We had thirteen interior doors to build. I originally thought I would make them out of barnwood like the cabinets and made the first prototype to be evaluated by the quality control department (Sharon). It was a unanimous decision that it was going to be too dark and didn't allow the trim, which is barnwood to accent the door. So the next attempt was with Maple. OHHH MY GOD! That was it. So we set up an assembly station, sanding area and polyurethane table and started building. We found some old thumblatch style door hardware that was the perfect fit and started closing in rooms and closets.

Since we had one cedar log inside the house as the floor support for the Tree house bedroom, I wanted to experiment with cedar logs for the balcony railings and stair banister. My chain saw skills were rusty since the porch days had long past, and I only used the saw nowadays for logging and firewood.

I felt like a sculpture cutting, slicing and edging, trying to make the perfect notch or wedge. We had some friends and family over during part of this time and everyone wanted to lend a hand and help. I must have looked frustrated and probably like a little troll walking in and out of the house with a log under my arm out to the saw block, fire up the saw for two quick cuts, back into the house, set it in place... no needs a little more off here.... back out side. I did this over and over. I did get to use all those extra hands the day we bolted and set them all in place. We added several coats of poly and WOW!!! you can't tell when you've left the woods and entered the house.



We've had many, many projected move in dates and they all turned out to be just another good day on the calendar. When Christmas passed and we realized that we weren't going to be living there by the holidays, we decided to pick April 28th as our new goal. This was going to be our 10 year wedding anniversary and would be the perfect way of celebrating the best things that have ever happened in our lives.

As the months passed and spring started warming these Tennessee hills, we kicked into overdrive. Our ToDo project list was being marked off in speeds unknown to us. We refinished some old furniture someone was throwing away and had the perfect coach and chairs set in place. The next thing you know, we were moving other furniture in and were setting up the tree house bedroom with my grandfathers bed, an old desk and wardrobe. It was probably at that moment, April 8th, we realized we weren't going to stop. So we decided to make the move and spent our first of many nights to come in our farmhouse.


That night was probably the best night so far in my life. Perhaps it was the accomplishment and pride we were feeling or simply the fire singing in the fireplace. Maybe it was the titillating smell of dinner left floating through the house or just the wonderful combination of all of these, topped with the profound love we were feeling for each other that put this glorious night on the map.

We did it..... sometimes I just can't believe it.... but together we brought this old house back to life again and have filled it with our love and own expressions. I can just hear the next David & Sharon 100 years from now as they pull up into this hollow and look at what's left of our dream and whisper to each other..... we can rebuild it.