Introduce yourself

**Shark** · 11-14-2018, 08:26 PM

Yes, the areas that you can still do as you please without permits, awesome!

My wife works downtown, and we like to be closer to an airport to travel to visit family, so we are in a county with lots of rules. Give and take. Still cheaper than California or Colorado.
Many plates from those states moving in this year.

**loghousenut** · 11-15-2018, 08:21 AM

Anna, definitely take the class. If you took the class and slept through the boring first two days of it and then went home and got your hands on the "member's only" side of this forum, you'd be money ahead.

**DearMyrah** · 01-07-2019, 02:50 PM

Hey All --

After taking the class in June 2016, we finally have land and are prepping to start our build this year. (Insert fanfare here.)

I've been lurking here on the forums for a while, but I thought it might be time to introduce myself. I'm SW of Denver in the foothills above Sedalia, CO. We're on 40 acres of pine forest adjacent to Pike Nat'l Forest. I'm hopeful that we can get most of our logs off our property and from neighbors. We're looking at mostly Lodgepole and Ponderosa. The area was logged about a hundred years ago, so the trees that were too young for harvesting then should be about right now. They won't be huge, but 18" at the butt end should be do-able, right?

Our property has a small house already so we're able to live here while we build. It's tough, really. Oh, and my dh and I both work from home. So tough. So, we're finalizing plans, combing thru county regs, and counting our pennies as we move forward.

We went up to meet Jarrington over the weekend and to see his build! I've always heard that size doesn't matter, but after seeing his Englemanns, I'm not sure...

Looking forward to connecting with other CO folks, too.

Here's a pic of the view from the current house just for attention. Stop on by if you're in the area!

--DearMyrah
alittlefarm.com

**loghousenut** · 01-07-2019, 03:12 PM

Welcome aboard, Dear! Goodlooking view you have there. We live up a north facing canyon so the only far off view we have is the weather directly overhead and a few stars at night. Yes, 18" logs will do nicely but if you come across a pile of 24"ers, don't pass them up.

**Kevo1288** · 01-08-2019, 05:01 AM

My names Kevin I am 30 years old from MA/CT border. I have been pointed towards building my own log home. My boss whos 67 said he stumbled across it years ago and that if he was 20 years younger he would be doing this. So anyway, my drive is that I want another pup. I recently (2 months ago) had to surrender my 20 week old Belgian Malinois who I spent every waking hour with to the Quincy MA police department because he wasn't working with my ex (she wasn't working with him either, wasn't the pups fault)...id never give up a dog but due to my connections with law enforcement it made it easy as that dog was meant to have a calling in law enforcement. Anyways, after splitting up with the ex gf which was smooth and mutual I moved back home with parents. I just picked up a second job to put money away to fund this project. I plan on buying in the area I am from and building a 30x30 log home with a half second floor (loft) and a basement. I want nothing more than to own my own place and another dog (the dog was my calling and everyone could see it) I always wanted a Belgian malinois or dutch shepherd after seeing a dutch in the old neighborhood I lived in and seeing how intelligent she was. I also plan on attending the seminar but probably not till next year so until then, ill read and read. I have looked a few lots with a great selection and abundance of useable lumber.

**mudflap** · 01-08-2019, 06:32 AM

if he was 20 years younger he would be doing this.

Everyone who sees my home says this. We cut about 75% of our trees from within 600' of our build site. The rest were from less than a block away.

I have all the boards for my decking up on the roof now- I needed 24 more to close up the gap over the ridge pole. It looks like I might be completely closed in either tonight or tomorrow. It's been a wonderful and extremely challenging yet extremely rewarding experience. I imagine not many things you do in life will be worthy of remembrance by your grandchildren, but building your own home with trees you cut and peeled yourself is definitely one of those things.

You'll have more than enough reading to do until the class. I suggest signing up ASAP- they usually announce class dates 6 months in advance.

I'm also a fellow dog lover. Welcome!

