The Meade Hall

[Chungas Revenge]

My brother buit a similar A frame type cabin in southern Indiana. Fortunately electric was close. He has a cistern that he gets filled a couple times a year. They have 5 gallon Igloo water jugs they bring for drinking water. The lesson they learned is to have all the water supply lines easy to drain and slightly sloped at certain spots for easy winterization.

I’m 4 poles (1st one is free) from power. Currently I'm wired for a generator. Fingers crossed I’m ready to plug into the grid this spring.

Good advice on the water. I’ll be using a cistern as well pumped through ultraviolet and filters. Using it for grey water flushing/washing etc. Hauling drinking water. I don’t drink the tap water at home either.

Later I’ll post up a pic of a friends set up. Using it as a place to start making changes.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

2016/2017

Adding the kitchen ceiling. 1x10 pine. Dropped the ceiling 3/4” with the furring strips so I could run the boards E/W. Improvise and over come. Used two step ladders and some blocking to get it started. Tacked up with a brad nail then used a finish nail to secure it. Took most of the day playing in the one man band.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

More kitchen ceiling. Kitchen accent wall.

 

[MatthewMcD]

I’m shotgunning posts today. No chores, distractions or overlords. Probably need to throttle back on the caffeine inspiration.
Windows are ad hoc mix. 3 on the eastern wall and 4 on the western wall. Cabin is oriented N/S. Shot of the storage loft.

Circa 2023. Changes coming in 2026. Added accent color to break up the sea of pine.

1: Looking from the corner of the kitchen counter toward the front door.
2. Same corner looking straight ahead
3. Front door looking in. Kitchen left/Bath right.

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Have you considered a composting toilet for the ladies?

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Have you considered a composting toilet for the ladies?

s***tens for all, I vote!

 

[Chungas Revenge]

Have you considered a composting toilet for the ladies?

The end of an era…

 

[greenbeast]

Spring time turkeys gobbling while drinking the morning coffee? Favorite activity of mine and with those valleys it ought to be epic!!

 

[Chungas Revenge]

Spring time turkeys gobbling while drinking the morning coffee? Favorite activity of mine and with those valleys it ought to be epic!!

I’ve been fortunate. We’ve maintained a fairly large flock. Coyotes take their toll some years.

I get my fair share of in town birds. They stop by for breakfast now and again.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

Hand me that chain saw.


Tried not to bombard this thread with all of these older pics. It was the only way to get the whole cabin vibe out in the open and support the new project from the beginning.


By the time of the Big Cabin genesis, I’d hired two reasonably responsible individuals who came with outstanding qualifications.

1. They were willing to work weekends (my days off).
2. They were semi competent with respect to driving nails and carrying heavy objects.
3. They brought their own beer. (Mostly).
4. They accepted the meager wage I offered.

It was during one of our end of the day “staff meetings” that I realized the 24x24 space in the front of the cabin, I’d envisioned as a bunk house, was not going to suit me. I guess I’d seen one too many episodes of The Big Valley or Hogan's Hero’s as a youngster. I needed more space. Build off of the back? Build off of the front?

I got up, walked over to tool box and fished around for a tape measure. My curious crew looked on with growing suspicion.

Crewman #1: “What’ya doin”?

Me: “Nothing, just thinking”.

Crewmn #2: “Why ya marking up the stud wall”.

Me: “No reason, how many beers you had”?

Crewmen#1: “You mean today or just now? I reckon just a couple”, He said tossing a sidelong glance at his partner in crime.

Me: “Good hand me that chain saw”.



Taking a cue from an old barn: I ended up cutting out a space on each side of the big cabin. Just enough room to get a header in and a step down in which was necessary to clear the roof line.

In theory a 1% slope will run water. Not wanting to test the theories of hydrology, I managed to pull a 4*-5*degree slope off of the “kick out roof line”.

At a reasonable 10x12 each, the kick outs provided just enough space to add a proper sleeping quarters. It gets a little short toward the back of the room but, the step down at the entrance makes it live bigger than it is.

Pic 1: kitchen side 2017. Was used as a bedroom at first. Being used as a tool room currently (Mede Hall build). There’s a new “make over” coming in 2026.
Pic 2: Utility/bath room side 2023.
Pic 3: Step down. 2016/17. The difference between the kick out floor level from main cabin floor level.
Pic 4: the back of the cabin. “Phat bottomed girl”.. 2016/17

 

[Chungas Revenge]

What a beautiful cabin and piece of land.

