Joal’s Backyard Saloon
image from: http://webpages.charter.net/joalmorris/
image from: http://webpages.charter.net/joalmorris/
Located near Astoria, Oregon, the “Backyard Saloon” originated when Joal needed to rebuild a dilapidated woodshed in his yard. A little weekend project turned into an elaborate, multi-year, 11 X 30 foot structure that also serves as a woodshed, garden shed, storage, workshop, and chicken coop. But mostly a saloon.
Here’s Joal relaxing in his creation with some fruit punch:
image from: http://webpages.charter.net/joalmorris/
The unique thing about this backyard saloon is that it is made from all recycled wood, and ONLY from materials that existed in the late 1800s - ”no plywood, particle or chip board, no sheetrock, no plastics, nothing high-tech”, says Joal.
Ever heard of Batture dwellings?
image from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JeffLineBatureDwellerPots.jpg (by: Infrogmation)
Or batture dwellers?
I came across this unique living situation when I was researching 1930′s homes for a previous post.
Batture was the name given to the area BETWEEN the banks of the Mississippi River and the levees in the southern state of Louisiana. ‘Batture Dwellers’ refers to the brave people who built homes in that space.
image from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JeffLineBatureDwellers5.jpg (by: Infrogmation)
Land between the levee and the river is called the “Batture”. Considered part of the river (which it is in high water), the land is Federal rather than city, and poor long squatted here at their own risk, building shacks on stilts. Such became numerous during the Great Depression; people living on the batture were known as “Batture dwellers”.
- from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JeffLineBatureDwellerPots.jpg
As you might imagine, it is a rather precarious existence.
image from: http://www.nola.com/homegarden/index.ssf/2010/02/
According to University of New Orleans professor Michael Mizell-Nelson, a colony of more than 100 batture dwellings once existed in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. By the mid-1950′s, levee expansion projects forced most of the batture dwellers to relocate.
Cobble Hill Farm
image from: http://www.sothebysrealty.com/eng/sales/detail/180-l-935-4368220/cobble-hill-farm-taghkanic-ny-12521
Welcome to Cobble Hill Farm in Taghkanic, New York. This charming farmhouse dates back to 1798!
The home has been thoroughly updated and a modern Great Room was added:
image from: http://www.sothebysrealty.com/
The sprawling 518 acre farm includes tennis courts, stables, private lakes, and far-reaching mountain views, but the house is the real star of the show.
Have a look inside…
image from: http://www.sothebysrealty.com/
It’s not cheap – $6.95 million – but it has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms in over 4,500 square feet.
The newer addition doesn’t even try to blend with the late 1700′s structure – but that is okay with me… look at all those windows! Just beautiful!
Gnarly tree house in Colorado
There’s something about a tree house that makes me giddy.
image from: http://www.greenlinearchitects.com/
When I saw this funky tree house in Carbondale, Colorado, I may have squealed.
This is no ordinary tree house. It was designed and built by the Colorado architectural firm Green Line Architects - more specifically, by their “resident tree house expert” David Rasmussen.
image from: http://www.greenlinearchitects.com/
The tree house is built entirely from reclaimed timber, so it has earned the “tree” in its name despite the fact that it isn’t actually built into the trees. (None of the living trees on the property could have supported the weight of the tree house, so they had to improvise with log column posts instead.)
image from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
No one actually resides full-time in the Crystal River Tree House – as it is locally known. Rather, it is just a fun hang-out spot for kids and impressionable adults.
Welcome to Dancing Fox Cabin
image courtesy of: Janell & Paul Davenport
This rustic cabin near Bellevue, Ohio looks as though it has stood there for centuries. But it was actually constructed in recent years from recycled and reclaimed materials.
photo courtesy of: Janell & Paul Davenport
The enterprising owner/builders are Paul and Janell Davenport who also own a nearby 1840′s farmstead which they run as a guesthouse.
image courtesy of: Janell & Paul Davenport
Our Dancing Fox cabin is in keeping with our 1842 farmstead’s ambience … Often early settlers would erect a simple cabin prior to building a more permanent home. This cabin is a reflection and our vision of one of those early and by-gone structures.
- from: http://www.dancingfoxcabin.com/
image courtesy of: Janell & Paul Davenport
Though primitive by design, Dancing Fox Cabin lacks for nothing in the way of ammenties. It is a fully furnished guest cabin available for a very unique lodging experience.
