Jan.-Feb. 2017
Shenandoah Valley Showplace Gatlinburg Fire Victim Assistance Tennessee Retreat Log Cabin February 2017 Log Raising New Colored Stains Stewardship of Our Forests
A Note from Honest Abe’s President Josh Beasley At Honest Abe we frequently receive inquiries asking why our magazine advertisements and online floor plans do not show pricing. The answer is the that we don't publicize the pricing for one simple reason – most people customize the plans and need us to prepare a custom quote, so we have interested people talk with one of our representatives in our home office in Tennessee or one of our reps in other states. They take the plan a customer is interested in plus the choice of roof, windows, doors, etc., (which all come in the package, but there are options) and prepare a custom quote. Honest Abe will also take any estimate from another company and match its quote apples to apples in honor of our price match guarantee. Admittedly, we have debated p u b l i s h i n g p r i c e s . Ho w e v e r, customers have reported to us that many times they have expected a price as seen in ads from other companies but found that the actual quote was seldom – if ever – what was shown. We cannot, in good conscience, do that. Our 38 years of experience tells us that advertising a set price on a custom home just will not work. It's like the enticing new gadget priced "starting at $9.99” you see online or on TV, but when you get out that credit card to make the purchase, it's really $29.99. We would rather just work with each customer in getting the most accurate quote possible and skip the hype. After all, we know that customers are going to be making a plan of action based on this quote, so why not go forth armed with the best information (and the truth)? HonestAbe.com
Jan.-Feb. 2017
In this issue... FEATURED HOME: Shenandoah Valley Showplace, p. 4-7
Gatlinburg, p. 3 Tennessee Retreat, p. 8 Feb. 2017 Log Raising, p. 10 Colored Stains, p. 13 Cooking with Lodge, p. 14 Forest Conservation, p. 15 Honest Abe Living editing, design and layout by Claudia Johnson
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Find Honest Abe Living articles, stunning photography and more information at the Honest Abe Log Homes blog and news room. www.honestabe.com/blog Honest Abe Living Jan.-Feb. 2017
A message from April Smith Patterson, co-owner of Honest Abe Log Homes, for the victims of the Gatlinburg wildfires... Above all else, I'd like to express my sympathy to you on the loss of your home. A home is more than just the materials from which it is constructed. It's the memories that give it substance, and I know you will not be able to replace that. I am sure of this because our family lost our house in the fire last month, and though it was a vacation retreat and not our primary residence, it still held irreplaceable memories for us – especially memories made with my late father. I do not presume to compare the loss of a vacation home to losing the home where you lived, because not only have you lost memories, you have lost the actual mementoes of your past. I am so sorry you have to endure this kind of loss. As our family has thought about the options that could be most helpful, we have considered many ideas. We've looked at various ways we could make donations to the community itself, and we are determining how exactly we will do that. However, we realize that for you as a homeowner, you have the very practical matter before you of rebuilding a house while addressing all the accompanying logistical details. On behalf of my brother, Shane, and my mother, Janie, with whom I continue to own and operate Honest Abe Log Homes, the Tennessee
Our Offer to You We're committed to helping you rebuild or build your log cabin. • We are offering a discount structure that reflects 2015 prices for those affected by the fire. • We are engaging in an ongoing effort to work with material suppliers to garner additional discounts on behalf of the customer. • We will be dedicating resources and assets to the Gatlinburg area (such as building crews, heavy machinery, etc) to facilitate the building process. Call 800-231-3695 for details. company my father, Doug Smith, founded 37 years ago, we want to make sure your options for rebuilding are viable. We would like to extend to you the offer (above) for assistance noted on this page, knowing that like us you will be navigating numerous challenges in the upcoming months. I invite you to call our office to initiate the discussion about rebuilding your home. Our sales representatives are prepared and eager to help and will have additional details about our special assistance to wildfire victims.
