Honest Abe Living, September/October 2013

September-October, 2013

Log Home Lake House

Denton Awarded President Emeritus Recipe by Lodge: Polish Pork And Cabbage Stew Getting Crafty With The Smiths: Ribbon Wreath

contents

September-October 2013

3 8-9 10 11

Cover Story: Log Home Lake House Polish Pork And Cabbage Stew Recipe by Lodge Cast Iron Denton Awarded President Emeritus Getting Crafty With The Smiths: Ribbon Wreath Honest Abe is now found on...

blog & news room

get connected Visit the facebook fan page of Honest Abe Log Homes and join the growing community!

Articles, resources, photo galleries and log home news, all shared first through our Twitter account.

blog.honestabe.com Find these articles, stunning photography and more information at Honest Abe Log Home’s blog and news room.

2 • Honest Abe Living • September-October 2013

Log home and cabin related videos ready for viewing on our YouTube station.

If it is in our library of photos, it is likely in our Zenfolio photo gallery as well.

www.honestabe.com

Log Home Lake House

O

verlooking the waters of Center Hill sits a log home owned by Mike and Christine Cornett. Life on the lake is different, it isn’t fast paced and there are great neighbors who are willing to help. To Mike and Christine who have been married for 34 years, that’s the way it’s supposed to be.

This lake side home makes the eighth one the zines. Mike heard that Honest Abe had a model in couple have owned, but only the second log home Algood so he headed over and talked to Greg Watthey have ever built. “I like log homes, they’re cozy son. The two looked at prices and Mike asked many and warm,” said Mike. “I’m not a sheet questions. In 1993 the Cornett’s first “Build a house that will rock fan. One of the biggest reasons Honest Abe log home was built: a modaccommodate to how I like log homes is the quality of the ified Algood. After that, Mike referred you live.” product.” several people to Honest Abe. Mike and Christine were pleased with their new Before their first log home was built, Mike and home. “Honest Abe has high quality products and Christine thumbed through some log home maga- you get more for your money. They have a great

www.honestabe.com

September-October 2013 • Honest Abe Living • 3

4 • Honest Abe Living • September-October 2013

www.honestabe.com

family atmosphere and also treat you like family,” Logs for the couple’s new house were being commented Mike. stacked the second week of October, two years ago. Mike, with the help of his wife, did a lot of Many years passed and the couple decided it the interior work. It took about a month to get the was time to downsize. They knew their next house Genesis interior siding done. Mike knows a thing was going to be an Honest Abe log home, but what or two about construction since he is a contractor. style? Mike headed back to Algood and worked Ed from Honest Abe was blown away by the founwith Ed White on deciding what house would be dation. Joe Isenberg, the crew chief was impressed best for him and his wife Christine. After about five with the way things were done. Joe left on New months of research, the couple decided to go with Year’s eve night. Before leaving he asked what the a modified Madison. time frame was for them moving into the house.

Mike answered telling him two or three months.

Mike and Christine had the front of the house Most days he would work from 7:00 in the mornface away from the road so that it would look out ing to 8:30 that night. “You do what you have to towards the water. The couple was raised on a do to get the job done,” says Mike. The happy couwater view. The bedrooms and bathrooms were ple moved into their new home on the first day of somewhat modified. They had the porch to nearly March that next year. wrap all the way around the house. “We like porches. On one part of the porch there is a bed that we Mike and Christine talked with Greg Sweets sleep in usually six months out of the year. We call from Perma-Chink about stain options. Mike wantit our sleep porch.” Mike laughed. He said it is the ed something as close to natural as they could get.

