The Updated Cabin

The years rolled along as they usually do - kids growing, school activities, ranch work on the weekends and holidays. Retirement time - time to move to the ranch full time. The cabin wasn't really meant to be a full time residence, but residing there was necessary for a time; at least until a larger home could be constructed. So plumbing went in for a bathroom (pipe laying by the trees), electricity was installed (power pole with meter) and the move was made (car parked at the front gate).

In a few months, a nice brick, 2 bedroom, 2 bath home was built and the retirement move was complete.

But, time keeps rolling along! Kids are married, have children, come to visit. So the cabin gets an add-on so there is more room for everyone to stay! An 8' X 16' addition to the end is just the ticket. Room enough for a double bed and a chair. Just right for the grandkids!

Life is grand!!

The Cabin

The cabin was built in June of 1965. It's sole purpose was to be a place for the family to stay when they came to the ranch to work livestock. It didn't have electricity; the cookstove was propane, the refrigerator was propane, the heater was propane, and the lighting was propane. But it didn't need to be fancy, just a place to sleep and eat for the night or two a week that it was occupied. The foundation was concrete, the framing was pine, the walls were 1 X 12 cedar planks with cedar 1 X 4's nailed over the joints, and the roof was "V" drain tin. No insulation, gravity flow water from the storage tank that also supplied water to the troughs for the livestock, thus no bathroom facilities. That was found out back - the privy. There was a bathroom with a bathtub, but water was heated and hauled in to take a bath. 16 feet by 32 feet was plenty of room for two twin beds and a double bed - enough for the family- a table, four chairs, and a small kitchen complete with a single sink and metal cabinet. The cabin was set back against a live oak mott that provided summer shade and the low windows allowed ample air to circulate throughout. Winter was a little different, but thankfully winters are usually pretty short in Texas. The shutters were always closed when no one was there, steel wool was stuffed in the cracks so mice couldn't get in, and the sheep panels kept the cows from messing at the front door. What more could a person need?

New Venture

It's time to share our story about our journey building our house - we were our own general contractor, framer, plumber, electrician, rock layer, trimmer, boss, crew - the whole show!!! Bear with me on "before" pictures as my scanner is down, but I will get "after" pictures to tease you into coming back for more!!!