Winterizing

If you want a history lesson that packs a punch, spend a winter in a partially-chinked log cabin. We freqently marvel how on earth the first homesteaders on this farm, living in a small 10x14 log cabin with an unknown heat source, managed to survive their first winters. The two small original cabins are dwarfed by the massive logs in the barn we have remodeled into the cabin I now live in.
The original chinking shows use of horsehair and white sand from here on the property. The other binder was likely lime, which is also plentiful in the area. When we started the re-chinking that first fall, we used a modern formula of sand (still from the property), Portland cement, and lime. It works great. The color is different, but that's pretty small on the grand scale.
Another thing we have come to appreciate is the TIME it takes to get ready for winter. And that's with all our modern doo-dads to work with.
Brent took on the final push to get the east side of the cabin completely chinked. The starlings and peewees were appreciative that we didn't get it all done last year. The log gaps housed more than one avian family this summer.
I thought this was an interesting view of the cabin, it looks really small. It's actually about 32 feet by 27 feet. Make that two stories, and you have almost 1700 sq. feet of living space. A far cry from the 140 sq. feet of the old original cabin that is in the brush just off the north side of this building.

This is a little more accurate perspective. And if you had a really good magnifier, you could see the two hornet nests just under the eves. Brent was not impressed.

Another view of the east side, where we plan to have an 8x12 back porch built by the middle of October.
Brent mixed gallons of chinking in the little mortar trough that was rescued from another old farm. I'm sure that was it's orginal use - preparing chinking for making those old log buildings winter proof.

Without scaffolding, you use what's handy - including the boxelders that grow like weeds.
Most of the lighter grey chinking was done last year. The darker is still damp, and shows the final touches of getting the logs sealed more tightly.
Of course, while Dad was working the punks were busy doing other things. Lee says, he and

...Jayden, were "just hanging around."
We really appreciate the history of this farm and it's buildings. Living in an original log structure, especially with winter wind whistling through cracks during a snow storm, puts a whole new spin on "homesteading".

This winter I'll be tucked in real cozy. Thank you, Brent.