**sdart** · 01-08-2019, 07:47 AM

Tell your boss that there are a number of us who are not 20 years younger and are still doing it

**Kevo1288** · 01-08-2019, 07:53 AM

Originally Posted by sdart

Tell your boss that there are a number of us who are not 20 years younger and are still doing it

Hes also battling cancer... I think that's where his 20 years younger comment comes from. A time when he wasn't battling it.

**sdart** · 01-08-2019, 08:01 AM

That's too bad, so sorry for him. We are just hoping to keep our health until the house is done and have a few years to enjoy it.

**donjuedo** · 01-09-2019, 02:00 AM

That's a beautiful view you have.

Peter

**buddyrough** · 01-12-2019, 05:53 AM

This is Randy from Texas

**r5t0ut21** · 01-12-2019, 07:34 AM

Originally Posted by buddyrough

This is Randy from Texas

Hey, ditto. This is a big state, so it's ok to have 2 of us. I'm near San Antonio.

**Camhart73** · 01-15-2019, 09:23 AM

Hey Everyone!

Found out about LHBA just a week or two ago. Stayed up all weekend reading through mudflap's blog, as well as many of the others ones I found. Just signed up for the Feb 16th/17th course--really excited.

I live in Western Washington--If any of you have built your own log home near Western Washington (especially if you're not an experienced builder) I'd love to come see it if you'd be willing to let me swing by. I'll likely bring the whole family (wife, 2 year old son, 5 month old daughter).

Also if anyone is currently building, I'd love to get some hands on experience before I start my own, plus hopefully be helpful to you! It's too bad that part of the forum is private even for those have already signed up

Sounds like these forums are a pretty neat place to be. Looking forward to the class, being able learn/grow from each of you, and bypassing the big mortgage.

**mudflap** · 01-15-2019, 09:44 AM

Welcome. of course.

**Shark** · 01-15-2019, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by Camhart73

Hey Everyone!

Found out about LHBA just a week or two ago. Stayed up all weekend reading through mudflap's blog, as well as many of the others ones I found. Just signed up for the Feb 16th/17th course--really excited.

I live in Western Washington--If any of you have built your own log home near Western Washington (especially if you're not an experienced builder) I'd love to come see it if you'd be willing to let me swing by. I'll likely bring the whole family (wife, 2 year old son, 5 month old daughter).

Also if anyone is currently building, I'd love to get some hands on experience before I start my own, plus hopefully be helpful to you! It's too bad that part of the forum is private even for those have already signed up

Sounds like these forums are a pretty neat place to be. Looking forward to the class, being able learn/grow from each of you, and bypassing the big mortgage.

Welcome, and don't worry, the members side is worth the wait!

**rreidnauer** · 01-15-2019, 02:06 PM

You may as well look up Wallace Lodge and go take a gander.

Sent from my SM-G955U1 using Tapatalk

**donjuedo** · 01-15-2019, 03:21 PM

Welcome, Camhart73!

It's the real deal. Seeing what others have done is definitely inspiring.

Peter

**Camhart73** · 01-15-2019, 09:15 PM

Originally Posted by rreidnauer

You may as well look up Wallace Lodge and go take a gander.

http://www.wallacefallslodge.com/ that one?

**Menze** · 01-16-2019, 12:48 AM

Hi, my name in Menze and i am from The Netherlands.
I will be attending a 3 weeks course logbuilding at the germany school of logbuilding in a few months.
I am a newbie and have a dream of building my own loghome.
Good possibility i will post some quenstions here.
Are there more forums that deal explicitely with Loghome building.

**sdart** · 01-16-2019, 12:49 AM

There are many, many member's houses in Western Washington, as you'll find out when you get to the other side of the forum. I doubt if most will want to post their location here on the public side, so you'll just have to wait!

**rreidnauer** · 01-16-2019, 02:54 AM

Originally Posted by Camhart73

http://www.wallacefallslodge.com/ that one?

That's it.

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**donjuedo** · 01-16-2019, 02:56 AM

Hi, Menze. Welcome. Have you signed up for the LHBA class (2 day class)?

