December, 2012
Christmas Edition
Honest Abe Monthly Receives National Recognition Holiday Photo & Craft Ideas to Share With Your Children LOG HOME PLANS: Year End Review
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December, 2012
Cover Story: Christmas Edition: A Collection of Photos Holiday Photo & Craft Ideas to Share With Your Children Honest Abe Monthly Receives National Recognition Snapshots From The Job Site Join Us For A Log Raising! Aebleskiver Recipe by Lodge Cast Iron Custom Floor Plans of 2012 Honest Abe is now found on...
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blog.honestabe.com Find these articles, stunning photography and more information at Honest Abe Log Home’s blog and news room. 2 • Honest Abe Monthly • December 2012
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 Google Picasa photo gallery as well.
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Christmas Edition: A Collection of Photos
This cabin was inspired by those found in the Appalachian foothills of Tennessee. Built using Honest Abe’s Genesis log system. It features chinking (that stuff between the logs) on both the inside and outside, though this log system can be built without it. Exposed heavy timber ceiling beams add rustic appeal. It may be small in size, but it is huge in character and charm. You can read more about this home by visiting our blog at blog.honestabe.com
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This home is located in Leitchfield, Kentucky, and serves as the sales model for Rocky-K Log Homes. Rocky-K has been a independent dealer of Honest Abe products for many years. Beautifully decorated for Christmas, their model is an 8x8 D-Log, with a Heavy Timber roof throughout the Great Room. The fireplace, nestled into a corner, can also be seen on page 2. A great view of Honest Abe’s Heavy Timber Stair system can be seen here as well.
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Log homes and cowboys make for a great mix. Now, add a little Christmas, and this is what you get. Check out that Christmas tree with a cowboy hat for a topper! Decorated with a western flair, the owners even have cowboy boot stockings ready and waiting for Santa. This is another great example of an open design. The windows in the great room allow plenty of natural light to flow in, while the extended roof creates a wonderful outdoor living area and shades the interior from direct sunlight.
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Magical! Simply, magical! There’s no lack of Christmas trees in this Honest Abe Log Home. This modified and enlarged Bellewood model is beautifully decorated by its owners. It’s rustic all the way, with all the comfortable amenities needed. The home features our Heavy Timber roof and ceiling beam system throughout. Rich colors and dark wood tones help create an invitingly warm atmosphere. Just imagine the rooms full of children and the aroma of holiday spices in the air. Memories a family will never forget. Merry Christmas!
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Holiday Photo & Craft Ideas to Share With Your Children Photos & Contributions by Simply Posh Photography and Wilson’s Taxidermy Studio & Interior Design
The family team at Simply Posh Photography and Wilson’s Taxidermy Studio have brought in the big hitters for this Christmas special. Their own children and grandchildren take to crafting, and Simply Posh highlights photos of their client’s children to inspire ideas when taking your own holiday snap shots. We hope you enjoy! Merry Christmas!
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Left: A great photo idea, and something a little bit different from all the other cards of kids you see at Christmas. All you need is an ornament! Above: Graycee, Janet Wilson’s granddaughter, designed and assembled these snowmen from canning jars and sack cloth. Right: What’s holiday movie night without popcorn? These fun cones are made from scrap wrapping paper. Below: Another great photo idea, and this antique window was painted by Janet’s mother-in-law.
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Top Left: Janet found this sleigh in someone’s field while driving through Kentucky. She made an offer, and brought it home. Perfect for rustic decor, especially during the holidays. It just proves that antiquing doesn’t have to be done at a retail store. Top Right: This sled was purchased at a flea market for a bargain. A little bit of reg and green paint makes it look good as new. They added some stencil lettering, pine branches and a bow to create a beautiful welcoming piece to stand at the front of their home. Bottom Right: Wine bottles and other colored glass bottles are great for crafting. Here, the family put a white frosting over the glass, then with a few basic brush strokes, added stars and a Christmas tree. Drop in some Christmas lights, plug-in, and you’ve just added a romantic and festive glow to any room. Bottom: Janet’s youngest granddaughter, Chloe, hand painted this small canvas, which the family is sure to treasure for many years. If your child has natural artistic talents and an interest, projects like these can be a great opportunity for them to explore. Bottom Left: Painting doesn’t have to be done on canvas, especially when decorating with a rustic flare. This old barn wood proves to be the perfect substrate. Right Page: Another simple and fun holiday photo idea for your kids.
