Creekside Retreat/Our Cabin in the Woods

Some of my blog family and friends have been asking to see the inside of our cabin. So, here's a peek. I hope not to bore you but to inspire you to build your own little retreat, whether it's log, stick, brick, or leaves. We all need to get away from it all once in awhile.

This is a night shot of the outside. Someday, I will post the process of building our labor-intensive, hand hewed log cabin.

It goes by many names depending on the purpose of its use at the time. It's been called The Creekside Retreat, The Hunting Shack, The Halloween House, The Christmas Cabin, The Ponderosa, The Get-Away. This weekend it held double duty as The Get-Away for myself and hubby, and as The Heater for the ice fishermen that spent their nights surrounded by warm logs.
We have a trout creek just below the hill and love a panful of them for breakfast when we can catch them. My bamboo pole is so long and difficult to manage in parts of the narrow creek, but this little expandable extension rod does the trick, so...
My poor snowshoes have been a part of the decor this winter. Either it has been way too cold or my brittle bones have not allowed me to strap them on. I swear tho, I will use them yet. It's almost time to start to look for sheds....dropped deer antlers, for those of you unfamiliar with that term. The hunt for them is like looking for hunters gold.
The main floor is One Big Room containing what log Home owners call a Great Room, we call it the R & R Room, the dining-card playing area of two tables, a kitchenette, bar, 1/4 bath with porta-potty for night use by women and children only, and our log bed in need of a headboard and footboard yet. It will not be shown until completed.
This is the view from the top of the loft stairs looking to the south wall.
Our pot-bellied stove is serving its 3rd life in our cabin. It previously was the heat source for my Grandparents one room house that they raised 7 children in. The chimney block also came from that building which, at the time of its transfer, was a hunting shack that was about to be torn down. The stove also heated 1/2 of the home I grew up in with 8 siblings. So, I'm honored to be using the pot-belly in our cabin. It's a piece of our family history.
The sink has a faucet which is funny to me....ya see, there are no modern conveniences in our cabin...no electricity, no running water. We carry our water in jugs from the house and we use either batteries or a generator for our lights. We burn firewood for heat and use a privy. Very cold in winter but, it has a light, when the generator is going. The barrel bar is duel-purpose as additional counter space. All of the barrel furniture is a temporary donation from my brother.

Another duel purpose item, is this ceiling that doubles as the floor for the loft. Not much privacy in this cabin...all open.
The loft holds 6 single beds, 2 coffee tables and a couple of chairs. It was full of ice fishermen this weekend so I didn't venture up there for a picture. Our cabin mascot, Lil Bear, is climbing the stair post. I made him out of an old fur coat. This spring, we will be doing deep cleaning and resealing the logs. At that time, I hope to do some serious decorating MY way...too many antlers are hanging around. It's my turn.
While resting and relaxing back there over this weekend, I was looking at my son's deer mount on the wall and decided to draw it for him...I'm not satisfied yet, so I have to ask Dad in heaven to intervene and help me realize where I have it wrong....crazy huh?
We have a notepad hanging on the post. I love it when our guests leave little notes....I wish they all would. It's so fun to read their stories and thoughts of their stay at our cabin in the woods.
I hope I haven't wasted your time. May you find your 'retreat' and use it. It may be a special room in your home or a favorite chair near a window. In any case, enjoy YOUR R & R space.

God Bless