**mudflap** · 01-17-2019, 06:07 AM

Thought this was appropriate for everyone:

https://zenpencils.com/comic/92-chri...to-be-average/

**Camhart73** · 01-17-2019, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by mudflap

Thought this was appropriate for everyone:

https://zenpencils.com/comic/92-chri...to-be-average/

I love this. You know it's interesting--I have a side business that I work on on nights/weekends right now. But the feelings I had just as I was starting to prep for launching the business seem really similar to what I'm feeling now as I prep for building a log home. Lots of excitement, fair amount of fear, a bit of embarrassment when I tell people about it (maybe that's just me), a certain degree of uncertainty about what the future will hold. Launching and running my side business has been the most fulfilling work I've ever done in my whole life. I hope building a log home brings similar feelings of fulfillment.

Paul Graham wrote an essay on why humans aren't meant to have bosses, and what it's like to work for yourself vs a boss. I highly suggest it. See http://www.paulgraham.com/boss.html. First 3 paragraphs are below. For anyone who doesn't know who Paul Graham is, he's a highly successful tech entrepreneur, founder of YCombinator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Graham_(programmer).

Technology tends to separate normal from natural. Our bodies weren't designed to eat the foods that people in rich countries eat, or to get so little exercise. There may be a similar problem with the way we work: a normal job may be as bad for us intellectually as white flour or sugar is for us physically.

I began to suspect this after spending several years working with startup founders. I've now worked with over 200 of them, and I've noticed a definite difference between programmers working on their own startups and those working for large organizations. I wouldn't say founders seem happier, necessarily; starting a startup can be very stressful. Maybe the best way to put it is to say that they're happier in the sense that your body is happier during a long run than sitting on a sofa eating doughnuts.

Though they're statistically abnormal, startup founders seem to be working in a way that's more natural for humans.

I was in Africa last year and saw a lot of animals in the wild that I'd only seen in zoos before. It was remarkable how different they seemed. Particularly lions. Lions in the wild seem about ten times more alive. They're like different animals. I suspect that working for oneself feels better to humans in much the same way that living in the wild must feel better to a wide-ranging predator like a lion. Life in a zoo is easier, but it isn't the life they were designed for.

**rocklock** · 01-17-2019, 10:50 PM

A three week course for building with logs will include many things that we don't value. For example, how to sharpen and axe and how to cut a notch. My log home has no notches and my chains of my chain saws are very sharp, but I learned from a video. We do not spend a lot of time matching one side of a log to another. The average time to get a log in place is about 1/2 an hour because we drill our logs then pound rebar to hold them in place. Our two day class is about the basics (how to stack carrots) and where to get information.

There are many web sight that track how they built their log home... Stacking logs is no big deal. I stacked 63 logs in 12 days.

Putting in the plumbing and electrical will take time. But feel free to ask as many question as you have them.

**Menze** · 01-30-2019, 03:01 AM

no, i will be attending the 3 weeks course in germany end of april/mai 2019

**Menze** · 01-30-2019, 03:07 AM

Originally Posted by rocklock

A three week course for building with logs will include many things that we don't value. For example, how to sharpen and axe and how to cut a notch. My log home has no notches and my chains of my chain saws are very sharp, but I learned from a video. We do not spend a lot of time matching one side of a log to another. The average time to get a log in place is about 1/2 an hour because we drill our logs then pound rebar to hold them in place. Our two day class is about the basics (how to stack carrots) and where to get information.

There are many web sight that track how they built their log home... Stacking logs is no big deal. I stacked 63 logs in 12 days.

Putting in the plumbing and electrical will take time. But feel free to ask as many question as you have them.

Gladfully there will be no sharpening and maintenace of chainsaw, felling a tree and so on.
Thank you for the invitation if i have questions..

**George2019** · 02-20-2019, 11:36 PM

Greetings from hell, friends!

I just took the Las Vegas February class, and am now back in Afghanistan.

The class was wonderful, and I'm very glad to be on the forums. I look forward to touching base with the folks who took the same class with me a few days ago, as well as the opportunity to meet new friends.

I have no land yet, no idea where I'm going to build my cabin, or even if I'm going to build my cabin. I have to focus on Afghanistan now. Once my work here is done, we'll take it from there!

- George