We have a lot of plans for aesthetically fixing up our house but we also have a number of projects planned for the structural upkeep too. We didn’t buy a new house and we had to take all it’s flaws into consideration at the purchase. All the issues were manageable.
We need to replace some of the posts supporting the central beam running down the center of the house. They were never quite the right length and shimmed and packed with bits of lumber to achieve the proper elevation. We also have to add a beam to support a wall of the house left unsupported after the previous owner put on a front porch addition.
Cam had been coveting this abandoned fir log since we moved here and being right next to the road was a huge plus. Lifting these heavy slabs was frickin’ heinous, especially with just Cam and I. I’m thankful for friends who helped manoeuvre the wood in the right spot once we got home.
Cam milled these large slabs with his Alaskan Chainsaw Mill. Two were 6 inches thick and one was 3 inches. All three were 24 inches wide and 12 feet long. After bringing them home, he milled them into smaller dimensions.
While Cam was milling Lily, Leif and I explored along the road finding fungi, animal bones, old trails and even an abandoned dynamite shack. (You can see more pictures by clicking on any of the ones I share here.) Leif was also pretty excited to watch Cam work, making his own Vvvvv sounds while doing it.
Cam wants me to add that he’s tempted to make furniture out of this beautiful clear fir wood and find new timber for the (hidden) house support work. It’s never a bad thing to spend your time milling wood… or so I’m told.
Now I am jealous—-I LOVE fir and we don’t get very much of it. I agree with building furniture out of it! Our biggest timber in our house is a 43 foot long 10 by 16 made out of yellow cedar and I think it is more amazing than all the gold and diamonds in the world!
That is so awesome – the chainsaw milling and getting the wood yourself part. So nice that Cam’s experience makes it possible for you to make your house safe AND beautiful. I’d probably want to use that wood where it’s aesthetic value can be appreciated too!
wow! i am so impressed that this is something you guys can do yourselves. i would love that knowledge and skill, and the house to put it all into!
Wonderful photos! I’d be tempted to use it as furniture too, it looks beautiful.
Lily and Leif are so lucky, what a cool Dad! That must’ve been such a treat (for Leif especially I bet!)… to see such a display of skill and workmanship, on an impressive scale! I bet they’ll remember this forever.
My Dad’s a joiner, and did all the work on our home when we were kids. I have so may happy memories of watching him work, sitting with him chatting and I guess, learning from him. When he helps with our house now it always brings it back. The smell of sawdust, the rasping of the saw…
Dad now works with enormous pieces of oak making traditional timber frame structures. I often wish I had followed him in his line of work….
I met a “real” Canadian at the weekend, and she was SOOOOOO lovely….are you all just super cool or what?
@ Sarah: ahem, yes, we are. LOL
Wonderful post, Annie. Cam is a regular Pa Ingles up there, I am so jealous. SUCH amazing, real opportunities for learning so many things for the kids.
Thank you to Lily for the Valentines, the kids received them today and thought that was very sweet. :)
Enjoy your sun today!
WOW–that’s some log! What an amazing thing to be able to find something like that and mill it yourselves, and have the kids be a part of it all. Can’t wait to see what it becomes!
Thanks for the birthday wishes for Lucy!
My hubby was in AWE and jealous that he is unable to partake in such opportunities/experiences! :)
@Sarah: I have to agree…we really are. :)
Annie, this is so amazing. I feel so sheltered sometimes living here in SW Ontario. I know there are amazing opportunities for learning here as well…(of course) But seeing your life unfold here from my computer screen, it’s really awe inspiring. One day I’m going to travel out that way…maybe just to visit you. <3
How wonderful!
That’s a handy saw! Lucky Cam happened to have that and you were able to do some excellent DIY! The wood sounds nice for furniture etc, but also for beams etc. Are all houses made like that over with you? Most new builds here have a timber frame with and outer cladding of blocks and harling. The frames are all pre- made, though. Some people have been making oak frames in the old style in England though. Those are lovely.
How cool! I also have a chainsaw saw mill wielding husband-We are really enjoying our new porch framed with Eastern Red Cedar this spring.