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Merry Christmas! Natural Light Photography | Weddings | Special Events Email: SimplyPoshPhotography@gmail.com
Nation-Wide Taxidermy & Rustic Home Decor Service Monterey, Tennessee
wilsonwildlifestudio@frontiernet.net
931-839-3230 http://www.facebook.com/wilsonstaxidermystudio
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http://www.facebook.com/simplyposhphotography December 2012 • Honest Abe Monthly • 13
Honest Abe Monthly Receives National Recognition Honest Abe Log Homes received numerous national home building accolades as part of the 2013 Jerry Rouleau Awards for Excellence in Marketing and Home Design presented by the Building Systems Councils (BSC) and the Log Homes Council, part of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Honest Abe Log Homes was honored on Oct. 2, 2012, at the BSC’s “Showcase24,” the only national conference and educational event focused exclusively on the systems-built industry. Traveling to Washington, D.C. for the event and representing the company were Randy Fudge,President and Rachel Meadows, Vice-President. For more than a decade, the BSC’s awards program has promoted excellence in systems built housing. The awards were renamed in 2011 in honor of the late BSC member, Jerry Rouleau, a residential-housing marketing authority and longtime advocate of using building systems in new home construction. “We are proud to honor the year’s best marketing and home designs in the systemsbuilt industry,” said 2012 BSC chairman, Dwight Hikel. “Despite going through tough economic times 14 • Honest Abe Monthly • December 2012
over the past several years, these award recipients have persevered and created nationally recognized projects that are sure to stand out to consumers.” Award recipients also will be featured in editions of NAHB’s e-news communications throughout 2013, as well as other NAHB and independent publications. Select projects will be displayed on the BSC Awards Wall during the 2013 International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas, January 22-24, 2013. www.honestabe.com
The annual Jerry Rouleau Awards for Excellence are judged by an independent panel of industry experts, and companies like Honest Abe Log Homes were praised for the quality of their submittals. “I’m very proud of the work done by the Honest Abe marketing team,” noted Randy Fudge. “It’s truly an honor to be recognized by these awards.” Recipients were recognized for excellence in achievement in a range of categories such as informative and aesthetically-pleasing websites and floor plan designs categorized by systems-built type and square footage. Honest Abe won awards for it’s marketing efforts, nearly sweeping the category. Honest Abe Monthly, this very publication, was recognized as the best marketing material to support dealers and builders within the industry. Honest Abe also won top honors for a print-ad submitted, that is featured in the Tennessee Titans 2012 Official Team Yearbook. A third top-place award recognized Honest Abe’s blog as best website.
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Above: Honest Abe’s blog. It can be found at blog. honestabe.com and contains much of the same content as Honest Abe Monthly, just in an online form. It won best website. Bottom Left: Honest Abe Monthly won top honors in the Builder/Dealer Marketing Materials category. Bottom Right: This print ad, similar to those found in log home related magazines, won the best print ad category.
