The Cabin - Part 3

A Few Questions and Answers

(1) How many uses did the clothesline have besides for hanging wet bathing suits, beach towels, wet rags and laundry? (Once there were two lines, until the rear tree had to be cut down.)

A. Some are: It once displayed a spray can painted sheet I made as an anniversary banner for a gathering in 1994. It also stored bead and plastic canvas home made "twirlies" I made to be given away to each couple attending the anniversary celebration.

It has shown off a pair of crocheted blankets I designed and made in 1977, using 32 different colored skeins, for my two youngest children after first receiving a blue ribbon award at the regional fair. It is still, and always has been a landing spot for assorted types of birds to rest between flights. Old line is always reused for tying down "things."

(2) How many logs have been split over 37 years as firewood for the original fireplace, and then later for the firebox barrel insert? (ash, oak, beech, birch, hickory, maple, apple, cherry)

1962

A. Tons of logs were made into an exceeding number of cords, all then stacked neatly, of course.

(3) How many bare babies' butts were placed in the old porcelain sink or on its built in porcelain corrugated drain board for bathing the little ones?

A. Six that I have personally placed there. Several others who I can think of were also subjected.

(4) What other uses does the bathroom ceiling (covered with random tongue and groove knotty pine planks) provide?

A. It provides a loft floor. Sleeping up by the rafters was a place for friends when there were too many visiting overnight for the overflow of beds such as the sofas, porch swing, and floor cots. Once it held four fold up cots for my kids when they were young; they loved to all go up there, but only the older four were permitted to sleep there. It has always been a source of storage space.

1968

1969

(5) Why do I live here?

A. Just because. (Re-read all of the above.)

The Cabin - Part 2

Construction Elements (essential features)

Living Area:

Wooden logs placed directly on concrete floor. Logs are flat on three sides and round on one.

• Floor: Concrete, covered with tile adhesive, covered with 9 x 9 inch asbestos floor tile. throughout.

• Ceilings: Exposed log rafters and random width rough cut knotty pine planks; bathroom ceiling covered with random tongue and groove knotty pine planks.

floor

living room ceiling and bathroom ceiling and wall

• Interior of outside walls: Flat side of stacked logs.

interior wall & gable

• Interior room dividing walls: 76 inch high, random width finished to 3/4 inch thick, knotty pine planks.

• Closet and bathroom doors: Random width, 3/4 inch thick knotty pine planks, hinged, "Z" shape cross braced interior side.

• Side and front doors: Constant width, 5 1/2 inch thick knotty pine planks, hinged, "Z" shape cross braced interior side.

• Kitchen cupboards: Three above sink 12 inches deep - doors random width tongue and groove, hingedand varnished. Five below countertop 24 inches deep - doors 3/4 inch solid plywood, hinged and varnished.

• Kitchen countertops: Above lower cupboards 24 inches deep, 3/4 solid plywood, varnished. between kitchen and dining area, 72 inches long, 16 inches wide, solid plywood, varnished and 2 shelves below, also plywood and varnished.

• Windows: Total 14. Six panes each, swing in type, flat installation, hinged.No interior sills. Locations - 3 in kitchen area, 1 dining area, 5 living area, 2 master bedroom, 2 small bedroom, 1 bathroom.

• Closets: Total 4. Locations - 1 in small bedroom, 1 utility storage in dining room, 1 linen in bathroom, 1 small in master bedroom.

• Fireplace: 66 inches wide by 28 inches deep, yellow brick, continuing through roof to top of chimney. Hearth - 24 inches wide by 66 inches long, comprised of several flat bluestone slates. Mantel - 70 inches long by 10 inches wide by 3 inches thick (front singular slab ) plus more on surround and back.

There is no garage. A roofed open sided carport is attached to side of building

A roofed open sided porch is attached to center front of building

Additional Interior Elements Contributing to Comfortable Livability

• Electricity: All original wiring exists and is exposed, running along top of log walls. Circuit breaker box holds 13 breakers consisting of one main, seven 220, five 110.

• Plumbing: 50 feet deep well with submersible pump. Underground pipe (plastic installed within past ten years) leads to a pressurized storage tank in an insulated wooden shed under the carport. Electrical heat tape protects all outside plumbing. Copper piping comes out of shed, across carport ceiling, into cabin through hole in small bedroom log wall at a height of 72 inches. It feeds both the bathroom and the kitchen by running along the upper log walls, stopping at the tin shower stall. Mandatory hook up to sewers occurred two years ago even though septic system functioned properly for many past years.

• Appliances: Electric stove, electric hot water heater and refrigerator all were replaced recently, only due to absolute necessity when old ones failed. The stove and water heater are almost exact replicas of the 50 year old ones. There is no dishwasher, clothes washer, or clothes drier. There is a small dehumidifier for the summertime because the pipes sweat, and there is a small humidifier for the wintertime because of severe dryness. There is a propane gas fireplace insert as the only heat source in use. Several old and original electric baseboard heaters are in existence, but not ever used for possible safety issues.

