Honest Abe Living, January/February 2014

Janurary-February, 2014

Focusing OnFireplaces

Celebrating 35 YearsOf Business

Recipe by Lodge:Chicken and Dressing Skillet Bake

Getting Crafty With The Smiths: Creating Wall Art

thHONE

ST ABE LOG HOMES

M O S S , T N

19 7 9 2 0 1ANNIVERSA RY 4

www.honestabe.com

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get connectedblog & news room

3 Cover Story: Focusing On Fireplaces

Chicken and Dressing Skillet Bake Recipe by Lodge Cast Iron

Celebrating 35 Years Of Business

Getting Crafty With The Smiths: Creating Wall Art

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January-February 2014

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Honest Abe is now found on...

2 • Honest Abe Living • January-February 2014

Gas Fireplace Pros: Cleaner burning than a wood fireplace Easier to start a fire than a wood fireplace - simply flip a switch Flexible installation options More uniform heat output More easily controlled flame height Can be used as a supplemental heat source Reduced requirement for human interaction with fire Cons:

Doesn’t have the same ambience (smell, sound) of wood fireplace Reduced requirement for human interaction with fire May be unusable in long power outage Fossil fuels are not environmentally friendly

www.honestabe.com January-February 2014 • Honest Abe Living • 3

Focusing On FireplacesIt’s always nice to come home on a cold day and warm up next to a glowing

fire. There’s something about a fireplace that is inviting and comforting. The flickering flames can be hypnotizing to the eye. Many of Honest Abe Log Homes’ customers have fireplaces inside their own homes.

To some, there are many questions that come with the decision to put a fireplace in their home. “Should I go with a gas or woodburning fireplace?” “Which kind is better for my budget?” “What are the pros and cons?” We hope this article can help you with those questions and give you insight on fireplaces.

Sharron Bilbrey, a New Home Consultant from

Honest Abe Log Homes in Crossville, Tennessee has her very own Honest Abe log home with a tra-ditional wood burning stone fireplace in the great

room. “The fireplace, which is the focus of our great room, is very special to us,” said Sharron. The field stones for the fireplace were gathered from her hus-band’s grandfather’s land.

The thing Sharron enjoys most about her fire-

“There are so many options when it comes

to fireplaces.

Pictured is Sharron Bilbrey and her family. Pictured below is their fireplace.

4 • Honest Abe Living • January-February 2014 www.honestabe.com

place is the smell and crackling of the fire. We asked if she had any advice to give the readers who are interested in installing a fireplace in their home, she replied; “There are so many options when it comes to fireplaces. Think more in terms if efficiency and make sure you get a professional to help you.” Shar-ron’s only concern about her fireplace is that it’s not too efficient. She went on by saying, “We are con-sidering putting a wood burning insert to make it more efficient and to be able to enjoy it more. In working on some of the design options for the new Honest Abe model in Crossville we have discovered a down-vent gas, see-through fireplace that we will use on the first floor. The venting system is much like the down-vent you use in a Jenn-Air range top. Really nice concept if you don’t want to take the pipe all the all up the wall and/or through the roof.”

It’s always good to do research when purchasing anything. There are many things to research when you’re thinking about installing a fireplace in your home. One thing you will want to look at are the pros and cons of different types of fireplaces.

Let’s look at the pros and cons of woodburning fireplaces first. Pros: Woodburning fireplaces have the aesthetics of a “real” fire with the smell, cracking sound and dancing flames. You get good exercise information from www.fireplacesandwoodstoves.com

January-February 2014 • Honest Abe Living • 5www.honestabe.com

from chopping wood and physically building a fire. Firewood is readily available in many areas. Wood burning fireplaces can be used as supplemental heat sources and are self-sufficient in a disaster sce-nario. One of the most economical fuels. Renew-able, environmentally friendly fuel. Cons: Cleaning the fireplace; emptying and hauling ashes. Wood-burning fireplaces require a chimney/flue for ven-tilation. Inexpert use may cause odors and smoke. Fire is less autonomous than other options. There is no “on/off” switch on a wood burning fireplace. Less uniform heat output than other options. Wood storage can take significant space. Bad installation can result in dirty, ashen smoke emitted from the chimney.

