Old Becomes New, Well, Cherished

Did you think that The Park Wife took the road less traveled and got lost? It could happen, I do not own a GPS.

In actuality, the weather is beautiful here and cabin progress, the Fall/Winter garden, kids soccer, homeschooling, oh, the list goes on has kept us hopping.

Here is a cabin update.

As many of you know, we call our property Rockwell, a name that evokes images of small towns inhabited by friendly, hard-working men and women whose lives revolve around family, friends, and church. Fortunately, that is our life and also, the fact that as you come upon our cabin there is an old rock well, it was the perfect name for our mountain escape. So, we have been integrating some things into the cabin (along with the fact that my husband and his dad are building the entire thing themselves) as it is being built that will add to the story of our Rockwell.


We have a couple in our town that are kind, supportive and thoughtful. They own the local hardware store and help out at our park regularly. They were taking an old house down near theirs and we acquired some of the doors. We stripped and repainted them. Now, I know the picture is of Big Buckaroo putting on a coat of paint but seriously I did help strip it and put a coat of paint on it too.


And, it has been installed. O.K. that part was all Big Bucakroo.



When we first started working on the cabin a bazillion months ago, Big Buckaroo bought some windows from a couple that has a beautiful old farmhouse. We completely stripped, took out the window panes (oh yes, they were a pain), re-caulked and painted them. They are all in. But, that is not the best part of the story. We became good friends with the couple that owns the farmhouse. Our boys were in their daughters wedding, they helped me start the farmers' market and we count them as family.

There is a lot of hard work and love being put into building the cabin at Rockwell. And, also a lot of memories from those who have become part of our family history and now, Rockwells.

Blessed beyond words,
The Park Wife

Rockwell Painting

Ahhhhhh, the sweet feeling of progress. Big Buckaroo and his dad got the siding on the ends of the cabin and even got them painted. Of course, he chose Park Brown as the color. Not kidding. And, no, we do not get a discount on that color paint.

Big Buckaroo loves the old Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) style of building. A time when men took pride in their handiwork, standards for workmanship were high, and there was an awareness and appreciation of the outdoors and our nation's natural resources while building.




We were previously at a CCC built park, one of the more than 800 parks constructed nationwide by the CCC. That is where my husband learned about and came to appreciate the sweat and craftsmanship put into building CCC/Rustic Style structures. It is an architecture that mirrors the rugged natural beauty of its surroundings.

I am thankful that when we drive up to Rockwell, we will be able to appreciate the cabin my husband and his dad built by hand, leaving a legacy for our boys and for our future generations.

Deciding inside trim colors,
The Park Wife

Hot Weather and COLD Water

Work has slowed on our cabin because it is hot, I mean muggy, stinking hot. And, let me just say, I would rather be at the beach if I am going to be muggy, stinking hot. But, tar balls freak me out. So, Big Buckaroo, the chivalrous man that he is, got busy on trying to make life more comfortable for me in the woods.


On our last trip to our mountain property, the first thing he did was hook up this contraption, also known as a water pump system. Yes, our well has been dug and we have WATER on the property, can I get a hallelujah? As you can see, it runs off a battery system which will be hooked up eventually to our solar panels.

We tested the contraption and then doused ourselves with water! Water, a gift from above, well actually it is below the ground, but you know what I mean. Yes, it was time to cool off and enjoy.

We stopped at a farm store and bought the boys their very own pool, no diving board or slide but my goodness the water is cold and they played in it for hours. Worth every penny.



The Little Buckaroos were busy splashing about so it was time for Big Buckaroo and I to get to work. Well, he did most of the heavy lifting but I used all my high school cheerleading experience to assure him of what a great job he was doing. I did have to lift and hold heavy wood and things like that, but I am really not sure why I don't get to use the nail gun. Maybe next time, yea right.

Siding is going up on the far end (don't worry, it will be painted). We did not get that complete because it is high and I am a fraidy cat.

This end is already complete waiting for us, well for my husband and his dad, to finish so we can paint both ends at one time, that all has something to do with scaffolding. I am just rolling with it. If I complained I might have to climb up and help. So, I will just sit on the porch and read Country Living until they call for me to help.

A little more progress and many more red bug bites and poison ivy. But, it is beautiful, I am so proud of my husband's hard work, planning and expertise.

It will all be worth it (I keep reminding myself of that when I am covered in a poison ivy rash) when it is completed. We will be able to leave a wonderful 92 acres full of memories of fishing, hunting, reading on the porch, horseshoes in the front yard, catching fireflies and so much more for the Buckaroos at the place we call Rockwell.

Going to put medicine on my bug bites,

The Park Wife

The Dream Continues

We had a fabulous weekend at our mountain property. A little work, a lot of pleasure.


I love the drive into our property. Once you go through a locked gate, we have a fabulous little road that you go about 3/4 of a mile (slowly) on before reaching our cabin site about 10 minutes later.



We worked on putting on the house wrap. I do not like heights, I think I got dropped off to many pyramids as a high school cheerleader.


