When we embarked on this journey towards the completion of our log home, over two years ago, Shauna did her usual copious research and investigated dozens of log home options. The process made us a little apprehensive, because the more we read and researched, the more questions we had. There have been volumes written on the subject of log home construction, with thousands of caveats and horror stories. Our very first glimmer of hope came from a salesman named Dave Schemenauer from Neville Log Homes in Kamloops, British Columbia. I remember the day Shauna first spoke to him on the phone, and the enthusiasm with which she recounted to me his helpful and educational explanation of what we could expect to experience during the construction of our log home. It was his capable assistance that sold us on a Neville Log Home, and we have never been sorry about our choice. He has been a constant source of information and guidance throughout the process, and much of what he forewarned us came to pass. Round log packages vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, and in some cases, what differentiates one company from another is the level of customer service. Long after we had paid for our log package (about a year after we started talking to Dave), when he could have legitimately told us to “move on”, he remained available to us, patiently addressing our many concerns, always willing to offer his two cents worth for the custom log home he’d helped us to design. Indicative of his personal touch, Dave even took the 2 1/2 hour drive up from Toronto last autumn to make a personal inspection of our unfinished house, while he was in Toronto for a home show. In short, Dave Schemenauer has been and continues to be a good friend to Shauna and me.
Several weeks ago – before Christmas I believe – we got a call from Dave to inform us that a package would be arriving by Greyhound bus “sometime soon”. He was rather mysterious about what the package contained, but implied that it was bigger than a bread box. After some delays, Dave called us last week and told us it would arrive soon, which it did. Shauna and I picked it up in Huntsville last Tuesday. It came in the form of two, somewhat cylindrical 75 Lb. cardboard packages which stood about 4 feet high. When we got them home, and unwrapped them, it turned out that Dave’s gift to us was two upright bears carved out of (I believe) Western Red Cedar, and there was a third item as well: a sign which reads “Welcome to Jasper Bark Lodge”. The bears are sign posts (see photo above). Needless to say, Shauna and I were amazed and delighted by the gift. When we called him to thank him for his generosity, he asked us to give him a call when we’d named them.
The timing of these bears is propitious. Yesterday, the final valley log was placed and the last portion of our roof is well along the way to being covered. Weather permitting (hah!), our house should be completely covered by this time next week. As well, yesterday, the roofer and his crew arrived and began installing the steel roof. As of today, much has been accomplished and that metal roof looks great. We are learning that, where construction is concerned, there are sometimes long periods wherein it seems as if little is accomplished, then, two days later, everything is different. This log home project is suddenly beginning to look like a house, and a beautiful one at that. Hold your horses Jamie … we still have the windows to install, the fireplaces to build, more stone to lay on the turrets, interior walls to frame and side, the kitchen and bathrooms to install, the floor to lay, the plumbing and HVAC to install, a LOT of staining to do, etc. etc. This build has been a real roller coaster ride, but for the first time, we can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks, as always, to the Thornton Group, for being the fantastic builders they are, and thank you, Dave Schemenauer, for your consistent generosity. Our bears, “Shem” & “Nauer” may be welcoming guests to the Jasper Bark Lodge sooner rather than later.
Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2008 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Several weeks ago – before Christmas I believe – we got a call from Dave to inform us that a package would be arriving by Greyhound bus “sometime soon”. He was rather mysterious about what the package contained, but implied that it was bigger than a bread box. After some delays, Dave called us last week and told us it would arrive soon, which it did. Shauna and I picked it up in Huntsville last Tuesday. It came in the form of two, somewhat cylindrical 75 Lb. cardboard packages which stood about 4 feet high. When we got them home, and unwrapped them, it turned out that Dave’s gift to us was two upright bears carved out of (I believe) Western Red Cedar, and there was a third item as well: a sign which reads “Welcome to Jasper Bark Lodge”. The bears are sign posts (see photo above). Needless to say, Shauna and I were amazed and delighted by the gift. When we called him to thank him for his generosity, he asked us to give him a call when we’d named them.
The timing of these bears is propitious. Yesterday, the final valley log was placed and the last portion of our roof is well along the way to being covered. Weather permitting (hah!), our house should be completely covered by this time next week. As well, yesterday, the roofer and his crew arrived and began installing the steel roof. As of today, much has been accomplished and that metal roof looks great. We are learning that, where construction is concerned, there are sometimes long periods wherein it seems as if little is accomplished, then, two days later, everything is different. This log home project is suddenly beginning to look like a house, and a beautiful one at that. Hold your horses Jamie … we still have the windows to install, the fireplaces to build, more stone to lay on the turrets, interior walls to frame and side, the kitchen and bathrooms to install, the floor to lay, the plumbing and HVAC to install, a LOT of staining to do, etc. etc. This build has been a real roller coaster ride, but for the first time, we can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks, as always, to the Thornton Group, for being the fantastic builders they are, and thank you, Dave Schemenauer, for your consistent generosity. Our bears, “Shem” & “Nauer” may be welcoming guests to the Jasper Bark Lodge sooner rather than later.
Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2008 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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