Here are some pros and cons of a gas fireplace. Pros: Gas fireplaces burn cleaner than a wood fire-place. It’s easier to start a fire than a wood fireplace; all you have to do is flip a switch. Flexible installa-tion options. More uniform heat output. Gas fire-places have a more easily controlled flame height. They can be used as a supplemental heat source. Reduced requirement for human interaction with fire. Cons: There isn’t the same ambience (smell and sound) of a wood fireplace. Less requirement for human interaction with fire. In a long power out-age, it may be unusable. Fossil fuels are not envi-

ronmentally friendly.Something else to think about is comparing

prices of fireplaces. Wood fireplaces can be $500 and up for material only. A fully installed deluxe model can be as much as $5,000 to $10,000 or even more if custom-designed and using exotic materi-als or architecture. Gas fireplaces can range from $600 to $3,000 for the gas fireplace only. A fully in-stalled gas fireplace ranges from $1,200 to $5,000 and up. Gas logs can be $300 to $700 for the gas logs only. Add $300 to $600 for installation into an existing fireplace. Glass fireplace door only, varying


with size and type of metal and glass materials. Add $85 to $150 for installation.

Fireplace maintenance is very important not only for safety, but to keep your fireplace in its best working order to provide heat for your home. If there is a problem with the flue then smoke may not be able to make its way up the chimney and the smoke may enter your home creating dust, fire and possible noxious fumes. It is important to look at the manufacturers guidelines for the best ser-vice package and safety recommendations.

Employing a chimney sweep, using cleaning logs and using carbon monoxide detectors in your home is always beneficial. For a woodstove it is im-portant that the ashes are cleaned out frequently

(and disposed in a non combustible container like a metal garbage can) and for a gas fireplace it is imperative to keep it from flammable dust.

It is always worth having a safety professional look at the installation of your fireplace before lighting it for the first time; especially if you in-stalled it yourself. There may be problems with the chimney, a blockage somewhere, or if you have a gas fireplace there may be a leakage area. Fire-place safety is not to be taken lightly and fireplace maintenance is key.

Whatever kind of fireplace you might end up with, take time to decide which is best for you. But also remember to relax and enjoy it with friends and family.


Learn A Little About Our KilnsHave you ever wondered why we have kilns?

Bobby Collins, Manufacturing Manger can help tell you why. “We buy our timbers green so that we can kiln dry them ourselves. We feel that its an important step in our quality control. We want control over the drying process so we can make sure it has been done correctly.

Once we get the timbers, 6x8, 8x8, 6x10, 6x12 and 8x12 timber sizes delivered, we then start getting them ready to go into the kiln.

First we have to get them on sticks so that the air can get in between the timbers while inside the kiln. Once the timbers are on sticks, and the kiln is emptied from the last run, we then start setting them inside the kiln. We stack them as high as possible to get as much board footage into the kiln as possible, normal-ly around 90,000 - 100,000 board feet.

Once inside the kiln the drying process begins. The temperature is started out low on white pine, so that we do not stress or damage the wood. Once the timbers are close to being to our desired moisture

content we then raise the temperature above 150 de-grees to finish them.

Our white pine normally stays in the kiln anywhere from 30 - 45 days depending on the size and mois-ture content of the wood. We try to get the moisture content of the pine to an average of 18%. Once the timbers are dry they are ready to be planed to the log profile, and get them nearer to the customers new log home.”

The installation of a backup generator can deliver whole-house energy during a loss of power, or it can be designed to supply only necessary systems until electrical service is restored. A standby generator is a back-up electrical system that operates automatically. Within seconds of a utility outage an automatic trans-fer switch senses the power loss, commands the gen-erator to start and then transfers the electrical load to the generator. The standby generator begins supply-ing power to the circuits.