The Cabin - Part 1

The Cabin - Part 1

It started as a dream retreat, a log cabin in the mountains of Pennsylvania, on a private lake, a peaceful place and an escape from the working world. Location: one hundred thirty five miles from their current home near another lake in northern New Jersey. My parents planned to call the cabin, "Tranquility." They met in a church and were married in 1934 in a town called "Tranquility."

In 1999 my mother (PFN) wrote about its name. She was 85. It was the year of their 65th wedding anniversary.

This is her writing:

TRANQUILITY ........by PFN 1999

It's just a word, isn't it? Funk and Wagnalls says "tranquility" whether it is spelled with one or two "L"s means the state of being tranquil, rest or quiet.

But to a certain writer, it was, and is so very much more. First of all, it is a small country village not far from here where a beloved aunt taught school in a little one-room building. Later the same building became a community center. She retired after many years and was later to marry the man she would meet in almost the same location. This happened, would you believe it, in the village cemetery where he had come to place flowers on the grave of his first wife. After they were married they lived in a home just a few feet from the community center and the little white church just across the road.

Another chapter began when this writer and her parents came to celebrate a mortgage burning ceremony in the same former schoolhouse. It was now enlarged and became the gathering place for chicken and waffle suppers, harvest homes and other affairs put on by the church. This time a large group awaited a concert that was planned.

The uncle had invited a gentleman from a nearby farm where he was working as a state milk tester, to be the soloist. At the conclusion of the performance, the young man (tall, dark and handsome, of course) asked to be introduced to one of the young women in the front row of the audience. This he did and so began a new era of "tranquility." The girl had come to the evening meeting to drive for her parents and to practice her recently acquired driver's license.

The young couple dated for a couple of years and found they had a number of things in common. The next step was an engagement and soon a marriage. Inside the wedding ring the word "tranquility" was engraved as a fitting motto; now, after almost sixty-five years, it is barely visible.

Soon a family came along. First there came a daughter who was baptized in a beautiful large church in another small town. The next child was a son who was baptized in the little white church just across the road from the spot where so much had started.

As the family grew it moved to an urban town nearer the father's business needs. Soon twin daughters came along to complete the growing family. They were baptized in the large stone church on the green. All the children developed many interests and another diversion seemed to be in order.

A little log cabin in another state provided rest and recreation with new friends and interests. Of course, the cabin had to be named "Tranquility." The signmaker had erred and spelled it "Tranquillity." It became quite well-known around the little country lake that had been built by a cousin. This relative had generously offered the family the privilege of choosing a building lot wherever they liked. An ideal spot near the dam and spillway provided a choice view of the whole lake including watching the many forms of wildlife.

On the porch of the cabin hangs a framed article entitled "Tranquility," apparently the sentiments of another writer had written and published many years earlier as evidenced by the yellowing newspaper article.

Many things were happening around the world, the foremost of which was the landing on the moon by the astronauts. Was the "Sea of Tranquility" just another coincidence?

Two more minor things added to this strange saga when the oldest daughter began selling articles of jewelry put out by a famous company that specialized in home party sales. One very popular item was a silver pendant depicting the moon landing and was called "Tranquility." It sold out quickly and everyone in the family has tried to find this special piece but has had no luck so far, Another company that made cosmetics, took advantage of the publicity and put out a skin fragrance also called "Tranquility." This was purchased and is enjoyed still. How strange that a single word could be the focus of so many happenings!

The little country village, the community house and the tiny white church remain there still today. Perhaps our story will have its ending in the neat Tranquility Cemetery where it had all begun so many years ago.

The Tranquility United Methodist Church, was built in 1870.

Put My Boots On

When I woke up this AM it was snowing lightly and, even though it was the start of a cold and dull winter day, I was inspired to trek along the unplowed road to see what magical art could be created and captured with my camera.

I'm always befuddled as to how to protect both the camera and my eyeglasses from wet drops so both were tucked into my sweat jacket and extracted as I saw something to shoot. Cardinal red pants tucked into high black rubber boots, and uncombed mop were a wacky sight to behold for any onlookers in the area.

The results weren't as awful as they could have been, especially since my fingers grew very numb from the 20° air and weren't functioning properly.

The good news is that the snowplow didn't appear as I took over the roadway on my approach and retreat for the project.

Ah! Winter!

James Starts The New Year 2011

His new scarf fits just right! The old hat will just have to do until spring when I can make him a more creative and happy one - with flowers or such! (...oh, and he will need some sunglasses, methinks.)

This is "January James" AKA Jim-Dandy!