But, for this man, I will do just about anything. So, I climbed up, hung on for dear life and helped as much as I could while whimpering a bit (o.k. a lot). But, we got the house wrap on and the top window in.

Then, there was the fun. Not much can beat this. They were so excited about heading down to the pond to fish.

Oh wait, there is something that can beat that. Their dad taking them fishing (and mom getting to sit on the porch and read).

But wait, this is a close tie.... our well is being dug and we will have water on the property!!!! We do not know how lucky we are to turn on a faucet and water come out, the things we take for granted. If you had to fill barrels with water and take them 3 1/2 hours away to be able to wash up or shower, you would have a deeper appreciation for the water system in your home.

Things are coming right along and I hope we are able to spend our first Thanksgiving in the woods at Rockwell this year.

Happy Spring,

The Park Wife

Got Wheels, Let's Ride

We went to our land in the mountains this past weekend. It was a beautiful weekend! I think maybe Spring is on the way. Jonquils are blooming everywhere and I did not have to thaw my toes out by a fire.

As we drove up our road, Little Buckaroo asked if he and his brother could ride their wheels to the cabin. We let them out, took their wheels off the trailer and told them we would see them at the cabin. They thought they were so grown up.

I kept asking Big Buckaroo to not leave them too far behind, I still wanted to be able to see them. After reminding me that unless a deer or turkey ran out and knocked them over, they would be fine. There is no traffic on our road. Oh wait, are there bear in these parts?

I remember riding my bike all over our town when I was a kid. I would stay gone riding with my friends all day. Oh, how times have changed.

They showed up a minute behind us with huge smiles on their faces. Independence Day! I am so glad they have a place where they can run wild and explore.

Dreading drivers license age,

The Park Wife

Cabin Update

Our mountain cabin is coming along. I have not been there in a couple of months because, ummmm, it is COLD! Hopefully this time next year the windows will be in, siding on and smoke will be billowing from the wood stoves pipe.

Big Buckaroo and I went for a night away date when my mom was in town (more on that trip later) and we stopped by so he could show me what he and his dad had been working on while I was warm and toasty at the Park.




Looking good! The metal roof is on, a slippery job, but he got it done without falling off.



He even has some wood stacked on the porch! Um, the wood stove is in our barn at the park, so until it is up at the cabin and it is cold outside, I will not be spending a night at Rockwell. I have become a wimp in my old age.




Scaffolding has been built and work done on one of the end walls. It is high!

The inside still looks the same, I love it. Look at those hand hewn beams, my man rocks.

We have arranged to have our well drilled, caulked the old farm windows we re-did, and bought much of our siding. Just need some warmer weather. We can't wait to spend next Christmas in our little cabin in the woods.

Staying warm with my cute wool socks on,

The Park Wife

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for The Pioneer Woman's T-shirt.

Cabin Raising

We have more progress on our small cabin on a mountain in the woods that we are calling Rockwell. The rock columns were complete, all the flooring done, so it was time for the cabin raising.

We are 6 days in (yes, I have camped the whole time, no make-up or flat iron, I am looking marvelous).

Here is what we have so far.


Wall number 1 going up.

Wall number 2!

Wall number 3!

Wall number 4, woo hoo!

Let's get ready for a roof! Yes, it has rained 4 of the 6 days we have been here. But, that has not stopped the guys.

Man, 17 feet is HIGH.

My incredible husband putting up the beams he hewed himself from our land.

Looking good honey!



Yep, looking real good.

Hopefully we will have the roof on by tomorrow.

Our Rockwell dream is becoming a reality. A place to make memories with our
boys and to pass on to them to enjoy with their children.

Loving life,

The Park Wife

We Put Some Sticks on the Rocks

Cabin Progress!

The 20 beautiful rock columns were complete, so it was time to get going. I need a roof over my head people.

I have grown tired of camping out, even though I now have a small, and I mean small, camper to sleep in. I complained so much that my sweet husband bought a 1970 something trailer from our good friends, gutted it and made a queen size bed on one side and a twin on the other, that is all that fits in there. I told you it was small.

No more sleeping on an air mattress on the ground that inevitably will lose the majority of its air during the night. They really don't make those air mattresses tough enough for 2 little boys.


Big Buckaroo and his dad put the first board on and away we went. They even let me use the screw gun. Thankfully, the bits that go on those things are not that expensive because I kept stripping them.



By the end of three days (it drizzled rain the majority of the time) we had all the floor joists/girders complete and the two decks complete (this picture only shows one of the decks).


We are ready for sub-flooring which will be done this weekend by Big Buckaroo.

And, we have a barn raising, well cabin raising, planned for two weeks from now.

Everyone is invited, free food and campsite in the mountains. All you need is some muscle and cool power tools (generator provided, we are in the middle of nowhere without electricity).

Don't worry, we are not Amish so failure to attend the barn (well, cabin) raising without the best of reasons will not lead to censure within our community or my blog community since my readership dwindled dramatically when I stopped posting during the Summer, I need all three readers to stick around.

