Honest Abe Living, January/February 2013

Jan - Feb , 2013

Planning Makes Perfect!

LOG RAISING: March 16, 2013 2012 Dealership of the Year: T&M Log Homes Recipe by Lodge: Tennessee White Chili NEW LOG HOME PLAN: Cambridge

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Jan - Feb, 2013

Cover Story: Planning Makes Perfect!

Join Us For A Log Raising on March 16, 2013 2012 Dealership of the Year: T&M Log Homes of Albany, Indiana Honest Abe Log Home Featured on the Cover of Log Home Living Magazine Tennessee White Chili Recipe by Lodge Cast Iron Custom Floor Plan: Cambridge

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Planning Makes Perfect!

Article & Photography by Josh Beasley, Honest Abe Log Homes Photography Also Provided by John Pleacher, Home Owner

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passion for country living. That’s what drove John and Anita Pleacher for years as they chased their goal of settling and managing their own small country homestead. John spent much of his life around the busy suburbs of Washington D.C. as an accountant, but always longed for a place in the country. His wife Anita knew all about the lifestyle her husband so desired, as she grew up on a small farm herself. She shared in John’s desire, and throughout their professional careers and life together, they worked toward a more simple, slower paced, style of life.

The couples interest in log homes grew as they vacationed and traveled the United States. John and Anita frequently visited national parks, renting cabins whenever possible. “That’s really where our love for log homes grew.” says John.

In 2000, the couple started planning more for retirement and moved to the Leitchfield, Kentucky area. Over the next few years, they would move in www.honestabe.com

and out of homes in the area, some in subdivisions, others not, but none of them were the homestead they had in mind. Their Realtor was on constant watch for the couple’s ideal property, a small 100 acre farm, secluded and private, just like everyone else on the market wanted. Real estate at the time was booming, and their options appeared slim.

John and Anita both began to wonder if they were ever going to find the farm of their dreams. Their agent showed them various listings, but each had Jan - Feb 2013 • Honest Abe Living • 3

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something out of place. Then, they received the call said. From there, Rocky-K worked on an initial floor of a lifetime. Their agent had learned of a property plan, taking the couple’s ideas and needs, then not yet on the market, but prepared to sell. It was incorporating them into the Pleacher’s own custom much larger, at 300 acres, than they had floor plan. John and Anita were able to wanted, but all other aspects he felt was make changes, in which they removed “We tried to perfect. The couple agreed to give it a any hallways from the initial layout and live in the chance, and as they pulled through the eliminated any space they felt would be wooded drive-way into the property and wasted. They incorporated a spacious house from up on a small hill, the trees gave way to kitchen to accommodate Anita’s love for the blueprints cooking. A sun-room built off the side a gorgeous view of the farm’s pasture. It before it was was perfect! of the home gives them an incredible panoramic view of their farm, and ever built.”

The existing brick home on the farm, they suddenly became audience to an though older, was in great condition. abundance of wildlife. Overall, lots of The couple made the purchase and now owned planning went into their project. “We tried to live the farm of their dreams. They settled in to country in the house from the blueprints before it was ever living and their new brick home, but a few years later built,” commented Anita. “Our whole idea around it hit. All those years of vacationing in log cabins, the design was to be able to see our farm. It’s along with their new property, made them realize visually interesting as there is always something the home they were living going on with the wildlife to in wasn’t really theirs. It was watch.” someone else’s dream, and their’s wasn’t quite complete.

The couple approached Their farm needed a log home. the project in two phases.

First, they built a garage with So began their research. living area above it using John noted, “We traveled ICFs (Insulated Concrete to area home shows and Forms), which they had log home shows, visited originally considered using company web sites, and of to construct their new home course we have subscriptions before realizing log was their to all the magazines.” The real dream. Rocky-K covered couple, both being detail the structure in log siding oriented, researched for years to match the home that was comparing the differences in soon to follow. The Pleachers construction, materials and now had a place to live while designs. “We knew nothing the construction of their new about construction,” says John. home began. The second “So when we started getting stage began with removing more serious, we knew we the existing home. Wanting needed a turn-key solution nothing to go to waste, they and that eliminated a lot of chose to give the home away companies.” to an Amish couple if they would see to moving it. It In 2009, John and Anita met Ellis and Sandy was taken down, piece by piece, then relocated to a Kiper of Rocky-K Log Homes, an independent nearby community and rebuilt. With the brick home dealership of Honest Abe products. Sitting in their gone, Rocky-K was now clear to start construction sales model, John and Anita realized they had just of their log home. Overall, the construction went found the home they had always wanted. “We sized along with relative ease. As is typical, a couple of our great room exactly from their model,” Anita job-site modifications were made. The enclosed www.honestabe.com