Furnaces and Frost Memory

The 'heating with coal' method in the 40's was dirty, messy, a lot of work but quite efficient. I believe it was the primary fuel source to heat homes.

An asbestos-covered furnace existed in our cellar. The pipes running from it were also asbestos-covered. In fact, in the grammar school I attended, the asbestos-covered pipes ran all through the hallways. I remember scratching my initials and drawing pictures in the asbestos coverings with my fingernails! (This was done when my parents weren't looking because a strong scolding always resulted, but I couldn't help myself.) Naughty!

Coal slid from the delivery truck down a metal chute which went through our cellar window at the far end of the house. The truck first had to back into our neighbor's driveway to deliver. Then the back of the truck would raise up and tip downward, the chutes would be attached and a lever was pulled to release the coal. The coal was wet, I guess so it wouldn't spark and catch fire!

The coal was hand-shoveled into the furnace and had to be replenished regularly throughout the day. It was brought over to the furnace from the bin across the cellar in a hand-carried pail. When Dad was at work, Mom had to keep the fire going. Dad was away overnight for a day or two periodically. Times were hard then.

The fire had to be remade each morning which was the coldest time of the day. The first task was to remove the old ash from beneath the fire grate (a cast iron grid which held the coal). The grate was raised up to allow air in and to let the ashes fall into a pan, and this pan had to be taken out and up the cellar stairs to the outside driveway besides the house to be emptied. If there was no snow, it was emptied into buckets and kept for future use. The process created clouds of dust. Although most of the ashes did collect in the pan, the space below still needed to be swept out, which made more dust.

Keeping the fire going was really an art in those days. Chimney fires were always a threat when the heat was cranked up. It had something to do with the draft and the draw. If the fire went out, it was a pain to start it up again. I remember balled up newspaper being used. A hot fire in the furnace created the heat necessary to boil the water to make the steam. I remember there was a glass tube on the side of the furnace in which a certain level of water had to be maintained so the steam could build up in the radiators on the first and second floors. Steam heat was the result. How I loved to hear the whistle go off when the steam pressure was released. It meant heat!

It also meant that when I woke up in the morning the gift of an absolutely wonderful and beautiful frost-glazed window was sparkling bright to greet me. - and tempt me. I could now scratch magical designs with my childhood imaginative artwork. Breathing on the frost would enhance the drawings - in my mind! I would redecorate my window at every chance throughout the cold winter.

Indoor Activities

I bought some hair curlers and rolled my hair after showering this AM. I haven't had hair long enough to curl up is soooo many years. It's a pain, but I felt like I needed some sort of change. I bought the kind of curler that has a brush inside and a pick to hold it in place. They HURT! They're WORSE to take out! Guess I always have to experiment with stuff.

Yesterday, my first husband sent me a DVD of some old 8mm movies that he'd been storing in his garage for over 45 years. Somehow, he has put them together in a 1 hour long "movie" on the DVD and thought I'd like to have a copy. It was bittersweet. It shows he and me and our parents and siblings before we were married. It continues on with segments of our wedding, honeymoon trip to FL, a New Year's party in the old log cabin where we first lived, our first child until the age of 1 and then our 2nd child (son who died at age 37) and ends with a shot of our third son as an infant. There is a segment of my (now 71) brother in 1956 performing amateur stunts on his motorcycle.

More to this tale now:

I spent yesterday making my own movie on the computer(s) of just my brother riding. It was an experiment and extreme test of persistence. (I have never used the DVD player on my new computer.) Well, the DVD wouldn't play and froze it. I had to pull the power plug to get outta there!

Sooooo I tried it on the old Y2K computer. That old baby only has a total 80MB hard drive, but---it played! I couldn't get rid of the "controller" because every time I told the computer to "hide controller" the DVD would stop and I had to start all over again! I got the bright idea then to copy the section I wanted of it right off of that computer with my regular digital camera set on movie mode. Then I imported it from my camera into my newer computer and made a short iMovie. I then uploaded it to YouTube and shared it with my brother and his only child, a son with a wild and creative streak, too. They both let me know today that they got a kick out of watching it. I'll attach my link to YouTube for you to see what I did.

Today, my nephew wrote asking me, "Is there ANY way to get a copy of the original file? I want to use it in a video I've been planning for a year now.... Affectionately titled "The Boys" :) " Well I answered him with the information of how to contact my first husband and, get this, they practically live down the street from each other!! YES!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi2ouBnQ6Qk

By the way.....The TV was running in the other room when I was shooting the movie of the DVD which was running on an 11 year old computer. I wouldn't tell my husband to turn it down. He's very hard of hearing. Go with the flow rules in this case! I could have made my movie without sound, but didn't.... so people will just have to turn down their volume if they don't like the background sounds!