In 2016, a Pew Research report showed 62% of adults receive news via social media – a 49% increase from 2012. 70% of people in western countries use social networks like Facebook or Twitter. Only 30% do not rely on social media in the U.S. and that percentage continues declining. Although access to information does […]
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Wednesday, April 4, 2018
Log Home Kits: Advantages and Disadvantages
When it comes to building a log home, you have numerous choices as to how you want to build the house. You can build a custom log and timber home through a builder like Artisan Log Homes, buy a pre-built log shell, or take all the responsibility of erecting your log home on a DIY basis. It’s highly unlikely you can go out in the woods, cut down trees and turn them into perfect logs for your dream house (although there are some skilled individuals that can do this). If you are looking for the best way to build your own log home we suggest researching a log home kit. The cost of building a custom log home using a kit can be much smaller than buying a custom built home. We do not offer log home kits, but we do get a number of questions about them so in this article we will outline some of the advantages and disadvantages of log home kits.
What is a Log Home Kit?
Log home kits are log packages that contain everything that you need to erect your log home right from the beginning. However, a kit only helps you build the basic skeleton of your house but is not a finished home. You have to spend additional money to get the flooring, cabinetry, and other finishing done. In simple words, log home kits are disassembled log homes that you have to assemble based on the instructions that come with the package. An important thing to keep in mind that many elements that are a compulsory part of one company’s log home kit might not even be required in the kit of some other company.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Log Home Kits
The Advantages of Log Home Kits
The first big advantage of a log home kit is affordability. Building a log home using a kit might cost you 1/3rd of the price of buying a finished home, depending on the package. Furthermore, kits allow you to build your house the way you want. When buying finished products, you have to be content with what you are getting at the price you are paying. Making any changes to the existing structure will add to your cost. On the other hand, you build your log home from the scratch using a kit and this helps you personalize your home according to your specific needs.
Another big advantage of using kits to build log homes is that you get some construction experience. By following the assembly instructions that come with the package, you can build your house with your hands even if you haven’t done that before. Yes, the final product might not be as cleanly finished as you would want but you will learn a lot.
The Disadvantages of Log Home Kits
It is true that the cost of building a log home will be much less when you go the kit route compared to what you have to spend on an already finished house. However, a house built with a kit is not finished. Installing the flooring, electrical materials, plumbing, etc. will eventually add up and take your costs higher. If you are good at budgeting, you can still save money on building your log home with your hands.
The second disadvantage if you haven’t done any construction work before, you might find the process to be frustrating and if you run into problems during the construction of your home it may be a challenge. There have been numerous stories of people building their own log home kit, making a wrong cut or selecting the wrong log and having to spend days or weeks fixing their mistakes.
Depending on the design and customization that you are looking for with your log home you may be limited to the design options. Many companies have set plans and designs for you to choose from and don’t allow for some customizations in their log home kit packages.
Conclusion
At the end of the day it comes down to your personal preference and choice when building a custom log home. If you want the gratification of building your home with your bare hands a log home kit can be great. If you want to be involved in the process but not be the one hammering in the nails working with a reputable contractor that involved you in the process may provide you the gratification you want without the added stress.
Regardless of your decision, the most important thing is to do your research and pull together a detailed budget and timeline.
As mentioned above, we don’t offer log home kits but can provide timbers and log shells in addition to our custom log and timber homes. If you are wanting to get a sense of the budget required to build a custom log home we have put together a FREE log home budget worksheet for you to help plan your build.
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Tuesday, April 3, 2018
My Brother is Home
This post has no “educational slant”; it is just a personal story of something I experienced, and I wanted to share. If you are looking for an educational post, regularly scheduled programming will start again with the next post.
About eleven years ago, with my brother Alec and friend JoJo, we went to see some of my relatives in Astros, Greece. Astros is one of the most beautiful places I have even been in the world, but can readily admit that I am biased, as it is where my father was born. From what I experience living in North America, this is a place that provides me a “calm” that I feel nowhere else. It is a unique place.
Still living there today are my aunts and cousins, and although I had not seen them for at least 25 years, we connected immediately. My Greek is extremely limited, as well as their English, but we can sit and be around each other. When I look at my aunts, I see my father, not only in their eyes and mannerisms but their hands. My father had extremely thick fingers, and the wrinkles in them are in theirs as well. I cherish seeing the reminders of my dad that I see in them.
