Building the Yonderosa Cabin part 2 - the interior

Outpost Pictures

A vast majority of the inquiries I get through this blog are about the Outpost building.  Most recently the requests have been for more pictures.  I've posted these before but they have drifted too far back for some to see.  Here's a collection of my favorites.

Deb was a big help during the construction of the Outpost.  What she lacked in experience she more than made up for it with enthusiasm.  She has also spurred this project into reality and greatly influenced its design specs.

The remote location and time limitations required simplicity and compromise in the design.  It is big enough, but not too big.

In ten days we were able to dig the footing holes, do the concrete pad foundation, frame the building and install the roofing. 

The following Spring we started on the siding.

I was able to salvage some of the soffit materials from my other projects off cuts.  Not only does it look good (in my opinion) it is more critter resistant.

 I build the cabinets from logs salvaged and milled by a local sawyer.  Though small it is very functional.

The style was inspired by my Great Granfather's desk and evolved from there using the local materials I had found.  It is a lot more work than buying stock cabinets but I was able to create custom sizes using solid wood and derive a great deal of satisfaction from it.

I used the same material to make the drawers.  It mills and works beautifully.

To maximize comfort and conserve space I built a Murphy Bed.

My current project is interior trim.  I'm resawing the material I'm getting from the sawyer and installing it rough side out bordered by the same material milled and stained dark.  I make the backband from 1" rips that I rabbet and chamfer to add visual interest to the profile.

Thanks for your interest, support and inspiration.

A few more pictures

I do enjoy escaping to the Yonderosa whenever I can, even a short visit is rewarding.

We are exploring the possibility of drilling a well this summer and interviewed a number of drillers while I was there.  In these uncertain times spending a big chunk of $ does cause us to pause.  It is an investment and a positive step, it isn't likely to be less expensive if we wait...

The baseboard is a full 6" of rough sawn Douglas fir.  The wainscot is 5/16"+ random width rough sawn Douglas fir and just under 6' high.  We're undecided on what we will do about the chair/plate rail - it's all part of the fun journey.

I did get a little snow while I was there.  Kirby Creek is running and the first signs of Spring are starting to appear.

One of my favorite views - From the meadow looking north.

Looking Back at 2009

2009 sure didn't seem to like a whole year to me...  It went by way too fast.  2009 was a good year though, progress was made at the Yonderosa, comfort and convenience improved, adventures were enjoyed.  Each visit was eagerly anticipated and our enthusiasm remains high.  When we aren't there, we're thinking about there. 

Our first visit in 2009 was in February.  The snow as knee deep.  The landscape was peaceful and the quiet amazing.  

I was back in early April to put down the porch deck, pickup and deliver windows, siding and soffit materials.

In May the siding got underway. 

A Moose visit was a highlight in June

In July the focus switched to the interior.  We added a window, insulated, back sheeted (to serve as the nailing substrate for the interior wall finish - Rough Sawn Fir - a goal for 2010) and soffited the porch.

 

The Place is really starting to come together.

A few days after our July visit our excellent neighbors informed us of a fire caused by a lightning strike right next to our cabin!  We are very thankful to have observant neighbors watching out for us.  The fire was contained and extinguished.  Too close for comfort.

In August we insulated and sheathed the floor.

In September we were back with the Murphy Bed and another load of cabinets I built in my shop at home.

Later in the month I made a solo trip over to do the flooring.

A brief visit in October allowed us to haul over more cabinets and a sofa.

We also had a Bobcat stroll by while I was eating my breakfast. 

 

WARNING - graphic description of nature to follow - NOT the Disney version

I rarely see him but he leaves us lots of evidence he prowls the Yonderosa regularly - several Turkey kills this year and I just found another deer killed just on the other side of the creek - near where three others were killed by cats last year.  I had assumed it was a Cougar as they are abundant in the area and Deer are their primary prey.  Once I saw size of this guy - easily as big as my Labradors - I wasn't so sure.  I spoke with a State Biologist and he said that large Bobcats will indeed take Deer. 

