The Cabin Library

One of the bookshelves at the cabin.  You can check out the books we have around here.

The painted picnic table

Freshly painted picnic table at the cabin.

Oliver enjoying himself at the cabin

The Shack at Hinkle Farms by Broadhurst Architects

 

From the architects

The Shack at Hinkle Farm was designed as a weekend retreat for a family from the suburbs of Washington D.C. This diminutive bucolic structure is situated on the southern slope of South Fork Mountain, near Upper Tract, West Virginia, looking toward the edge of Virginia in the distance. The 27-acre site was part of a much larger homestead that was cleared and farmed by the Hinkle family in the early part of the 20th century. The abandoned (except for the ghost of Bill Hinkle) farmhouse and the Hinkle family cemetery are on the site.

The shack was created as a logical step between tent camping, and the yet unrealized weekend cottage. This fundamental shelter has no electricity. Oil lamps provide light. Heat is provided by a small wood stove, which is also used to heat water that is delivered to the “kitchen” sink by a gravity system. The vertical drop is achieved by using a hand-powered bilge pump to fill an overhead storage tank. Rain water is collected from the roof as part of the outdoor shower system. Acknowledging the constant struggle between mouse (and occasionally rattlesnake and bear) and man, the shack sits upon four wood posts with rodent barriers, a detail borrowed from local corn cribs. The board and batten siding is locally milled pine. The roof is standing-seam terne.

The southeastern façade of the building is opened to a cantilevered wood deck with an overhead-acting aluminum and glass garage door. A removable canvas awning serves to shade the deck and extend the living space during wet weather. Small windows on the northwestern façade allow the mountain breezes to flow through the building, and allow occasional views of cows on the adjacent pasture.

The gazebo

Some photos of our backyard gazebo at the Cooper cabin.

Layered Summer Salad Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 cups torn fresh spinach
• 1-1/2 cups mozzarella-cheddar shredded cheese, divided
• 2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1 small  red onion, sliced, separated into rings
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 1 pkg.  (350 g) frozen peas
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup  light sour cream
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• 2 Tbsp.  bacon bits

Directions

1. Layer spinach, 1 cup cheese, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes and peas in 3-L serving bowl.
2. Mix mayonnaise, sour cream and basil. Spread over salad, completely covering top. Refrigerate 5 hours.
3. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bacon just before serving.

Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe

A lot of people love our Caesar Salad.  This is Jordon’s recipe and is really quite simple.  The one thing you do need is really fresh ingredients.

• 1 cup of vegetable oil
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice

Blend together until creamy.  If dressing doesn’t thick and creamy, it means your ingredients aren’t fresh and you don’t want to use it.

Before I make the dressing, I cook up some tender bacon, chop of the romaine lettuce, and toss on some croutons and I am set.