Read April Smith Patterson’s Memories of Peaceful Place The Smith home, Peaceful Place, in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, before the 2016 wildfires. HonestAbe.com
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Peaceful Place. Words of which, at the time, were my father’s description of the family home away from home we built together in the majestic, beautiful and peaceful Smokey Mountains in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. (continued on page 11). Honest Abe Living Jan.-Feb. 2017
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Quality Construction and Innovative Design Showcased in Shenandoah Valley Log Home By Claudia Johnson, Honest Abe Marketing
Located in the historic Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, this Honest Abe custom log home was completed last winter by Jim Nichols, a custom home builder. As a big game hunter, Nichols customized Honest Abe’s Cheyenne plan to create a 5,180 SF home with three finished levels of living space designed to showcase his hunting trophies and accommodate his hunting equipment. Additionally, he integrated the construction and design preferences he developed as builder with ideas and choices he observed and installed in the homes of his clients over his four decades of construction experience. The L-shaped 730 SF porch is interrupted at the entrance by a 256 SF porte-cochère, both of which utilize Honest Abe's Heavy Timber porch system. The porte-cochère’s timber-frame gable is supported by square timbers on stone pylons. The porch’s balustrade is designed with close-set square balusters and a heavy handrail. The external use of exposed beams and rafters creates continuity with the home’s internal ceilings. An exceptional custom version of the traditional Tennessee "T" design, the Nichols home uses Honest Abe’s 6” x 12" Genesis logs, chinked on the exterior with dovetailed corners. The facade features three gable dormers, with the center dormer being larger than the flanking dormers. A wide concrete patio surrounds the side of the basement’s exterior that is exposed and covered in field stone to match the external chimney. 5
Honest Abe Living Jan.-Feb. 2017
An open area was left in the 2,100 SF first floor allowing an unobstructed view from the 2,342 SF finished basement up through the expansive living area into the 740 SF second floor. A 4� x 12� Douglas Fir open stair system provides access to all three floors and provides a stunning view of a massive rock-faced chimney extending three floors.
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Honest Abe Living Jan.-Feb. 2017
The Douglas Fir heavy timber roof and ceiling beam system are prominent throughout the home. Nichols even elected to use the Honest Abe ceiling beam system as a sub floor for the majority of the first floor instead of a standard sub floor, producing an extremely attractive ceiling in the most prominent areas of the basement. A two-car attached garage is covered with board and batten rough-textured exterior siding. The garage is nestled in the home’s first floor rear and is accessible from the laundry or kitchen through a screened in porch. Nichols made many design and construction choices to best display the trophy animals from his world-wide hunting expeditions, some of which are very heavy, full-animal specimens, while many others are heads or skins only, For instance, the basement’s internal walls are a series of built-in, glass-front cabinets in which hunting equipment may be attractively but safely displayed. Large, square ceramic tiles cover a concrete floor. The first floor master bedroom suite features double baths, one with a walk-in shower and one with a garden tub, and double closets. Double picture windows ensure a magnificent view of the lush woods surrounding the home. The triangular-shaped loft serves as a sitting area for two bedrooms and allows additional access to a full bathroom and an accompanying half bath. A character grade red oak flooring was used in the first floor and loft area of the second floor, while all bedrooms are carpeted. Reclaimed barn siding was crafted into interior trim. Log walls are 12' tall for the living, kitchen and dining areas, with a 9’ log wall in the master suite. Interior partition walls are finished with painted drywall. Against the backdrop of an Appalachian forest, Nichols' love of nature is captured in his choices of stone and wood, allowing the home to blend harmoniously with its environment. Simultaneously, the home stands out – not only from its natural surroundings but in its striking design choices and quality of construction. To view more photos, get detailed specs and to review the Nichols custom floor plan, visit www.honestabe.com/project/nichols-home-visit/. HonestAbe.com
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Honest Abe Living Jan.-Feb. 2017
Tennessee Retreat Log Cabin
Elegant Tranquility By Claudia Johnson, Honest Abe Marketing
the Perfect Lodging Choice for Honest Abe Visitors Tennessee Retreat Log Cabin, nestled in the beautiful hills of the Eastern Highland Rim at Moss, Tennessee, only one mile from Honest Abe National Headquarters. The cozy cabin, designed, manufactured and built by Honest Abe Log Homes, has everything quests need to escape in style. It's the perfect lodging solution for visitors to Honest Abe who want to stay near the manufacturing facility while they attend a log raising, meet with designers and sales staff or tour the log home milling plant. The cabin's thoughtful amenities let visitors comfortably enjoy the serenity of the woods with casual or formal dining, antique or necessity shopping, water activities on Dale Hollow Lake, historic and natural attractions and live entertainment only a short drive away. It's an affordable and convenient alternative to traditional lodging for a vacation, business trip or weekend getaway, as well as a creative venue for a small wedding, a private party or special event. Tennessee Retreat Log Cabin is a D-log style cabin with a spacious interior that belies its small size. The full kitchen, dining and living room are one large, open space accessible through a front or back door. A separate bedroom has ample room for a king-sized bed and accompanying furnishings. There’s a large closet, a laundry room with space to store luggage and a master bath with a shower-tub combination. HonestAbe.com
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Honest Abe Living Jan.-Feb. 2017
Outside, there is a full-length covered porch on the front and back of the cabin with rocking chairs, tables and plenty of room to entertain, relax, read or even work a little. Acres of woods are all you see from the back porch, while the front porch overlooks a deep lawn creating a secluded environment. Amenities included with the cabin are Wi-Fi, satellite TV, laundry room, inflatable mattress, blow dryer, outdoor grill, appliances, linens, pillow-top king mattress, garage and more. Visit www.tennesseeretreats.com for a full list of what’s included, plus information about catering services (separate charge) and event rentals. To make reservations call 615-688-3400 or contact your Honest Abe Sales Representative or Independent Dealer to plan your visit.