View from my stand. It’s one ridge line over from the main cabin.


1: Looking east
2. West
3. Looking down the ridge line.

 

[RevISK]

Magical

 

[Chungas Revenge]

T/G Cedar lined closet. In the old utility/bath room. Goal was to leave the majority of my hunting apparel/kit/work-clothes/boots etc etc on site.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

I only managed three hours on site today. Geezer buddy and I picked up materials at 0800. We had twelve pieces of 1x6 T/G to urethane and six fruit trees to plant. Toss of the coin and I called Heads. Tails for the win. Ten minutes later I was digging holes in 34* weather while geezer buddy was inside with the heater on. Pretty sure he was in there singing.


Geezer buddy has a friend who owns a Landscape / Greenhouse business. 16$ a piece, out the door for Gala apple, Caroking Peach and Bartlett Pear trees. Probably go back for another Pear and a Peach this Thursday. I still need to stake them and add some black flex pipe to keep the deer off them. Toss on some landscape paper and mulch and call it “good” .

The new orchard is about 40yds or so out from the main cabin.

True to form, Geezer buddy was smoking a cigar and humming along to a George Jones tune by the time I was finished. We unloaded the thirteen sheets of 4x8 we’d picked up that morning and sat down to plot and scheme.

There may be a Meade Hall fire pit in the making and some overhead cover in the “main dinning area” out front of the Lil Cabin in 2026.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

Cue the Gilligan’s Island theme music….

At this point it probably seems as though Sara Winchester is my design inspiration. The never ending project, doors that open to empty space, stairways to nowhere and imaginary toilets. In some non linear, oblique way I’d say that pretty much sums it up.

During an impromptu tour of my ever morphing project, Geezer buddy and I were enjoying a frosty wobble pop at the corner of the bar while looking in toward the fireplace in the great room of the main cabin.

For some unknown reason the “Good Idea Fairy” always makes an appearance somewhere in the middle of a second beverage. I’m 100% certain she’s attracted to the smell of lime. I kept scanning the room, silent, brooding, thinking….Then I felt her. The soft humming buzz of those little wings beat hummingbird fast as she honed in on the thought forming in my tiny little cortex. I felt those little toes touch down as she settled confidently on my shoulder. Turning to Geezer buddy, I pointed toward the back door of the kitchen.

Me: “You know what we need”?

Geezer buddy: “More ice”?

Nice try Geezer buddy!!..Me: “I think we need to add another room”. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Geezer buddy sliding the chain saw behind the bar with his foot. “Yep, we need a place to gather around a table, eat steaming hunks of venison with our hands, drink beer from a horn and sing songs of conquest while we plan the invasion of Ohio.
What d ya’ think”?

Geezer buddy: Why do we want to invade Ohio and drink beer from a horn? My Moms from Ohio, hell I got kin in Columbus. And, you got something against glassware”?


Late summer 2024 it begins. The Meade Hall was born. The conquest of Ohio would have to wait.


Laying out the batter boards October of 19, 2024. Who starts a project in OCT? The Good Idea Fairy does, thats who…

 

[Chungas Revenge]

Trusses are for the weak..


We were somewhat constrained in determining the new roof line. Old roof = 10/12. New roof = 6/12. My coconspirator during this phase of the op, Construction Buddy (CB), is a retired carpenter w/ 30 years experience tucked in his overalls. We were fellow high school miscreants and once shared a fun filled fall vacation at MCRD, San Diego Cali.

CB laid out the roofline in his driveway and cut our pattern for the rafters. Yes, it would have been easier to buy trusses instead of making everything by hand. But what fun would that have been? Why, in that scenario, there’s almost no chance of sudden and severe injury caused by two old boomer buddies taking a misstep at altitude. We were stick building..!!!

I think CB wanted to show off his trade craft while making me perform all duties assigned as the building site grunt. I Don’t think he’s quite forgiven me for that whole USMC vacation.

In all fairness, IOT get the ceiling profile I wanted, stick building made the most sense. Well, the Good Idea Fairy thought it made the most sense.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

Diggen’ in….