My one aunt, Thea Soula (Thea meaning aunt in Greek), seemed to have an extraordinary connection to me. She would tear up anytime I was around, and she would continuously rub my hands and back and look at me. After first seeing her those eleven years ago, she would consistently touch my Adam’s apple and say something, although I couldn’t understand what it was. One day, I went alone to her house, and she wanted to make lunch for me. She could speak no English, and I could speak no Greek, but it was a time I will not forget. We were happy to be in each other’s presence although we could not communicate verbally with one another.
One morning, I went out for a run and came back to the house in Astros. When I got back, my other aunt grabbed some water for me, and I sat by my Thea Soula. Again, she rubbed my back and touched my Adam’s apple. As she did this, she talked to my brother Alec, who can speak Greek much better, and told him a story.
When my dad was younger, he and his brother George (who I am named after), were home from the Greek civil war. I am foggy on this, but as Thea Soula told a story, my uncle George had his gun go off and had accidentally shot himself in the stomach in front of his family. Thea Soula was vividly sharing about that day and shared that he lied there on the floor and she tried to put his “guts” back into his stomach to save him. She did not know what to do, and they lost my uncle that day. A tragic event that stuck with her that happened in somewhere around the 1940’s or 50’s.
She said that when I came back, and not seeing her since I was maybe five years old, she looked at me, and I shared the same Adam’s apple that her brother had. As she told the story to my brother, and he translated from Greek, he started to tear up as she said, “When I saw George come here today, I saw my brother for the first time in years. My brother is home! My brother is home!” It was something that I will never forget and explained the connection that we had that felt so powerful. I cry even writing this right now.
As I returned to Greece this past week for a conference, I made the drive to see my relatives again. It was amazing to see them, but unfortunately, my Thea Soula was not in the same home as she had a stroke this past September, and is staying with family in Korinthos, about an hour from Greece. I made sure to see her again.
When I arrived at where she is staying, my cousin warned me before I saw her that she was struggling with dementia and at 96 years old, could not remember many people in her life. Although I have only seen her four times in my life, and only once before as an adult, I was not worried.
I walked into the room, sat beside her, and she looked at me, rubbed my Adam’s apple, and she knew who I was, and started to cry. Her brother was home.
Again, an instant connection. But this time when I came to see her, it is now as a father myself. It is also the first time she has seen me since my father, her brother, had died. As we sat together, I showed her pictures and videos of my daughter Kallea. As I scrolled through the photos of my daughter, she saw the same thing I did. My father.
I don’t know what any of this means but I do know it means something.
There are two phrases of English that I have ever heard Thea Soula say. The first one was “thank you,” but this time she shared one other phrase as I left. “I love you.”
Se agapó Thea.
Source: George Couros
from Connected Principals https://ift.tt/2q3l9xc
My Brother is Home
This post has no “educational slant”; it is just a personal story of something I experienced, and I wanted to share. If you are looking for an educational post, regularly scheduled programming will start again with the next post.
About eleven years ago, with my brother Alec and friend JoJo, we went to see some of my relatives in Astros, Greece. Astros is one of the most beautiful places I have even been in the world, but can readily admit that I am biased, as it is where my father was born. From what I experience living in North America, this is a place that provides me a “calm” that I feel nowhere else. It is a unique place.
Still living there today are my aunts and cousins, and although I had not seen them for at least 25 years, we connected immediately. My Greek is extremely limited, as well as their English, but we can sit and be around each other. When I look at my aunts, I see my father, not only in their eyes and mannerisms but their hands. My father had extremely thick fingers, and the wrinkles in them are in theirs as well. I cherish seeing the reminders of my dad that I see in them.
My one aunt, Thea Soula (Thea meaning aunt in Greek), seemed to have an extraordinary connection to me. She would tear up anytime I was around, and she would continuously rub my hands and back and look at me. After first seeing her those eleven years ago, she would consistently touch my Adam’s apple and say something, although I couldn’t understand what it was. One day, I went alone to her house, and she wanted to make lunch for me. She could speak no English, and I could speak no Greek, but it was a time I will not forget. We were happy to be in each other’s presence although we could not communicate verbally with one another.
One morning, I went out for a run and came back to the house in Astros. When I got back, my other aunt grabbed some water for me, and I sat by my Thea Soula. Again, she rubbed my back and touched my Adam’s apple. As she did this, she talked to my brother Alec, who can speak Greek much better, and told him a story.
