In early 1999, we purchased a log kit from Southland Log Homes to be delivered in May to our property here in the beautiful North Georgia mountains. Meanwhile,we cleared the heavily wooded home site ourselves – felling lots of large trees, burning brush and cutting firewood (and with only one minor chainsaw accident!). Then we had a driveway cut and gravel spread. We hired experts to dig a well, lay the foundation, erect the shell and get it dried in. We had subcontractors put on a roof, do electrical and plumbing.
Then we did everything else. We traveled EVERY weekend for over a year from our home near Atlanta to work on construction. We did it all including framing a couple interior walls, finishing out all the interior walls, laying floors with wood and tile, planning and installing the complete kitchen, paneling the 20 ft tall cathedral ceiling, building a deck, screening in part of the porch, landscaping, etc. etc. Our kids were young and it was a logistical challenge to get things done. We are not experts and had little experience in the construction trades, but we managed somehow.
We think it’s beautiful and are proud of our accomplishment despite our mistakes and amateur construction.
It’s a peaceful, heart-warming place and we love to spend time there. It will one day be our permanent home when we get the finances right. And we hope to pass it on to our kids with a trust to take care of the place for generations. It will be standing long after we are.