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Honest Abe Living Jan.-Feb. 2017
Register for February 2017 Log Raising Honest Abe Log Homes invites the public to visit our National Headquarters in Moss, Tenn., on Saturday, Feb. 11, beginning at 9 a.m. to attend a Log Raising and Manufacturing Tour. Watch as members of the company build a small structure, showing and describing the process of building an Honest Abe Log Home. Spend time with drafting professionals, manufacturing staff and Get detailed directions and register at new home consultants. Ask questions and learn about how our log www.honestabe.com/events. cabins and timber frame homes are designed and created. Families are welcome. Complimentary lunch will be served at noon, and afterwards a tour of our manufacturing facilities will be conducted. Seating is free but limited, so reservations are required. The event is held in a climate controlled building on the Honest Abe Log Homes National Headquarters and its accompanying manufacturing complex on Hwy. 52, 10 miles west of Celina and approximately 25 miles east of Lafayette in the community of Moss, Tenn. Moss is located in the Tennessee Upper Cumberland, one of Tennessee’s most beautiful and affordable vacation destinations, so we encourage you to attend the log raising and make a weekend of your stay in the region. Within comfortable driving distance of our facility there are numerous overnight accommodations – bed and breakfast homes, historic inns, state parks with lodging, marinas, houseboats and traditional motels from rustic to small town to micropolitan settings. The area is famous for its waterfalls, recreational lakes, driving trails, historic places, wineries and musical venues and festivals.
Feb. 11, 2017 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Honest Abe National Headquarters
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Honest Abe Living Jan.-Feb. 2017
(Peaceful Place, Gatlinburg, continued from page 3) In 1995, Rick Denton, who was then Honest Abe Log Homes' president, found property in the Cobbly Nob area in the mountains and decided it would be a great place for a second home. He soon brought Dad on board along with our close friends and builder Joe and Anna Isenberg. In 1996, Joe built three Honest Abe Darlington Plan cabins and got them dried in. I remember as a young girl looking forward to being picked up Fridays at school to go work on our family cabin in the mountains. You could not believe the excitement as I anxiously awaited seeing Mom, Dad and my brother, Shane, pick me up to head up to work. It was a family event. We each worked to build and finish this second home. We painted, stained, waxed, built rock walls and such for months. This was the best time of my life, and I thought we were building a lifetime into this home. Our second home. Of course as the seasons changed and winter set in, it became more and more difficult to work in the cold. But, we bundled up and kept working – even though Dad at times forgot to open the vent to the fireplace (only source of heat at the time) and smoked us all out. A few times they had to work without me, and I remember crying, not understanding why I could not go every time to help. Eventually the cabin was completed. We went many weekends and usually spent the Fourth of July holiday there. It truly was our home away from home. We would attend service at It was our peaceful place to go. It the local church in Cosby, go on picnics in the park, go hiking to Laurel Falls and was our family escape from our Mt. LeConte, and we’d sometimes bike the Cades Cove loop. We loved to norm of hustle and bustle of business. experience the area, the mountains Time together without interruptions. and the nature the Lord made so Time to sit, think, be together as a wonderful. family. So many wonderful memories Peaceful place. It was our peaceful of building a dream. place to go. It was our family escape from our norm of hustle and bustle of business. Time together without interruptions of cell phones, TV, Wi-Fi, and technology. Time to sit, think, be together as a family. So many wonderful memories of building a dream. I’ll never forget my brother’s girlfriend, now my sister-in-law, coming to help us paint once. Dad told her she had more paint on her face than the wall. Our good friends Ronnie & Pauletta would often come and help us with projects like building rock walls around the place. I loved when they would come, because Dad would always treat us to the seafood buffet in Pigeon Forge to show appreciation for their help. Being a talkative and energetic young lady, I would ask countless times when we would arrive – so excited to pull up to our cabin. I asked many questions along the way. One that sticks out was a road sign that said “watch for falling rock.” “I’ll tell ya, sis, if you stop asking so many questions,” Dad promised. I agreed, and he went on to tell of the Native Americans living in the mountains and how they had special names, such as Kokoum, Pocahontas, Big Bear, etc. (Pocahontas was my favorite movie at the time too).” “There was a chief,” Dad explained. “He and his wife had a little boy they named Falling Rock, who went off one day and got lost.” HonestAbe.com
