Honest Abe Monthly, November 2012

November, 2012

One Father’s Legacy

THE INSPECTOR & THE CREW HANNAH’S APPLE PANCAKE RECIPE LOG HOME PLAN: THE BUSCH RESIDENCE

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November, 2012

Cover Story: One Father’s Legacy The Inspector & The Crew Recipe: Hannah’s Apple Pancake by Lodge Cast Iron Monthly Floor Plan: The Busch Residence

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One Father’s Legacy Article and Photography by Josh Beasley, HALH

N

early fifty years ago, the father of George Busch purchased a small lot on Nolin Lake in Kentucky. On it, he built a quaint three room cottage, as was typical in the community. At that time, small weekender cabins were constructed to provide basic necessities and shelter to families who would spend summer weekends enjoying the lake.

George and his wife Alice would spend years on the lake and property, bringing their children, Cathy and David, to the cabin often. It created priceless memories for everyone involved, and the family sank their roots into their vacation getaway.

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As their family aged, and life’s inevitable changes occurred, George and Alice found themselves in Illinois where they would complete their professional careers. Life in Hoopeston, Illinois had been good, but it had pulled them away from their hometown of Louisville, Kentucky and the nearby vacation property they loved. As thoughts of moving back home stirred in the couple’s minds, both agreed that the peaceful setting of their vacation property would be best suited for their next stage of life together. “The cabin was given to George and I as an anniversary present, and I can even remember our son being young and playing on the foundation as we were building it,” commented Alice. “It has a lot of sentimental value to us.”

Middle: Alice, George and Brodie Busch, who thoroughly enjoy the exterior living areas of their home.

Bottom: Large windows allow natural light to flood the Great Room of the log home, which according to Alice, is a wonderful change as opposed to their previous cottage.

Right: The rear of the home, facing Noris Lake and standing high on their property, provides a beautiful view of the forest and lake below.

Right Inset: The original three room cottage, built by the family and George’s father.

While the couple was ready for retirement and cabin life, the cabin wasn’t quite ready for them. Their son and daughter had helped to maintain it throughout the years, but it was still a basic cottage and didn’t contain many of the every-day necessities and accommodations one expects in a retirement home. Alice laughed, still speaking of the old cabin, “When it was first built, everyone around here still had outhouses and there was no running water. There were a lot of baths taken in the lake. Once water was available to the area, we turned a closet off of the kitchen into a small bathroom.” Needless

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to say, it still needed a lot of work for the couple to occupy full time.

Planning began. George and Alice started talking with contractors about additions and updating their existing cabin, but a good plan didn’t seem to be presenting itself. All that changed one day as they drove by the sales office of Rocky-K Log Homes in Leitchfield, Kentucky. After taking a tour, George told them, “I want one just like this, only flipped around, and put it on my lot.” Soon, the couple would attend a Log Raising Event hosted by Rocky-K and Honest Abe, which helped to present the couple with the various building systems utilized in the construction of a log home.

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With a basic style and floor plan now in mind, George and Alice realized their narrow lake-front lot wouldn’t accommodate the home they had in mind.

Luckily, they were able to acquire adjacent lots and make the home fit. “That’s when George started adding to the floor plan,” Alice said, while George chuckled. “We added on a garage, which soon turned into a three car garage,” Alice continued.

After a little more revising to the plans, the couple signed a contract with Rocky-K to “turn-key” the project. While under construction, George and Alice returned to Illinois to prepare to move.

During the construction, George and Alice

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visited on weekends to inspect the work and watch as their dream came together. The couple ordered their appliances and fixtures in Illinois, and had them shipped in to the job-site. The project was on a tight deadline due to their need to make the move from Illinois back to Kentucky, and Rocky-K worked tirelessly to have the couple’s home ready on arrival. “We moved in before the paint was dry,” said George. “It was that close, but they did a great job getting it done. They had to overcome a lot of obstacles to do so.”

The couple now enjoy their vacation property full time. Their two bedroom home has plenty of space, and can easily accommodate their family during visits. Alice particularly enjoys the view from the couple’s bedroom. “I can lay in bed and read, and look right out onto the lake.” The couple also enjoys sitting on their back deck and enjoying meals. George is thrilled with their electric bill, “Our electric is a lot more economical and this house holds heat really well.” Downstairs, their ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) constructed basement provides more space for family, and also serves as a hobby area for the couple. As a retired engineer, George is always building something in his shop. Alice Above: George had a ramp constructed behind the home so also has her space, creating numerous crafts she that he could easily navigate his ATV, or golf cart down to the lower section of their property. Nolin Lake can be seen in the often gives away to family and friends. background on a cloudy Autumn day.

