If you were to ask me to describe my ideal getaway, I would describe a picturesque log cabin in a mountain forest. Beautiful walking paths through the woods. A babbling stream nearby. Perhaps even a waterfall within hiking distance. The cabin itself would be cozy. Lots of wood features and fuzzy blankets with western/antique decor. But my practical side insists on having the Internet (pretty essential for a writer). And since I’ve never really been much of a “roughing it” type camper, I would prefer it have all the modern amenities. Let’s give it a hot tub, too, while we’re at it.
You see, if I’m going to have cabin fever, I want it in the best possible way. I want to create a place so cozy and comfortable that I won’t want to leave. So, I decided to go online and do some research, and I think I found the log cabin that I would be glad to be stranded in.
The home is called Pine Haven, and it was designed by Teton Heritage Builders. If you feel the urge to drool, you should definitely check out their website. There’s plenty of room in this cabin if anyone would like to join me for a feverish getaway.
(All photos credited to Roger Wade Photography)
And since everyone knows that the best way to deal with cabin fever is to get lost in a great book, I’m handing out a dose of cure today. Leave a comment to be entered for a chance to win an autographed copy of Short-Straw Bride, a book featuring a secluded cabin in the Piney Woods of Texas housing four brothers who never leave their land. Until the right woman comes their way.
- So what do you think? Want to share some cabin fever with me at Pine Haven?
- How would you describe your ideal place to get cabin fever? (An actual cabin is not required.)
We tend to think of log cabins as symbols of early American life, and indeed they embodied the inventive and hardy spirits of those who blazed new trails and settled on the frontier. The first log cabin in the Unites States was most likely built along the Delaware River in New Sweden by Scandinavian immigrants. The Swedes, Germans, Russians had been making cabins for years. Swedish settlers built log cabins when they came to Delaware in 1638. Other colonists followed their example.
Building with logs didn’t require much skill or special tools. A sharp axe, an adz and a strong back did the job, and the new lodging went up quickly. Most could last a couple hundred years if built well, and the inhabitants were warm in winter and cool in summer.
Roofs were made of available material, though cedar was prized because the wood split straight and resisted rot. The owner nailed the shingles to a beam and board framework. More logs could also be used as roofing, provided they were split lengthwise and fitted close on the frame. The gaps could be filled the same as the walls. A thatched roof needed a lot of upkeep, had to be replaced every year and often harbored insects, small animals and snakes. Many used sod placed flat over planks, and after a few years the earth compacted and became waterproof. Later in the 1800s, builders used corrugated tin. Can you imagine the sound of a rainstorm or hail?
Log cabins were not all one room dwellings with lofts, as we tend to imagine or like we see on Little House on the Prairie reruns. Many had several rooms and even second stories. Fireplaces and chimneys were made of stones and chinked with mud or clay. Sometimes the chimney was made of sticks or wood.
The floor was hard-packed clay or dirt. Since living in a cabin made its occupants vulnerable to attack, there were usually no windows. Besides glass was expensive and difficult to transport. Most people hung wooden shutters over oiled paper. In summer, the inventive settlers covered the openings with cheesecloth to allow air in and keep bugs out.