Some of the choices they looked at were “dark natbest house for him and his wife.

www.honestabe.com

September-October 2013 • Honest Abe Living • 5

ural” and “hazelnut” but these were too dark. They When asked if he has any advice to give someended up choosing “wheat” as their official stain. one about building a home Mike replied by sayMike added, “A lot of our friends are going with the ing; “My main rule is that if you’re going to build a same stain color too.” two-story house the main floor needs to be functionable (able to live just on that one floor). Think “We tell everyone that we have the best of both about the future, what if you are in an accident or worlds,” said Mike. “We see farm lands and red get older to where you can’t get up and down the barns, sunrises and sunsets and huge oak trees on stairs. Know your price, it all boils down to cost. the north side.” Their favorite spaces of the house Build a house that will accommodate to how you are the porch and the great room. live and don’t shatter your dreams.”

38'-0"

26'-0"

GARAGE 25'-4"X37'-4"

GABLE PORCH

KITCHEN DINING 11'-6"X10'-3" 9'-4"X10'-3" PORCH

35'-10"

MASTER BEDROOM 15'-2"X14'-7"

BEDROOM 15'-2"X14'-3"

25'-10"

DW

PORCH

PORCH

10'-0"

15'-6"

10'-0"

GREAT ROOM 20'-10"X24'-3" PORCH

21'-10" 52'-10"

15'-6"

10'-0"

FIRST FLOOR PLAN 6 • Honest Abe Living • September-October 2013

www.honestabe.com

Second Annual Blood Drive Held Honest Abe Log Homes and its sister companies located in Moss, held their second annual blood drive last week. The blood drive was a huge success, and April Smith Patterson, daughter of the late Doug Smith and Joint Operating Officer of Honest Abe, was quick to give credit to their employees. “We were blessed to have over fifty employees of Honest Abe, Barky Beaver Mulch and our other companies rally around this effort to donate blood. It has been two years since dad passed away, and this is our second annual blood drive held in his memory.”

Blood Assurance, a non-profit company, services more than fifty health facilities in the region and assisted by staging one of their collection teams on site. Blood Assurance operates a number of “blood mobiles” in the area. They consist of vans and buses that have been specially equipped to allow donors to give blood in a clean and comfortable environment.

Speaking of her late father Doug, April recalled, “Over the eleven years that he fought cancer, dad required multiple blood transfusions. Though we will never match what was done for us, this has been a way to help meet the needs of others in our area. Our family is truly blessed to have employees that are so willing to take part in something like this, and we appreciate their generous donation.”

Donating blood is an important and easy way to provide a service to your community. Each unit of blood has the ability to save up to three lives. For more information on opportunities to give, you may visit the Blood Assurance web site at www.bloodassurance.org or call Whitney Garvich at 423-756-8456.

www.honestabe.com

September-October 2013 • Honest Abe Living • 7

Polish Pork And Cabbage Stew

serves 6 1 ounce dried porcini mushrooms 1 cup warm water 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil 5 ounces thick bacon slices, dried (about 1 cup) 1 pound lean boneless pork stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes and patted dry 3 large yellow onions, coarsely chopped 1 small or 1/2 medium head green cabbage, cored and shredded 3 garlic cloves, minced 2 cups beef stock 1 cup Cabernet Sauvignon or other dry red wine 2 cups canned whole tomatoes, undrained, chopped 1 pound sauerkraut, rinsed under cold water and squeezed dry 1 cup pitted prunes, chopped 12 juniper berries, bruised 2 bay leaves 1/4 pound cooked ham diced 1/2 pound kielbasa, cut into 1/2-inchthick rounds Salt and freshly ground black pepper Sour cream (optional) 1 1/2 to 2 pounds small red potatoes, boiled, peeled and cut into chunks (opitonal)

1. Soak the mushrooms in the warm water untill softened, about 20 minutes. Drain the liquid through 2 layers of dampened paper towels into a container and set the liquid aside; rinse any grit from the mushrooms and set the mushrooms aside.

2. Heat a 10-inch cast iron Dutch oven over medium heat until just hot, about 3 minutes. Add the oil and bacon, and cook until the fat is rendered from the bacon. With a slotted spoon, remove the bacon to paper towels to drain, reserving the drippings in the pan.

