first logs have arrived

Cool! Question: are the numbers put on by the logger, or you?
JP

We put them there as they arrived. it was the start of our log catalog. for example, now we know #1 has a butt of 16.25 inches and top of 9.33 inches and pretty straight so when we find we need a log with those characteristics to even out a course we know exactly where to look:) putting it all in excel makes it even easier to find the particular log we'll need

Wouldn't it be great if you could bottle that feeling you got as they were offloading YOUR logs onto YOUR log decks on YOUR land and come back later when your older and grayer and more stiff and more sore and take a little nip of it. Just wait til the first one is sitting on YOUR foundation. My wife cried.

pretty exciting stuff!!!

Not all who wander are lost...

http://s888.photobucket.com/home/rusty_bucket_album/index

you are quite right, Loghousenut:) I sure do wish I could bottle it!! on those evenings when we're frustrated and depressed and bone tired, we could find the bottle and take a whiff:)

I see you have your log on a slope. I had to have my logs sloped down to the pond. It was the only place I had. My slope is 1 in 5 feet. I had several logs slip 8 feet toward the pond as we were rolling them. Very scary, log out of control. My suggestion is to put the logs in as flat a place as you can to make it easier to move by hand and peel them...
Good Luck
Looks like a great place to build, great dirt for a garden.

VERY good point about getting those heavy logs onto level land! in a few weeks when the ground's thawed a bit more we'll excavate and make more flat areas.

I too worried about logs slipping. won't have the young peelers working with the logs until we can get them on flat ground.

YES! its great dirt for a garden:) I have a vegetable and a flower garden just out of camera shot. they're covered in straw to help keep them from getting all torn up by the heavy equipment. will likely uncover them in a few weeks.

I took your suggestion (on a much earlier post) and planted a berry garden as well, but this is on the other side of the property from where we'll be building and is in far less danger of being destoyed by the workers. planted blueberries in our rather sandy soil near the pine trees; raspberries and strawberries in an area where they'll get a lot of direct sun. I know there won't be too much to harvest this first year but very much looking forward to using my own berries for jam instead of buying the berries:)

thanks for all your posts. I especially liked the 'lessons learned' post!!

ConGrats!!!!
Upon your log's. My blood started to boil just seeing your picture's. Looks like you've got a beautiful building site too!

Again, the proof is in the pudding, Our Member's Build! And, continue to inspire us that hope & dream to build one too.

Congratulations & Thank You!

Tom

Yes Mr. Featherstone there really is something about those whole logs that create a sort of visceral response:)

will definitely post more pictures we we move forward.

in the next couple of months we'll be peeling the logs, doing the excavation, making and pouring the footers and making and pouring the stem wall for the garage and hopefully the ICF walkout basement.

planning to be stacking logs the last part of June so its going to be a busy few months:)

thanks for your comments!

I'm looking forward to rounding up an interested friend or two to come up, see the site and assist with peeling, etc.  You're piloting the way, and we'll be taking note of your experiences.  Keep up with the warm weather and dry this ground out!

Also, in your pic, I see what looks like bobcat forks and grapples...hmmm, I sure wouldn't mind running a skidsteer either!...

JP

Elk River, Minnesota

you and any friends you can round up are definitely welcome! we promise to feed you well and make time for fishing:)

soon I'll post our work schedule (i.e. the weekends we'll be up at the property for peeling logs, moving logs, stacking logs) and will hopefully give you some time to make plans:)

there will also be a lot of excavation and cement work going on, if that interests you as well:)!