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Snapshots From The Job Site
Customer: Doug Williams and Noreen Bania Sales person: Darlene Dawson of Bear’s Den Log Homes Crew: Legacy Home Builders Log Profile: 8 “x 8” D-Log Floor Plan: Custom Clearbrook 60’ x 32’ Doug & Noreen, like so many other log home prospects, attended one of the many log home shows that are available throughout the country each year. In 2010, the couple met Honest Abe at the Log & Timber Home Show in Chantilly, Virginia which is just outside of Washington, D.C. At the show, they received contact information for a independent dealership of Honest Abe products very near to the location they planned to build. They had purchased property in a development in Leicester, North Carolina and it was in the same development where an Honest Abe home was already under construction. Darlene of Bear’s Den Log Homes set up a date to meet them on their property and to take a tour of the house that was under construction right across the street. It was a great opportunity for them to see the process first-hand. Doug and Noreen, continued to do their homework and researched other log home 16 • Honest Abe Monthly • December 2012
companies. They soon traveled to Moss, Tennessee where Honest Abe is headquartered, and took part in a log raising event. After attending the log raising, they were convinced and made the decision that Honest Abe offered them the high quality log home and the customer service they where looking for. They decided to put their home on the market in Virginia, and in the mean time they started the design process. They received a big surprise when they sold their home in record time. The process accelerated from there, they “broke ground” and relocated to the Asheville area. Doug and Noreen has even been involved with some of the building process, as they now live only three miles from the job site. Their home is moving along well and they plan on being settled in by Spring or Summer of 2013. www.honestabe.com
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.
Jan 26, 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 January 26, 2013 at 9 AM CST. Seating is limited, so please call for more information and reservations at: 800-231-3695.
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Aebleskiver makes 30 aebleskiver 4 large eggs, separated 2 cups cake flour 1 tablespoon sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup vegetable shortening, melted Scant 2 cups milk (2 cups less 2 tablespoons)
1. In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks with an electric mixer until thick and pale. Wash and dry the beaters. In a medium bowl, beat the egg whites with the mixer until stiff peaks form. 2. In another medium bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add dry ingredients alternately with melted shortening and milk to the beaten egg yolks. Lightly mix in the beaten egg whites with a whisk. 3. Heat a Lodge Aebleskiver Pan over medium heat. Brush a small amount of shortening or oil in each well and fill almost full with batter. Cook over medium heat until bubbly; using knitting needles, wooden skewers, or a small fondue fork, turn each one over after 30 seconds and continue to turn them every 30 seconds until all the sides are cooked to form a ball. Continue to turn them until browned on all sides. Remove from the pan. 4. Repeat with the remaining batter, then serve as you like.
“The Lodge Cast Iron Cookbook: A Treasury of Timeless, Delicious Recipes” - Oxmoor House. 2012
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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
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FLOOR PLANS: Plans of 2012!
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hroughout the course of 2012, we’ve shared with you some great plans. That is not bragging though, because we didn’t make them great. Instead, our customers did. Most of these plans are homes built by Honest Abe customers. They represent a lifetime of passion, and many years of planning for some. They may not be perfect to you, but that’s just fine because they were made just exactly how someone else wanted them. Now, they are shared with you for inspiration and direction. Customize them to suite your lifestyle, wants and needs, and make them your own creation! Click on the images, or visit www.honestabe.com
Franklin Square Feet: 1,340 Bedrooms: 2; Baths: 2
Hickory Hollow Square Feet: 2,204 Bedrooms: 2; Baths: 2
Segura Residence Square Feet: 2,216 Bedrooms: 3; Baths: 2.5
Coolsprings Square Feet: 1,457 Bedrooms: 3; Baths: 2
Marshall Square Feet: 3,441 Bedrooms: 3; Baths: 3
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Williams Square Feet: 1,352 Bedrooms: 2; Baths: 3
Clayton Square Feet: 1,726 Bedrooms: 1; Baths: 1
Cumberland Cabin Square Feet: 560 Bedrooms: 1; Baths: 1
Joyce Residence Square Feet: 2,446 Bedrooms: 3; Baths: 2.5
Patterson Square Feet: 1,440 Bedrooms: 2; Baths: 2
Busch Square Feet: 2,396 Bedrooms: 2; Baths: 2
Check out the floor plans section on our website dedicated to log and timber home plans created by Honest Abe Log Home customers!
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