of windows facing the lake. Even my nice-size kitchen window was perfect for viewing the wooded lot next door. In retrospect, the only thing I wish I had done differently was to add a bay window to the side wall of our dining area - it would have afforded more woodsy views. Also, maybe a small window in the bathroom - I could've hung up a small bird feeder outside so while you are sitting on the toilet...oh never mind. I'm getting carried away!

Log Cabin Tip: Be aware of your surroundings in choosing your lot and pick the placement and size of the windows to compliment your favorite views.

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Prepping the Logs

Last year I visited Hiawatha Log Home's headquarters in Munising, Michigan (Located way up in the Upper Peninsula.) It was really interesting to see how the logs were organized, their process of milling and then kiln drying them. (For those not familiar, the kiln drying reduces the moisture content in the logs so there is less settling once the home is built.) They even started up their log cutting equipment so we could see the logs go through. I'm a big organization freak so I really liked seeing how they stacked and numbered the logs for delivery. Visiting their model home office (which was stunning!) and being able to witness their process gave me great reassurance that they were true professionals and had a great system. I highly recommend to anyone interested in purchasing a log home, that they visit the log provider's mill.