These systems, which start at about $5,000 and go as high as $40,000, recoup about 68% of their cost at resale, according to Remodeling Magazine’s 2014 Cost vs. Value Report.

After utility power returns, the automatic transfer switch transfers the electrical load back to the utility and signals the standby generator to shut off. It then returns to standby mode where it awaits the next outage. To ensure a proper response to an outage, a standby generator runs weekly self-tests. Most units run on diesel, natural gas or liquid propane gas.

George and Alice Bush live in a Custom Madison on Nolan Lake, 10 miles South from Clarkson, Ken-tucky. Their home is surrounded by many trees, and they knew that could pose a threat on the power lines which would leave them without electricity.

The couple decided to have a backup generator installed. It sits tucked away behind their house in the corner where the office and garage meet. “Our gen-erator runs off of propane fuel, we don’t have natural gas. We’ve had the occasion to use it a couple of times; a tree might fall on a powerline. Living on a lake, it’s just all trees.” George said.

When asked what advice would he give someone who is interested in purchasing a backup generator, George replied: “Don’t think about it, just go out and get one. Take good care of it and keep it safe, away from the elements. Once every two years I change the oil in it. I change the air filter too.”

“If the power goes out, I don’t have to do anything except wait for a minute and the generator kicks on. Ours was a little on the pricey side, but it’s worth it.”

Installing A Backup Generator



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

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

Chicken and Dressing

Skillet Bake

Serves 6

2 tablespoons butter1 cup chopped onion 1 cup chopped celery1 tablespoon vegetable oil2 (6-ounce) packages Martha White Cotton Country or Buttermilk Cornbread Mix3 cups cubed cooked chicken, seasoned with salt and pepper1 cup frozen corn kernels1 1/2 teaspoons poultry seasoning1 3/4 cups milk2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Melt the butter in a 10-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat; cook the onion and celery, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Remove the vegetable mixture to a large bowl .

2. Pour the oil in the same skillet; place in the oven to heat for about 5 minutes.

3. Add the cornbread mix, chicken, corn, poultry seasoning, milk and eggs to the vegetable mixture; blend well. Carefully remove the skillet from the oven; pour the batter into the hot skillet. Bake until golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes.

Cut into wedges and serve.


Celebrating 35 Years Of BusinessHonest Abe Log Homes and I have something in common. We’re both 35 years

old. We were born into a struggling economy, where we learned to crawl, walk and eventually run, defying its intent to slow us down.

We remember historical events that impacted our futures and taught us great lessons. We’ve seen the Internet mature and completely change the way people research a product and company like our own. Social networking has become a major way that people share their lives and passions (like living in a log home), that hardly existed just 10 years ago. Needless to say, we’ve been faced with constant change that has re-quired us to adapt and grow.

We also remember people, the true building blocks of who we become. Like looking back on my own parents, I think of Doug Smith, owner, and Rick Denton, the founding president of Honest Abe. They are part of our DNA, and part of the foundation to which we have been built upon. Then, each member of our team, year after year, has added pieces of themselves to the structure that makes up this company. We owe our success to all of them, top to bottom, beginning to now.

Honest Abe is blessed with growth, and that’s a blessing we try not to take for granted. It’s no secret that in recent years the housing economy struggled, and we were no exception. No matter your faith, the Apostle Paul shares a great life lesson in writing, “We rejoice in our trials, knowing that trials produce perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” In the ever improving housing industry, we feel our trials were opportunities to make us better, and we have hope like never before. Personally, my hope is that it has made us better servants for our customers.

In the here-and-now, we are celebrating! We are becoming better equipped to serve by not saying a product or service is “good enough.” We’re carefully improving our building techniques, and looking for op-portunities to make small adjustments that can take our quality of manufacturing to an even higher level. We’re engaging with customers to identify how we can better communicate, and finding new ways to educate people about our company, products and the log and timber home industry.