“This is pretty much perfect,” says Alice, “We’ve always loved this area, and this home fits it perfectly.” Their home is a nice mixture of rustic appeal with modern amenities, and has proven to attract attention. George noted, “I think we’ve shown our house to people more often than Rocky-K. It’s not uncommon for people walking or driving by to stop and talk to us about the home. They’re just drawn to it.” That’s a feeling the couple understands and relates to well. It was the same feeling they had that ultimately drove them to build a new home on their vacation property. It’s a feeling they’re likely to pass on to their children, just as George’s father passed it on to them, and another cabin can be enjoyed for generations.

Editors Note: A special thanks to Ellis & Sandy Kiper of Rocky-K Log Homes for contributing to this story. www.honestabe.com

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“Joe & his crew did an outstanding job from the time they arrived until they finished. Thanks from the inspector and me on a job well done!” – Tim Johnston

The Inspector & The Crew

Customer: Tim & Connie Johnston Sold By: Dan Smith (Murfreesboro Model) Dry-in Crew: Isenberg Log Homes Builders, Inc Log Profile: 8x8 D-log Roof Style: Heavy Timber

We always appreciate feedback from our customers, especially when it’s positive! Though I’m joking, somewhat, about one sided positive feedback, we do love when a person takes the time to tell us about their home or its craftsmanship. Joe Isenberg, crew chief of Isenberg Log Home Builders, Inc., even mentioned with a smile that the homeowner was somewhat patting himself on the back….will get back to this in a second.

Tim & Connie Johnston bought house plans in July 2011, after meeting with Dan Smith (salesperson out of our Murfreesboro location) & attending a few Log Raising Events at our National Headquarters in Moss, Tennessee. They decided on a modified version of our Livingston plan with a garage. With Tim being a very punctual and hands-on type person, he purposely scheduled delivery months in advance, holding the date (August 30th, 2012) until 10 • Honest Abe Monthly • October 2012

he retired so he could be there for delivery and the construction of their home.

This is where Joe’s comment comes in. Not only was Tim there, but he pretty much became one of the “crew”. He jumped in to help tote, stack, and fasten screws; Joe observed that, “Tim probably saw every fastener, sealant and timber that went into his home”. When Tim’s wife Connie would come for the occasional visit she was deemed “the inspector” by Tim and Joe, as they both would show her the ins and outs of what had progressed since her last visit.

We congratulate Tim and Connie on their beautiful home & wholeheartedly agree that the “crew” and the “inspector” did a great job!

Article by: Josh Watson, Construction Coordinator for Honest Abe Log Homes www.honestabe.com

Hannah’s Apple Pancake serves 1 generously 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter 1/4 cup milk 1 apple (Hannah prefers Golden Delicious) 1 tablespoons sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 large egg 1/4 cup all-purpose flour Pinch of salt

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

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Melt the butter in a 5-inch cast iron skillet over low heat.

2. While the butter melts, pour the milk into a 2-cup measuring cup. Peel the apple, then cut it off the core into 4 pieces. Cut each piece lengthwise into thin slices. In a small bowl, toss the apple slices with the sugar and cinnamon until well coated.

3. Pour half the melted butter into the milk and whisk well.

4. Add the apple slices and any loose sugar in the bowl to the hot butter in the skillet. Cook the apple slices over medium-low to low heat, turning them a few times, until softened; the sugar and butter will get nicely browned and bubbly. Remove the skillet from the heat.

5. Add the egg to the milk mixture and whisk to combine. Add the flour and salt and whisk until the batter is smooth. Pour the batter over the apples in the skillet, covering them.

6. Bake until the pancake puffs up and gets golden on top, with patches of brown, about 10 minutes. Enjoy the pancake straight from the skillet or invert it onto a serving plate. www.honestabe.com

“The Lodge Cast Iron Cookbook: A Treasury of Timeless, Delicious Recipes” - Oxmoor House. 2012 October 2012 • Honest Abe Monthly • 11

FLOOR PLAN OF THE MONTH: Busch Residence

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s featured in our cover story, the Busch residence is similar to several Honest Abe stock designs, though without its garage it probably most resembles the Madison floor plan.

The Busch’s custom designed 12 • Honest Abe Monthly • October 2012

their home around the sales model of Rocky-K Log Homes after taking a tour of it. They flipped the plan and added on a three-car garage.

encompasses the whole right wing of the home, while the other wing serves to provide room for a guest bedroom, office, utility room and storage space.

A spacious master bedroom and master bath suite

The center of the home is largely open, only somewhat www.honestabe.com

FLOOR PLAN:

Honest Abe’s Customer Creations: Busch Residence First Floor: 2,076 Sq Ft Loft: 320 Sq Ft Bedrooms: 2 Baths: 2 3 Car Garage

Want More Great Plans? divided by the stairs which leads to an open loft. Gable windows in the front and rear of the home provide ample opportunity to take in the surrounding views.

Fore more information on this plan and others, visit our website. www.honestabe.com

Check out the floor plans section dedicated to log and timber home plans created by Honest Abe Log Home customers!

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