When my dad was younger, he and his brother George (who I am named after), were home from the Greek civil war. I am foggy on this, but as Thea Soula told a story, my uncle George had his gun go off and had accidentally shot himself in the stomach in front of his family. Thea Soula was vividly sharing about that day and shared that he lied there on the floor and she tried to put his “guts” back into his stomach to save him. She did not know what to do, and they lost my uncle that day. A tragic event that stuck with her that happened in somewhere around the 1940’s or 50’s.
She said that when I came back, and not seeing her since I was maybe five years old, she looked at me, and I shared the same Adam’s apple that her brother had. As she told the story to my brother, and he translated from Greek, he started to tear up as she said, “When I saw George come here today, I saw my brother for the first time in years. My brother is home! My brother is home!” It was something that I will never forget and explained the connection that we had that felt so powerful. I cry even writing this right now.
As I returned to Greece this past week for a conference, I made the drive to see my relatives again. It was amazing to see them, but unfortunately, my Thea Soula was not in the same home as she had a stroke this past September, and is staying with family in Korinthos, about an hour from Greece. I made sure to see her again.
When I arrived at where she is staying, my cousin warned me before I saw her that she was struggling with dementia and at 96 years old, could not remember many people in her life. Although I have only seen her four times in my life, and only once before as an adult, I was not worried.
I walked into the room, sat beside her, and she looked at me, rubbed my Adam’s apple, and she knew who I was, and started to cry. Her brother was home.
Again, an instant connection. But this time when I came to see her, it is now as a father myself. It is also the first time she has seen me since my father, her brother, had died. As we sat together, I showed her pictures and videos of my daughter Kallea. As I scrolled through the photos of my daughter, she saw the same thing I did. My father.
I don’t know what any of this means but I do know it means something.
There are two phrases of English that I have ever heard Thea Soula say. The first one was “thank you,” but this time she shared one other phrase as I left. “I love you.”
Se agapó Thea.
from Connected Principals https://ift.tt/2JcGeNs
Sunday, April 1, 2018
Empowering Purpose
This past week was the five year anniversary of my father passing away.
My dad was 82 years old when he died, peacefully passed away in his sleep, with no significant health concerns, and had a family that loved him. Our last words to each other in our final conversation were, “I love you.” I miss him terribly, but if I could choose a way to die, that would be it.
It doesn’t mean that I don’t struggle without him and that my life hasn’t changed significantly. The pain isn’t the same as it once was, but I am forever changed.
I write this all while I sit in a hotel in Athens, Greece, the country my dad immigrated to Canada from. I think about how different things are in this country from when he left. I can get around quickly with google maps, order food from my computer or phone, and have a ton of options and suggestions for places to eat on Yelp. Obviously, they are good and bad things in every place in the world, but I remember coming here when I was a child, and they didn’t have indoor plumbing at our relatives’ place of residence.
As I grabbed some food from the hotel lobby, a teacher from Lebanon, came up to me and said they appreciated my work. Their kind words humbled me but then I went to my room and cried, wondering what my dad would think. A teacher from Lebanon, recognized an educator from Canada, in a hotel lobby in Greece, my parents’ home country where I have the blessing to be able to keynote. I thought about what my dad would have felt of that interaction, and I know he would have been blown away by how the world has become so small.
My mom and dad, worked tremendously hard to ensure their children could live a life of purpose. A life of purpose doesn’t mean you don’t have to do the hard stuff. I have argued that it makes the hard stuff more tolerable. This quote from Dan Pink sums it up beautifully:
The goal of education, as was the goal of my parents, is to help create opportunities for those that they serve to live a life full of purpose that was better than the generation prior. It is to empower those we serve to create something better than what we have experienced ourselves, not to merely “fit in.”
My parents did so much for my siblings and me with so much less than I have today. This does not mean that I haven’t screwed up along the way or am not profoundly flawed. I am focusing on doing the best with what is in front of me and taking advantage of the opportunities that my parents, as well as my teachers and coaches, gave to me.
I think about this all of the time…We know better, we have access to better, so we need to do better.
I am always in awe thinking of how my parents did so much with so little, to help their children find their purpose. With what we have access to today, I know we can do so much more. Not only for our students but for each other as adults.
Miss you dad. Thank you for everything that I didn’t realize you were doing until way later in life.
Source: George Couros
from Connected Principals https://ift.tt/2H3Aq8n
Empowering Purpose
This past week was the five year anniversary of my father passing away.
My dad was 82 years old when he died, peacefully passed away in his sleep, with no significant health concerns, and had a family that loved him. Our last words to each other in our final conversation were, “I love you.” I miss him terribly, but if I could choose a way to die, that would be it.