3. Increase the heat to medium-high. Add the stew meat to the drippings and cook until browned on all sides, 8 to 10 minutes; using a slotted spoon, transfer the meat to a bowl, reserving the drippings in pan. Reduce the heat to medium; add the onions and cabbage, and cook, stirring often, until the onions are softened, 6-8 minutes.

4. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds. Stir the stock, reserved mushrooms and liquid, wine, tomatoes, sauerkraut, prunes, juniper berries and bay leaves; bring to a boil, scraping the pan to loosen any browned bits. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer 2 hours.

“The Lodge Cast Iron Cookbook: A Treasury of Timeless, Delicious Recipes” - Oxmoor House. 2012 8 • Honest Abe Living • September-October 2013

We hope you enjoy this recipe from the new Lodge Cast Iron Cookbook: A Treasury of Timeless Delicious Recipes.

The cookbook can be ordered from the Lodge web site or from Amazon.

For more information about Lodge and their cast iron cookware, visit: www.lodgemfg.com www.honestabe.com

5. Uncover, stir in the ham and kielbasa and cook 30 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste; remove and discard the bay leaves. Serve the stew in soup bowls with a dollop of sour cream, if desired, and a little bacon sprinkled on top. If you like, serve with boiled potatoes.

www.honestabe.com

September-October 2013 • Honest Abe Living • 9

Denton Awarded President Emeritus A special ceremony was recently held at Honest Abe Log Homes to honor Rick Denton. Rick retired from the company in 2007 after serving as its President since being founded in 1979 by owner Doug Smith. Under Rick’s leadership the company, located in our small rural community, became one of the nations most recognized log home brands.

Though retired, Honest Abe continues to lean on Rick’s experience and insight as he assists with projects and consulting.

In recognition of his dedicated past, combined with the continued positive impact Rick has made, Honest Abe Log Homes awarded him the honorary title of “President Emeritus.” “Rick will always be the founding president of Honest Abe, and his success has earned him the respect and attention from its current leaders and owners,” said Joshua Beasley.

The idea to recognize Rick with the title originated with April Smith Patterson, the company’s Joint Operating Officer. April noted, “It just seemed like the natural next step to take. Rick may no longer be active in the day-to-day business of the company, but his input is greatly valued by us all. The emeritus title symbolizes not only our appreciation of his leadership in the past, but also our confidence in his contributions going forward.”

10 • Honest Abe Living • September-October 2013

www.honestabe.com

Make A Fall Ribbon Wreath Step 3:

Getting Crafty

Once you’ve gone all the way around with your ribbon, you can start to move things around until you fill in all the gaps.

With The Smith’s Hi and welcome to “Getting Crafty with the Smith’s”! Fall is our favorite time of year and what better craft to make than a “Fall Wreath” to show off our country charm in the spectacular fall colors!

Fall Ribbon Wreath What you need: • • • • •

Burlap Ribbon or Deco Mesh Ribbon Wire Wreath Frame Floral Wire Fall Flowers or Embellishments Chalk Board & Chalk

Step 1: Grab your wire wreath frame. I chose a rather large frame, but there are several different frames to choose from. I think the easiest way to decide on the size of your wreath is to look at the size of your door.

Step 2: Create a loop with your burlap rib-

bon and use the floral wire to attach it on your frame. You can make these loops big or small, it just depends on how you want your wreath to look. We bunched our ribbon up every 5-6 inches or so. Do this all the way around the outside rings of the wreath until you make it back to your starting point.

www.honestabe.com

Step 4: Next, we added some Fall embellishments

to our wreaths. We also got a chalkboard and wrote “Happy Fall Ya’ll” to hang in the center. You could add a letter or anything Finally, you’re ready to hang your wreath!

We hope you enjoyed this craft as much as we enjoyed making it! Tip: Have your family over for dinner and spend your craft time with each other! That’s how we do each craft… together! There’s nothing like spending time with family.

Stay tuned for our next article… Cake decorating!

Mom, Lesley and I (April) have been taking cake decorating classes at night for a week. We can’t wait to show you what we have learned!

September-October 2013 • Honest Abe Living • 11