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Honest Abe Living Jan.-Feb. 2017
Dad said his parents had been searching for him ever since and had even put road signs up asking people to watch out for him. “So you sit back there and watch to see if you see a little Indian boy running around,” Dad said. Well, I of course believed every word he said and watched fervently for the little Indian boy, Falling Rock. I eventually realized that was a big story and the signs really warned about the rocks falling off the sides of the mountain roads, but, hey, Dad was pretty clever and creative to get me to be quiet on the long four-hour journey to the cabin. Throughout the 20 years we had it, we continued to visit our cabin many times. Dad believed in working on projects in order to justify time we played. He always said “work hard, play hard,” but to be honest I remember a lot more working than playing. Each time we went Dad would give me a project to work on, such as staining the kitchen dining table, painting the rocking chairs out front, sweeping, mulching, raking leaves, landscaping, washing the deck and steps or painting trim. Dad loved taking things and making them better, even if they didn’t need to be. Many times we would go out to look at other log homes being built in the Cobbly Nob area and in the Gatlinburg area, too. We’d study them and talk about ways we could improve the ones we were building at Honest Abe. Other times we would hike, bike or just take in the nature and pristine beauty of the mountains. We were a part of the community there, the area and the mountains themselves. I often wished that we could move and live at the cabin in the Smokies. It truly was my favorite place. I would write school reports and even college papers on our home away f rom home. After all, it was more than a house. It was a new way of life compared to the long hours at work for both Mom and Dad – a chance to escape and breathe in the peacefulness of what the Lord made in that area. The people are wonderful and just like home, and it was just about the perfect oasis for us all. Over time, and after Dad passed away, we would still go and stay. We would go to the gift shows every year and have our own family Christmases there, too. What wonderful memories that we have to cherish for the rest of our lives. We are beyond thankful for the time we had there. We have roots in the mountains, roots that run deep. At this time, however, our hearts go out to the wonderful people of the Gatlinburg community who’ve lost their permanent homes, their family members, everything. For that we are truly grieving, and as a family and a familyowned, Tennessee-born company, we want to help people get back into their communities, get into new homes where new memories can be made and hearts and lives can begin to heal. HonestAbe.com
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Honest Abe Living Jan.-Feb. 2017
Let the beauty of wood shine through with a colorful twist!
Customers of Honest Abe dealers, Mike and Tonia Coulter of T & M Log Homes in Indiana are among the first to use PermaChink’s new Lifeline Accents to highlight the exterior beauty of their log home. The exceptional quality of Perma-Chink Systems' products has always been vibrant, and now the company has launched a line that takes that philosophy quite literally. The new Honest Abe Log Home pictured left is a striking example of how wood stains and finishes are evolving. Lifeline Accents is a bold choice among the company’s extensive interior/exterior stain product line. Rich hues such as jade, garnet and midnight catch the eye, while more traditional tones, such as sand, umber and charcoal, round out the 18-color palette. Each vibrant color is designed to allow the wood's grain to emerge, so the color complements the wood, rather than covering it. And unlike many other tinted stains, the color endures, meaning fewer touchups over time.
Accent the natural beauty of wood. "Our Lifeline Accents high-performance semi-transparent stains are designed utilizing our proprietary technology to highlight and protect both interior and exterior surfaces," said Richard Dunstan, the founder of Perma-Chink Systems. "The combination of exciting colors and ease of application will expand choices and add value for homeowners and applicators." Staining your log home is a humbler art, really. Whereas paint transforms the color of a surface, leaving no trace of its previous hue, stain is typically used to accent the natural beauty of wood. Its purpose is to bring out the best in what’s already there. Nothing compliments wood better than earthy reds. The rich and full-bodied Cinnabar or Barn Red brings color warmth to home exteriors, and this stylish tone is universally appealing.