While there are some nice showering facilities, the toilet part is between you and mother nature......

Going out to buy mosquito spray,

The Park Wife

A Wise Man Builds His House Upon A Rock

Armed with Skin So Soft, poison ivy wash and a portable DVD player (kid sitter when it gets very hot), we headed back to the mountains to work on our cabin. This time, fortunately, I did not have to dig massive holes in the ground, Big Buckaroo took it easy on me.

Prior to being at the historical park where we reside, we were at a mountain park that the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped build. History lesson: The CCC was a public work relief program for unemployed men, focused on natural resource conservation from 1933 to 1942. As part of the New Deal legislation proposed by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR), the CCC was designed to aid relief of high unemployment stemming from the Great Depression while carrying out a broad natural resource conservation program on national, state and municipal lands.

They constructed rustic, rock-and-timber buildings and massive lodges, they were highly skilled artisans. So, when some of these rock structures need to be replaced or new ones added to look as if they were built back in CCC time, who do they call? Mr. F.

And, when it was time to build a firm foundation for our cabin, we called Mr. F who is definitely an artisan.

Welcome to the Rock (say that with your best Sean Connery voice, I love that movie!) I was in awe of how it was like a puzzle that he was putting together.

Here, one of his apprentices (which is also one of his nephews) works on the mortar. It made me think about how many of these types of things are a lost art as kids grow up only wanting to be doctors and lawyers and make a ton of money.

Mr. F shared his expertise with the Buckaroos, I hope they find a skill they are passionate about and are as skilled at as Mr. F.

He showed Littlest Buckaroo how to choose a rock and place it.


He is very proud of his work.



A few of the front pillars are quiet tall and level. It's amazing, I can't even get a cake to look level.

Not to be out done by Littlest Buckaroo, Little Buckaroo works on a pillar. Yep, they talked Mr. F's ear off, so he had to put them to work. But, what a wonderful thing for them to watch and learn. Maybe they can take over the show Rock Solid, well, after they decide to not be pirates anymore.

Isn't that beautiful? The picture makes it look lopsided, but it is straight, it is me that is a little crooked. That is not the first time that I have been a little off kilter.

Twenty (20) of them later (this picture does not show all 20, they were not done when I took my chigger-bitten children home), we are ready to start putting some sticks on these babies.

I look forward to sharing with you what we have decided to name our place in the woods and the progress on the cabin. Come back and visit The Park Wife, I have missed you guys! (hey a comment here and there is appreciated, sorry to beg.)

The Park Wife

Dream The Impossible Dream

Well, our dreams are not impossible, just time-consuming and not as fast as my "I want everything perfect and NOW personality" calls for.

Many people pack up for trips to state parks to vacation, but The Park Wife and family pack up and leave the park to get away from it all. Work on our land and cabin is coming along, with many chigger bites and cases of poison ivy later, we have progress!

Last year at this time, this piece of land was covered with trees, now, it is cleared and designated as our cabin site. Ooh, I love me some big trees that provide shade.

The special event/public relations gal in me took over and said we had to have a proper ground-breaking ceremony. Thankfully, after 10 years of blissfulness, Big Buckaroo has learned to just give in to my quirkiness and waited for me to get the camera. After praying over the site, the guys all got their shovels ready and we broke ground on our dream cabin.

Twenty, yep 20 holes were dug for footers by Big Buckaroo and myself, yes, I said 20 holes dug in the heat and over a 2 day period no less. Did I mention there were 20 of those babies. My nails were a wreck after this weekend.

See, The Park Wife was actually there working. Since I am always behind the camera it looks like I don't do any work, but oh mercy, I am there and I am working.

The rebar was placed in and then we cemented our decisions for the cabin!

A cement truck traveling 3/4 of a mile back into the woods, over hilly terrain was thought to be impossible, but now, didn't I say earlier that this is not an impossible dream?

One big heavy truck, one adventurous driver and some dry weather later, we now have footers poured. Thank goodness because the thought of hand mixing 200, yep 200 bags of bagged cement does not top The Park Wife's Fun Things to Do list. Imagine my nails after that. Oh mercy, get me back to civilization!

The cement truck was the highlight of the weekend for the Buckaroos. They went through about a day of wanting to be a cement truck driver. Hey, Peter Pan, Bob the Builder, Indian, President, army man, cement driver, whatever they want to do as long as they give it all they got. This week, after watching Treasure Island, they want to be pirates. They go around singing "yo ho ho and a bottle of rum". I am sure that would be a big hit at church, a little Amazing Grace and bottle of rum.

Big Buckaroo was on hand to aim the little metal army thingy (I bet it has another name, but I like my descriptive name better) in each hole. Big Buckaroo just told me it is called it a "shute". Well, shoot, I prefer little metal army thingy.

The cement has set and ready for the next step. And, mercy me, we braved the heat and chiggers again recently to complete the next step in cabin building 101.

A little teaser: Jesus said,"A wise man builds his house upon a rock".

The Park Wife