Mike and Katie's Cabin

Welcome to our "blog"!!! We hope to share with you the journey we will take as we build our little dream cabin at our property in the Southern Tier of WNY.

Name:
Location: New York State, United States

I am a high school science teacher and my wife is a middle school counselor. We have two boys and a German Shorthaired Pointer named Jager!! We both love the outdoors and spending time at our property!

Monday, May 10, 2010

One step closer!

Well....we finally reached a major milestone at the property! We have water...well, not exactly!! We have a 67 foot well that spits out almost 30 gallons per minute, but no way to get it to our structures?

We'll work on that, but it's a start! Later this week the septic system is started and then the pressure tank for the well. We're really excited!! It sounds ambitious, but we'd like to have water flowing by Memorial Day!

Here are some photo's that Katie and her dad snapped of the well drilling rig!! That's a big truck!!




Friday, December 18, 2009

Happy Holidays

Well...it has been some time since my last update!! We sure have gotten a lot done in the last few months! The cabin is almost completely sided and we finally were able to get all of the insulation in. The electrical inspector came out and we passed the inspection. Congratulations to my electrician!! I highly recommend him and he works cheap. The only stipulation is you have to be genetically related to him...and he has to have raised you from birth!!

We spent a lot of time in the fall doing some odds and ends and I was even able to shoot a nice doe in late gun season in the back corner of our property!

We look forward to lots of progress this spring, summer and fall!! Hope to see y'all out there!!



Here are two of my union fiberglass insulation installers on one of their "contractual breaks"


My multi-use general laborer/electrician/plumber/framer working on some insulation


Jared cuts while Brian drinks beer....rough summer for my partner....don't ask!!


Almost done with the shingles


Finally....starting to look like a cabin!!

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Getting closer

Well...we finally have a few weekends where we can get some work done. I took advantage of the time and had some friends and family out this past weekend. We were able to get just about all of the electric finished including the smoke detectors. We started the insulation and got quite a bit of siding finished as well (until we ran out).

On Saturday we had my dad, Uncle John, Alan, Mr. Frank, Uncle Fred, Joe and Jared came out on Saturday to help.

On Sunday, Uncle John and my dad slept over and Uncle Bob Albrecht made the trip to help us out!

Thanks to everyone who helped....especially Katie and my mom who did all of the cooking for us this past weekend!!

We will get back at it this weekend!! More updates to follow.



Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Some Springtime Progress

Well...we were able to get some things done the last few weeks. My Dad and I were able to finish up the rough wiring for all of our electricity. In fact, the electrical inspector is coming tomorrow. I'm not really sure what to expect, since I have never had an electrical inspection before. We did everything right in our eyes...but unfortunately, those aren't the ones that matter.

I was also able to get a little more siding done and started on the balcony and stairway railings.

Brian and I were also able to get out there and build our stairway into the hillside. No more excuses if you fall....provided you are sober!!







Saturday, February 28, 2009

My Annual Winter Update

Well, on a sunny, Saturday afternoon, I took a ride down to the cabin to check things out. It was a beautiful day!! Everything in the cabin looked good. I was able to make a mental list of some of the things to get done and where a few electrical connections need to be placed.

I also took a walk in the woods. There is still a lot of snow. I was able to determine the location of our first food plot (potentially).

It will be a busy year out there. Now that Drew is older, it will be easier to take him out there and find things for him to do (safely).



Monday, January 26, 2009

Getting ready...

Well...spring is slowly approaching and its time to start planing again. This year we would like to get the following things done:

1. Finish the siding

2. Design and install a railing system for the stairs

3. Finish the electrical

4. Hang the insulation

5. Purchase and install a wall mounted propane furnace

As far as goals for the property itself, we would like to build some stairs near the fire pit and install some split rail fences as well. Plus we need to start managing our woodlot and take some trees down up top as well.

There will be plenty to keep us busy. We will keep everyone updated as the year progresses and see how our list looks in December!!

Monday, August 25, 2008

Little by little...

Well, we are getting a little bit done here and there!! Over the past 9 0r 10 months, we were able to finish the mudroom, get a lot of the interior electrical work done, install a composting toilet, frame in the upstairs bedrooms and start the cedar siding. We hope to get a lot of the siding done over the next few weeks before hunting season starts!! We look forward to seeing family and friends come visit as we move farther and farther along!!



Here is a look at some of the interior framing upstairs.



The first piece of siding is up...and Joe and Steve are trying to figure out what button you push to turn the saw on!! They should probably plug it in first!!



Progress...



The transition piece is in. Everything above is going to be cedar shingles!!