Ultimate Protection for the Log Home Perma-Chink Systems product line also includes Lifeline wood stains and sealants. Lifeline Ultra-7, low VOC onecoat application was introduced to the log home market a few years ago. Lifeline Ultra-7 is a natural, long-lasting, semi-transparent exterior finish that shades and highlights the wood’s true beauty. It’s a new generation, highperformance acrylic log home finish that combines water-repellents, mold inhibitors and UV-ray protection. Lifeline Ultra-7 is easy to apply and cleans up with soap and water. Lifeline Ultra-7 followed by a top clear coat of Lifeline Advance Gloss or Satin will provide the ultimate protection for the log home and customer satisfaction. Lifeline stains and finishes, like the entire Perma-Chink Systems product line, is non-toxic. “We are very concerned about the environment and the safety of the people that use our products,” says Rich Dunstan, president and the founder of Perma-Chink Systems. “We have more experience in formulating highly specialized products for log homes than anyone in the industry. Dunstan LIFELINE ULTRA-7 followed by a clear topcoat creates the most advanced wood preservative system in existence.” Perma-Chink takes pride in saying “By the time you discover a challenge, we already have the solution.”
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Honest Abe Living Jan.-Feb. 2017
3 T. vegetable oil 1 med. onion, chopped 2 med. garlic cloves, very finely chopped 2 large red, yellow, and/or orange bell peppers, seeded & cut into ½” pieces 4 small parsnips, peeled and cut into ½” pieces 2 large carrots, peeled and cut into ½” pieces 1 med. sweet potato or 1 small winter squash, peeled & cut into ½” pieces 1 t. kosher salt, plus more to taste 2 T. ground ancho or chipotle chile powder 1 T. ground cumin 1 T. ground coriander 1 t. ground cinnamon 1 T. smoked paprika 1 c. amber ale 1 1/2 c. vegetable juice, such as V8 1 (14-oz.) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained 1 (15-oz.) can hominy, rinsed & drained 2 (15-oz.) cans black beans, rinsed & drained Orange wedges, sour cream & corn chips for serving 1. Heat the oil in a 3-qt. enameled cast iron Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion & cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, bell peppers, parsnips, carrots, sweet potato & salt and cook, stirring often, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 8 minutes. 2. Add the ground chile, cumin, coriander, cinnamon & paprika & cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes. Reduce the heat if the spices begin to scorch. 3. Add the ale & vegetable juice. Stir to scrape up the browned glaze from the bottom of the pot. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, partially cover the pot & simmer until the vegetables are almost tender, about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. 4. Stir in the tomatoes, hominy, and beans. Simmer until heated through, about 8 minutes. 5. Season to taste with salt. Serve warm with the oranges, sour cream & chips on the side. Serves 8
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Winter Vegetable
Chili
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Honest Abe Living Jan.-Feb. 2017
Stewardship Conserves America’s Forests by Jeff Clements, Vice President, Honest Abe Log Homes Honest Abe takes the issue of timber harvesting and the threat of deforestation related to building materials used in the manufacture of log homes very seriously. The great news is, according to the USDA Department of Forestry, as a country our forest land is growing at a faster pace than it is being harvested. Growth has exceeded removals on U.S. timber lands for several decades while the area of timber land has remained relatively stable. The result has been a substantial increase in the volume of growing stock on U.S. timber lands. This is largely due to the fact that the majority of landowners have a management mentality to their timberland. A managed timberland with occasional harvesting promotes a diverse, healthy and sustainable forest. Within each Honest Abe home different species of wood are selected based upon where they will be used in the home. For instance, certain areas require a more stable wood species where additional strength is needed. In making material purchases we also have to pay attention to availability, price and visual appearance. The majority of our wood products come from private landowners who care for and manage their land and forest. Some choose to replant trees when they are harvested, while some choose to harvest the larger, older trees, allowing more sunlight to reach the smaller, younger trees that will greatly accelerate growth. Honest Abe fully expects our forests to remain sustainable in this country as the majority of landowners are good stewards. Timber harvesting is not a bad thing. It provides jobs throughout the chain of events that occur after harvest through transportation, milling, construction, etc., providing jobs for families and sheltering those same families in wellbuilt homes. The bark, sawdust and inferior grade timbers, which could be considered waste, are fully utilized as byproducts. This helps us remain good stewards of the forests which sustains us. There may not be a greener more sustainable product than the wood grown, harvested and processed in our country. Honest Abe Log Homes welcomes visitors to our manufacturing facility in Moss, Tennessee, to see how the timber and wood used there is fully utilized. Call 800-231-3695 or email info@honestabe.com to arrange a tour or attend one of the five log raising scheduled for 2017.
www.shopbarkybeaver.com 931-400-0606 3205 Tennessee 111, Cookeville, TN 38506 HonestAbe.com
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