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connector between the garage and the home was originally drawn to be eight feet wide. Brad Cummings of Rocky-K suggested the couple consider making it ten feet, a change the couple has been thrilled with.

“It was an enjoyable process and the planning was fun and exciting,” states John. “We were blessed with quality work, not just from Rocky-K, but also from their subcontractors as well.” John went on to tell a story about how the excavator brought in by the company used precision and care to avoid damaging a fresh water well found just feet from the home’s front porch, as well as a small dogwood tree they wished to save.

“It’s that kind of care that makes things go so well,” Anita added.

While the view of their farm is superb, that’s not the only use the couple make of the property, and it’s actually quite functional. “We’re not ‘doomsday preppers’ by any means,” noted Anita, “But we have built our home and are working this farm to have contingencies and be prepared. It’s more about being good stewards, self reliance and sustainability if it is needed.” Over the past several years, the area 8 • Honest Abe Living • Jan - Feb 2013

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has received notable winter ice storms, crippling the utilities for days and weeks on end. Recent summers have likewise been difficult, as dryer than normal conditions have hurt the area’s ability to produce crops.

To offset these specific issues, the couple installed a generator, capable of meeting all or portions of the home’s energy needs for quite some time. In addition, water run off from the home and barns on the property is collected and stored in tanks, then used in the summer to water their large garden. Whatever the couple doesn’t eat from the garden in the winter, gets canned or frozen for storage and later consumption.

Energy efficiency also plays into their sustainability goal. “We’re heating and conditioning over 5,800 square feet and our most expensive utility bill has been about $200.00, which we consider outstanding.”

While John and Anita have kept a practical approach about planning the home and working their farm, the emotions the home itself stirs is not lost on them. “I’m closer to this house because we put so much into it, we put in a lot of ourselves,” says Anita.

The vaulted ceilings and exposed heavy timber rafters

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create a wonderful atmosphere and mood, which are thrust upon visitors when they enter the front door and go directly into the great room. “It’s a calming, comforting and secure house,” John adds. “I couldn’t imagine living in a conventional home again. We look forward to coming home to it, and in fact, we’ve really not had an urge to take a vacation since moving in.

We just want to be here.”

For those considering building a custom log or timber home, the couple encourages them to plan and do so without fear.

“Being an accountant, I tend to be cautious and calculating,” notes John. “I realized as we were researching this that many of the fears expressed to me by others were misplaced. Building a custom home is a lot of work, and it takes preparation, and that doesn’t matter if it’s made of log or conventional materials.”

Anita added, “Planning may be hard for some people, but the more you do, the happier you will be in the end.”

Now, after year’s of dreaming and suburban life, John and Anita Pleacher have the homestead they had dreamed of for so long. Patience, a vision, and careful planning have put them on a course of better self sufficiency, and many more years of peaceful and simple living together in their beautiful log home.

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Join Us For A Log Raising!

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hese demonstrations allow you to see firsthand how an Honest Abe Log Home is built.

We’ll show you how to stack the log walls, install beams and ceiling, and apply the roof system. Tour our manufacturing facility, and have the opportunity to speak with the people involved throughout the process.

March 16, 2013 View a YouTube preview by clicking below!

The log raising will be hosted by Randy Fudge, President and Jackie Cherry, Vice-President of Honest Abe Log Homes. Honest Abe staff will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. It is also very common for some of Honest Abe’s dry-in construction crew leads to be on hand to answer questions.

So join us at our National Headquarters in Moss, Tennessee on March 16, 2013 at 9 AM CST. Seating is limited, so please call for more information and reservations at: 800-231-3695.

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2012 Dealership of the Year:

T&M

Log Homes of Albany, Indiana

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e are thrilled to Congratulate Tonia and Mike Coulter of T & M Log Homes in Albany, Indiana for being Honest Abe Log Home’s 2012 Independent Dealership of the Year.

