Well, that didn't work....
That's a rendition of how it should look when finished.
Here's where I am right now.

By the time the snow flies I should have four days of trim work, plus the
masonry, and the railing left to do next Spring. Then, move on to finish
the inside. Here's a quick tip: Move onto the building site. I've spent about 100 days building in the last five years. My year is about May - October. I spent most of one year with my wife (illness), and another
year getting our house ready to sell. Your work will proceed much faster
when you live on the project site.

In another life (post my; case & millwork life, and during my life as a
Firefighter) I was a general contractor. When I took the LHBA class
from Skip Ellsworth (you were a true friend, buddy!) I went in with a
background in construction. Was than an advantage? Well...yes, but
mostly no! Too many preconceptions! Better to go in with a clean slate.
Skip told of a young woman who finally tired of working the cosmetics
counter at Nordstrom and took the class. I can't remember the final
disposition, but Skip may have said she built several homes. Not too
improtant. She is now armed with all the necessary knowledge to build
a beautiful log home.