OCT 21/22: Excavation ops. The two man auger in action. Drilled pilot holes with a 4” bit, followed by a 10”, then cleaned out the holes with the post hole diggers. The soil, for the most part, is a clay/loam. That made drilling just mildly abusive.

Fortune was favoring our late start.

Weather cooperating (so far). October in the Land of Nod, like March, is a bipolar month at best. Especially when you start edging up against Novembers cold damp personality. It was a roll of the dice for two old pharts to execute an outdoor project but, we had the wind at our backs and were committed to having it under roof before Old Man Winter realized we had stolen a move.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

“I been walkin' on the ground, waitin' for the pieces to fit”. - Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Standing on the Rock.


The day before CB and I dug holes, dug better new and improved holes, toted Sakrete, mixed Sakrete, poured Sakrete and waited.

The next day, OCT 23. By the end of the day we’d repeated the Sakrete shuffle, set posts and were sufficiently satisfied with the way things were going.

After two days we’d made progress. Well, progress for a couple of knuckle draggers. I think CB was considering signing off on my apprentice card until I knocked over his insulted travel mug of Coke. I staged timbers that morning as penance.


There was saw dust in the air, and the impact drivers were hammering away. The Meade Hall was going 3D.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

Making hay while the sun shines.

CB and I might not be setting any records for speed but be were steady at the helm. 2024 was a drought year in the land of NOD. At the end of OCT that had not changed. While the temps were falling, the precipitation was holding at “0”. Into the 1st week of NOV the subfloor was going down.

I was mildly shocked at the cost of the rigid insulation. From my “consumer prospective”, it’s way overpriced. But, it does make for quick and easy installation.

The deck is framed, floor joist in place and ready for sheeting.

Rigid insulation added prior to installing the 3/4” T/G subfloor sheeting. Subfloor glued and nailed in place.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

We broke in to the month of November quietly and without fanfare. Sub floor is down and sealed at the seams. It felt good to celebrate this small victory. Once the subfloor is down walls can start going up. Despite the victory dance on the fresh sheeting, I was starting to get an uneasy feeling and began monitoring the daily weather report. November is the conjoined twin of March. Generally by now, you can expect slate grey skies, moderate precipitation and temps cold enough to make it uncomfortable when wet.

The push was on now that we had a base to work from. Windows and doors were still in the supply system but we had the rough opening dimensions to go off of. During this particular build I tried to adhere to the “On Demand Logistics” concept. Only ordering and picking up what we needed for a two-three day work schedule. What I didn’t want was a truckload of building material setting around in a wet damp environment if I could avoid it.

Local lumber yard (family owned) was great to work with. I’d break up an order into 2/3 different invoices then the day before pickup, I’d call and green light an invoice number. 1/2 Tundra and a 12’ trailer did 90% of the haul missions.

The western wall.

We managed to assemble the 24’ wall in the afternoon. One 36”x36” sliding window opening and one 36” standard door opening. CB had a family commitment the next day and the Sorcerer’s Apprentice would be left to his own devises. What could go wrong .

 

[Chungas Revenge]

While the boss is away, the apprentice will play. CB was out pulling family duty and I was going solo on the eastern wall. Pretty straight forward, one 36x36” window opening and one 24x24” window opening.

As I recollect, sitting here next to the fire, everything went without incident, a flawless application of the carpenters craft. Then I remind myself that, on occasion, facts get in the way of a perfectly good memory. I was about 4/5 studs into it, swinging away with the confidence born of ignorance, when I realized something wasn’t quite right. The four foot level cast a mocking smirk at me and laughed. Undeterred by what must be a faulty bubble, I pulled the tape and confirmed 16” on center on the top plate..Perfect!!! Floor plate wasn’t cooperating. 16 3/4” on center... Stoooopid level. Probably made in China. Primate anger sounds, throw hammer, pout, regroup. I wanted some practice using the crows foot extractor and sawzall anyway. Perfect!!!

With the minor surgery complete, I separated the level and tape measure to prevent any further mutinous acts. Made a mental note to forgo telling CB about my rebellious equipment. He had enough on his mind already.


Managed to slog through the reminder of the Eastern wall without a major insurrection. End of the day, both walls were ready for the next days work.

I’m closing in on my apprentice card.