I'm not certain he killed this most recent deer - a Mule Deer doe - I saw her tracks in the snow where she walked to the kill site and LOTS of coyote tracks.  I looked hard but didn't find any definitive cat tracks but my theory is that the deer was killed by a cat, the pack of Coyotes waited until the cat was finished or was driven off of the kill.  There were lots of areas of flattened snow near the kill that weren't used for feeding and my assumption is that the Coyotes waited for the Cat (Couger or Bobcat) to leave or drove it off once enough of them had arrived.  Once the Coyotes took possession they ripped her into pieces (Cats feed with the carcass intact) and consumed her.  It was facinating in a CSI kind of way.  My curiosity piqued, I spent a few hours looking at tracks and the remains trying to discover what had happend.  It was sad and exhilerating at the same time. 

Back to our regulary scheduled programing.

A short trip in November allowed me to get another cabinet over.  Still have three more to build for the kitchen, but it is useable now which made our December trip very comfortable

In December we enjoyed the fruits of our labor - staying warm, eating well and fueling the excitement for further progresss.  2009 was an excellent year for us.  We are optimistic that in 2010 our efforts will yield more rewards and happy memories at the Yonderosa.

Cabinet Progress

With Winter knocking on the door I snuck over with another load.

The countertop will have to wait until next spring.  One more base cabinet left to build (to the right of the range) and two more wall cabinets.  With any luck I'll get another chance before the snow settles in for Winter.

October - part two

The weather was beautiful but cold - about 20 degrees below the normal average for this time of year.  The cabin stayed nice and cozy warm with occasional use of the heater - about an hour every 4-6 hours is all it took, more made it too warm.  It was a good trial run for our winter visits.

Another shot of the window trim.  I'm pleased with the look (thanks to my lovely wife).  I'm very excited to get the wall finish (probably rough sawn Douglas Fir) on.  The plywood is simply backing for the finish wood and will be covered up (a frequently asked question).

My DHW insisted she needed a comfortable place to sit during the day and she bought a couch.  I resisted (of course)  but will admit that it is a pretty nice to relax on...

There will be shelving built above the built in dresser as well as another cabinet between it and the Murphy bed.  To the left of the bed will be another base cabinet and wall cabinet. 

October visit and progress

Just back from the Yonderosa.  BEAUTIFUL fall weather, got some stuff done, saw some critters...

I was eating breakfast looking out at the meadow when this dude strolled by... I took this picture from inside the cabin window.  Tried to get one from the porch but he skedaddled before I could get out there.  I've only seen a few Bobcats prior to this visit - this one was bigger than the others, easily as big as our Labradors.

The view window trimmed out  - this is the window I took the picture of the Bobcat through.

The wall cabinet I brought over installed.

More later!

More Cabinets ready to go

If I can get one or two more done in time the next trip might require two vehicles.

The cabinet stock is the quarter sawn Douglas Fir. Everything you see is solid stock including the door and side panels. I like the way it turned out.

The goal was to create a "simple" rustic cabinet. I used slightly wider stiles and rails to give it a more muscular look and did my best to incorporate the natural "defects" (knots, bark beetle pitch pockets, wind checks, grain variations and mismatches... etc.) to give it the "unrefined" look though it requires a lot more work to achieve it.
Can't really improve on God's work. I did my best not to hide it.

Quick Trip - floor down & window trim

My Disproportionately Hot Wife (DHW) sourced some Red Oak inexpensively and tasked me with installing it. Got er' dun!


I also installed the window trim. After a number of mock-ups (four) and stain tests (eight) we have a winner! My DHW gets the credit for style and color. I just build it. I think she has splendid taste.

We are very excited to get the wall finish on - it will be rough sawn fir but I'm still about 100 board feet short. It would be great to get it in this fall - the weather will be the deciding factor though. We've just had the first snow of the season down to 5,000 feet.

Took this picture today on the way home.