After all that sanding and staining, it was time to work on the fireplaces. To do that we needed rock (or a reasonable fac simile) and after visiting several stone and brick places in our area, we decided that East Tyler Brick in Tyler, TX was the best place to get a quality product for the least amount of money.

East Tyler Brick has far more than just brick and stone. They have pot belly stove replicas, “throw-back” appliances, and outdoor living furniture and equipment. While the hubby was finalizing the stone order, I noticed a patio table off to one side. It had a wooden top on it, but also had a metal base. The wood grain was amazing and very polished. It puzzled me, quite frankly.

I went over to the table and when I examined it further, I realized it was actually STONE! I fell in love with it, instantly. My mind raced and I checked myself quickly with this thought: “We’ll never be able to afford it.” But the next thought was: “Maybe we could do the bathroom counters in this?”

Howdy, Word Lovers!

WOW (Word of the Week) is baaaaaaaack! I’m going to start “fresh” and instead of me giving the true definition for the previous WOW, I’m will simply start with my guesses for sacerdotal. Don’t forget to comment below if you have a guess or already know the definition of it!

sacerdotal (sa-sər-ˈdō-tᵊl) 1. doting on a saucer 2. a story involving soccer 3. something tasting like saccharin.

No fair looking up the definition!

Wednesday’s Post: Logging some more Rhythms…

You Might Also Like: Word of the Week: interpellate and Word of the Week: infrangible

Perhaps the most daunting task of finishing out the interior of our cabin by ourselves was sanding and staining the interior walls, doors and trim inside our home. “Phase I” of this process involved sanding all the interior walls and ceilings.

Just doing the vaulted ceilings was a massive two-week undertaking. While the hubby had tremendous help from our youngest and the DSL that first weekend, the hubby was forced to take some vacation time and do most of it himself.

After looking at several log cabin magazines, I had one fear and I have a sneaky suspicion many log cabin families fear the same thing: making the cabin too dark. Our neighbor says and I agree that one does have to install more lighting in a log cabin than in conventional housing because the logs are already going to naturally darken the room and absorb light.

Thus, I elected to go with the lightest stain we could find to minimize this effect.

I complained to the Mom person about not being allowed on her laptop. She said I wasn’t allowed on it because I shed too much and she’s writing yet another paper for some certification she’s working on. (PLEASE–do not give her any other ideas about getting more certifications…whatever those are…I don’t get my head scratched nearly as much when she’s getting one.)

The only papers I have ever cared about were the ones they let me use when I was a pup. Even then, I was sequestered to the cold tile floors of the house. NOT my idea of fun. I used to pout about it, but it never seemed to get me released from paper-and-tile-land. They did let me on a warmer floor when they realized I had chewed all the furniture legs in paper-and-tile-land.

But, according to some other papers (According to the Mom person, these papers cost a lot of money and have something to do with a Kennel Association. I don’t get how dog kennels get together or even why they get together, but apparently these kennels have a lot to talk about.) I am about to have a rather monumental birthday.

Weellllll….I didn’t quite follow through on my intention of keeping you up to date with all that is going on with our Katahdin cabin at the Reserve at Montalba. Let’s just say my spiritual direction practicum is to blame.

However, the practicum should be finished by the latter part of April and I will be back to my blogging shenanigans. In the meantime I want to give you a brief update and…an invitation!

We are now “at the landscaping stage” of our little gray cabin in the woods. And a new pond is going in, as well as our driveway! I finally got to drive down the driveway this past weekend and we can now park a car in the carport! Hallelujah–I never thought I’d see this day!

We have already had two sets of guests at the cabin, too, and celebrated our first Christmas there. I used to think I did well decorating my own home for Christmas, but there is just something special about decorating a log cabin for Christmas. And it was our first grandson’s first Christmas and New Year’s, so it was even more special.

But, back to that invitation I mentioned. Each year the Reserve holds an “Open House” of sorts–Spring Fling! It’s held in conjunction with nearby Palestine, TX’s Dogwood Festival.