They started their Dealership in 1997 shortly after building their own Honest Abe Log Home.

Tonia recently retired from her family’s hog farming operation to allow herself more time for other pursuits, including working their log home business.

Mike and Tonia are both “hard-chargers” in life.

Along with Mike’s work at Rolls Royce as a Senior Engineer, they operate a successful Life Leadership Development Business.

Tonia and Mike have been a joy to work with. I enjoy seeing how Tonia analyzes clients as she works with them, and works diligently to determine how she can best help her customers achieve their goals.

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establishing a relationship. Their meeting and relationship building with prospects and clients is certainly one of the keys to their success. Another of the aspects of their business that thrills me is their willingness to reach out to other Honest Abe dealers that are builders. T & M had three of their projects this year built by other Honest Abe dealers. This collaboration has been a win win for all involved.

All of us at Honest Abe Log Homes are proud to have dealers like Mike and Tonia as friends and clients. Their work ethic, drive and determination are motivational.

Congratulations on a Great Year. We look forward to many more to come.

By David Everitt, Dealer Manager, Honest Abe Log Homes www.honestabe.com

Honest Abe Log Home Featured on the Cover of Log Home Living Magazine The home of Keith and Katherine Joyce was first featured in the September, 2011 edition of Honest Abe Monthly. Our readers response was so great to both the article and the home, that Honest Abe presented them to industry magazines for publishing consideration.

Last year, Log Home Living picked up the project. Roger Wade and Debra Grahl were hired to photograph and style the home professionally, and Log Home Living’s editor, Roland Sweet was so impressed with the original article by Katherine, that they chose to us it in the magazine feature.

Congratulations to Keith and Katherine, and look for the March 2013 edition (seen above) of Log Home Living on your local store shelves! www.honestabe.com

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Tennessee White Chili

serves 6 1 tablespoon canola oil 1 cup chopped onion 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1 1/2 pounds chopped cooked chicken breast, cut into small cubes 3 (15-ounce) can Great Northern beans, drained

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro or 2 teaspoons dried cilantro 2 tablespoons ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper Chicken broth (optional) Shredded Monterey Jack cheese and crushed tortilla chips (optional)

1. Heat the oil in a 5-quart cast iron Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender.

2. Stir in the chicken, beans, cilantro, cumin, salt, and cayenne and simmer 30 minutes. If you like, you can add chicken broth as you prefer.

3. Ladle the chili into bowls and sprinkle each serving with cheese and crushed tortilla chips, if desired.

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

TThe cookbook can be ordered from the Lodge web or site or from Amazon. sit For more information about Lod and their cast iron Lodge cookware, cook visit: www.lodgemfg.com www

“The Lodge Cast Iron Cookbook: A Treasury of Timeless, Delicious Recipes” - Oxmoor House. 2012

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FLOOR PLAN OF THE MONTH: Cambridge

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his latest log home floor plan by Honest Abe, the Cambridge, incorporates design elements from two separate customer’s plans, both previously featured in log home related magazines. The DeSocio II is a customer favorite and can be found in our Customer Creation’s set of floor plans online. The Foster home is often featured in our advertising, and is currently on the cover of our floor plan catalog. Each are much larger in size than the Cambridge, 18 • Honest Abe Living • Jan - Feb 2013

however we wanted to show how specific design elements can be incorporated into a home much different from the plan those elements originated from.

The elevation seen above mimics the Foster home the most, with it’s tower rising through the porch, and the steep gable porch roofs welcoming it’s visitors. The right side of the home, appears more like the DeSocio II, with a larger entrance onto the porch and more window area.

The interior is simply suggestive, and the home could be increased in size to accommodate more bedrooms and living area. The home could easily be constructed on a basement.

For more information on the Cambridge download the PDF available through the members area of Honest Abe Extra!

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FLOOR PLAN: Cambridge

Honest Abe Floor Plan: Cambridge

Want More Great Plans?

Square Feet: First Floor: 1,440 Second Floor: 298 Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1 1/2 Check out the floor plans section dedicated to log and timber home plans created by Honest Abe Log Home customers! www.honestabe.com

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