About six years ago, we were on a quest to find vacation property on the water in Door County, Wis., our Cape Cod of the Midwest. At one point in our search, we pulled into a beautiful lot perched on a limestone bluff. It had a magnificent view of the great expanse of Green Bay, and the land was graced with towering cedar, maple, birch and basswood trees.
With a little trepidation (our realtor refused to go inside), we entered the abandoned, 1930s one-room cabin listed on the spec sheet as a “teardown.” Inside, we encountered a raccoon dangling from the fireplace, numerous curious little mice eyes blinking back at us from the oven door, and years of clutter and neglect.
Much to the horror of my family, my eyes lit up when I saw this little diamond in the rough. We had an accepted offer within 24 hours.
With a little trepidation (our realtor refused to go inside), we entered the abandoned, 1930s one-room cabin listed on the spec sheet as a “teardown.” Inside, we encountered a raccoon dangling from the fireplace, numerous curious little mice eyes blinking back at us from the oven door, and years of clutter and neglect.
Much to the horror of my family, my eyes lit up when I saw this little diamond in the rough. We had an accepted offer within 24 hours.
What has transpired since then has been a magical journey of transformation – both of the place and of us.
We cleared out the cabin’s decaying furniture, refinished the Douglas fir floor hidden beneath the linoleum, and put in a wood-burning stove. We pulled out the old wiring and decided not to reinstall electricity.
We quickly discovered that going “off the grid” allowed for a very different cabin experience, a refreshingly simpler and quieter complement to our activity-ridden life back at our primary home.
There have been some trying times in the past few years, including parental health crises that have often left us exhausted and weary. But our cabin property still has the soothing sound of water washing over the stones below, eagles gliding by at eye level, sunsets that take your breath away, and the otherworldly sounds that massive fields of ice make when shifting about in the early spring.
We cleared out the cabin’s decaying furniture, refinished the Douglas fir floor hidden beneath the linoleum, and put in a wood-burning stove. We pulled out the old wiring and decided not to reinstall electricity.
We quickly discovered that going “off the grid” allowed for a very different cabin experience, a refreshingly simpler and quieter complement to our activity-ridden life back at our primary home.
There have been some trying times in the past few years, including parental health crises that have often left us exhausted and weary. But our cabin property still has the soothing sound of water washing over the stones below, eagles gliding by at eye level, sunsets that take your breath away, and the otherworldly sounds that massive fields of ice make when shifting about in the early spring.
All of this has allowed us to reconnect to life’s simplicity, wonder and exquisite beauty. With this reconnection, our spirits and energy are repeatedly renewed.
Through the years, we have shared so many wonderful, playful and joyful times with family and friends. Who knew going off the grid could be so nourishing and so much fun?
Through the years, we have shared so many wonderful, playful and joyful times with family and friends. Who knew going off the grid could be so nourishing and so much fun?
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Cabin Porn: Inside
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Dutch Oven