For me, there’s a lot more to celebrating 35 years of existence than just stating it. It requires time to reflect on people, and the value they have brought and continue to bring. It means looking back on situations out of our control, that seemed bleak at the time, but in the end were just seasons that made us stronger and built our character. Then it means looking at our present and future, being thankful for the 35 years it took to get

here, and not wasting an ounce of energy to make the next 35 filled with hope as well. We’re celebrating!

Blessings,Joshua Beasley, PresidentHonest Abe Log Homes

thHONE

ST ABE LOG HOMES

M O S S , T N

19 7 9 2 0 1ANNIVERSA RY 4

Doug Smith and Rick Denton - 1979

National HeadquartersMoss, Tennessee


Getting Crafty

With The Smith’s

Creating Your Own Wall ArtSo, we’re in the process of remodeling some

of the older “historical” type cabins at Mitchell Creek Marina and noticed how expensive simple wall art has become.

We found this beautiful, watery, peaceful feeling pillow, which led to our inspiration for this craft! We bought a pack of 2 - 16 x 20 can-vas’s for only $7.99 and with the 40% off coupon for Hobby Lobby made the total $4.80, just $2.40 a piece.

We purchased a stencil for the design aspect along with paint (99 cents each) and some sponge brushes ($1.33 for 3 brushes!) We did two different styles, one with a solid background and the other with a stenciled background.

You can do absolutely anything! Chevron would be super cute too! Our total cost: $8.13 for both, that’s $4 for a handcrafted piece of art!!!

The Supplies

The “Inspiration”

The Process

Creating Wall Art

So, we’re in the process of remodeling some of the older “historical” type cabins at Mitchell Creek Marina and noticed how expensive simple wall art has become. We found this beautiful, watery, peaceful feeling pillow, which led to our inspiration for this craft! We bought a pack of 2 - 16 x 20 canvas’s for only $7.99 and with the 40% off coupon for hobby lobby made the total $4.80, just $2.40 a piece. We purchased a stencil for the design aspect along with paint (99 cents each) and some sponge brushes ($1.33 for 3 brushes!). We did 2 different styles, one with a solid background and the other with a stenciled background. You can do absolutely anything! Chevron would be super cute too!

Our total cost: $8.13 for both, that’s $4 for a handcrafted piece of art!!!

Step 1: Buy your supplies;

Canvas (2 pack at Hobby Lobby) Stencil (If you chose to have a design background) Sponge Brushes Acrylic Paint (Your choice of color)

Step 2: Paint your canvas using a repetitive stroke in the same moving position. (Vertical or horizontal, whichever feels most comfortable to you)

We used a stencil to create the tile design, and painted a solid background on the other.

Step 3: Print a design from the computer (cardstock is most durable) to create the center shape. Paint it a contrasting color; in this case we used turquoise. The shaped we used is called Benelux. Just “Google” it, print it, cut it out, and use it to trace onto your canvas and paint.

Step 4: You can write or stencil letters inside the frame part or leave it blank. It’s completely up to you. I stenciled the word “Relax” onto one and freehanded it on the other.

Regardless, the only key to doing this craft is to have fun and enjoy good company!

Creating Wall Art

Step 1: Buy your supplies;Canvas (2 pack at HobbyLobby) Stencil (If you chose tohave a design background) Acrylic Paint (Your choiceof color)

Step 2: Paint your can-vas using a repetitive stroke in the same moving position. (Vertical or horizontal, which-ever feels most comfortable to you.) We used a stencil to create the tile design, and painted a solid background on the other

The Supplies


The Process

Creating Wall Art










“The Inspiration”

The Supplies


The Process

Creating Wall Art










“The Supplies”

Step 3: Print a design from the computer (card-stock is most durable) to create the center shape. Paint it a contrasting color; in this case we used turquoise. The shape we used is called Ben-elux. Just “Google” it, print it, cut it out, and use it to trace onto your canvas and paint.

Step 4: You can write or stencil letters inside the frame part or leave it blank. It’s completely up to you. I stenciled the word “Relax” onto one and freehand-ed it on the other. Helpful Hint: Make sure you allow enough time for the paint to dry after each step.


Documents

Honest Abe Living, January/February 2014