The front of our mountain cabin - summer 07; according to Rusty Baker and his GPS the cabin is at 2643' in elevation.

Tooling around the mountain on my ATV.

Mugging on the ATV for my wife Cynthia.

Andrew and I at an overlook near Little Switzerland, NC.

Andrew at the Bon Ami mine at Emerald Village, NC.

The entrance of the Bon Ami mine after a 30 ft drop in the water level made possible by the addition of a drainage culvert (during the time this hole was mined the spring was diverted).

Andrew inside of Bon Ami dig.

Another hole by the Bon Ami mine.

This dig is the site of the gem flumes where we bought our bucket of dirt.

Andrew and I looking for shining rocks to keep.

Our dear friends the Bakers visited the cabin and gave us the wonderful "Welcome" sign to make our cabin more home-like.

We found this Yorkie throw at a nearby textile wholesale warehouse (we love anything York-i-fied).

In addition to the cabin, Cynthia and I gave one another this remote controlled fan/light for the cabin master bedroom; the folks at the Morganton Lowe's are getting to know us by name!

Cynthia, Frances and Andrew play uno on the 4th of July at the cabin.

The biggest job of mowing the yard at the cabin is brushing off all the clay dust afterwards.

30 amp switch wired in-line with the H2O heater for ease of winterizing.

Still trying to get the laundry in the basement in shape after years of water infiltration.

A summer view from the mountain.

Cynthia and Andrew on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

A lookout along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

A view of Table Rock from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Well, another project that picked me; after removing the rotting T1-11 siding I found that the framing had dry rot and the insulation was in need of replacement.

After the framing was redone, the siding replaced, the below grade wood coated with tar, flashing added, two sheets of plastic were added (the "real" fix would be to block up the foundation - but that is out of the current budget and for a future time).

The one side of the cabin foundation painted "Mudslide" brown; additionally, corner trim boards were added to tie the siding into the block foundation peers (left of gutter down spout).

The insulation was replaced behind the siding.

The east side of the cabin with the rotten siding replaced and painted.

Some of the excess insulation was used to freshen-up some areas of the basement.

Some additional shelving was added to the basement.

A side trip was made with Uncle Dale and Aunt Carol to the Billy Grahm Library in Charlotte, NC.

Our west side yard (something killed that tree in front).

More of our west side yard.

Lattice was added under the west side deck to create a "car port" for the ATV and riding mower.

Much to the surprise of my wife there was a Timber Rattle Snake waiting to greet her one morning as she prepared to paint the railing on our deck.

Thank goodness for the zoom feature on my camera.

The rattler away from the cabin - you might say he was "beat."

Cynthia thought it would be good to add rocks to the side of the deck the snake visited.

Andrew enjoying swimming in the mountain pool.

Another day at the pool.

Ah, the view!

Queen Ann's Lace coming up near our wood pile out back.

Another interesting sunset on Sway Back Knob.