It doesn’t mean that I don’t struggle without him and that my life hasn’t changed significantly. The pain isn’t the same as it once was, but I am forever changed.
I write this all while I sit in a hotel in Athens, Greece, the country my dad immigrated to Canada from. I think about how different things are in this country from when he left. I can get around quickly with google maps, order food from my computer or phone, and have a ton of options and suggestions for places to eat on Yelp. Obviously, they are good and bad things in every place in the world, but I remember coming here when I was a child, and they didn’t have indoor plumbing at our relatives’ place of residence.
As I grabbed some food from the hotel lobby, a teacher from Lebanon, came up to me and said they appreciated my work. Their kind words humbled me but then I went to my room and cried, wondering what my dad would think. A teacher from Lebanon, recognized an educator from Canada, in a hotel lobby in Greece, my parents’ home country where I have the blessing to be able to keynote. I thought about what my dad would have felt of that interaction, and I know he would have been blown away by how the world has become so small.
My mom and dad, worked tremendously hard to ensure their children could live a life of purpose. A life of purpose doesn’t mean you don’t have to do the hard stuff. I have argued that it makes the hard stuff more tolerable. This quote from Dan Pink sums it up beautifully:
The goal of education, as was the goal of my parents, is to help create opportunities for those that they serve to live a life full of purpose that was better than the generation prior. It is to empower those we serve to create something better than what we have experienced ourselves, not to merely “fit in.”
My parents did so much for my siblings and me with so much less than I have today. This does not mean that I haven’t screwed up along the way or am not profoundly flawed. I am focusing on doing the best with what is in front of me and taking advantage of the opportunities that my parents, as well as my teachers and coaches, gave to me.
I think about this all of the time…We know better, we have access to better, so we need to do better.
I am always in awe thinking of how my parents did so much with so little, to help their children find their purpose. With what we have access to today, I know we can do so much more. Not only for our students but for each other as adults.
Miss you dad. Thank you for everything that I didn’t realize you were doing until way later in life.
from Connected Principals https://ift.tt/2GJHKIx
Still Life by Louise Penny
I did a little investigating and found that Still Life is Louise Penny's first book. Yahoo! I've had countless people tell me to read this series, and for years I've nodded, said yes, and then just not read it. Now I had a legitimate reason to start the series. I am so glad I did.
Also known as the Inspector Gamache series, this novel takes place in the small village of Three Pines, located over the border of the U.S. near Montreal. I have to tell you, I want to live in Three Pines. Full of small, quaint houses, a B&B run by two partners who know how to cook and entertain, and full of talented artists, it's a hidden gem in the Canadian countryside. It also is home to a murderer.
Jane Neal, a beloved retired school teacher and secret artist living in Three Pines is found murdered in the woods early one morning. Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, an elegant, thoughtful, and intelligent middle-aged man, is called in to investigate, along with his team of investigators. What at first looks like it might be an accident quickly becomes a murder investigation. Jane Neal was killed by someone with a bow and arrow. While the woods are full of hunters during this Thanksgiving weekend, the clues lead to a few dead ends and everyone in the village starts getting worried--who would have wanted to kill Jane?
As Gamache and his team dig deep, you get to know the residents of Three Pines, and they are all interesting, fully developed characters. As Gamache discovers, the residents of Three Pines aren't to be dismissed as country bumpkins. Intelligent and yes, worldly, those who have settled in Three Pines all have backgrounds that I suspect will be examined more closely in the continuing series. Gamache falls under the spell of this village, and I did, too. As I've stated before, I'm not a huge mystery reader, but I'm slowly becoming one. I think for me it's just a matter of finding the type of mystery I enjoy. I can say without a doubt Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Gamache series is already a favorite after just reading one! I've already bought the next in the series, A Fatal Grace; I'm happy to say there are over ten books in this series. I'll have plenty of delightful reading time this summer to make my way through each mystery that visits Three Pines.
All I can say is, why isn't this a TV series on Acorn?! I also have to say thank you to everyone over the years who has told me to read Louise Penny. Friends, customers, library patrons have all said how good her mysteries are, and they hit the bullseye. Now I'll have to tell others to read them, too. I'd say anyone who is looking to try mysteries, this is a good place to start. Also, if you're looking for something to get Mom or Grandma, this is a great introduction to mysteries or even just the entertaining writing of Louise Penny. Anyone who loves art will also like Still Life.
Ah...thank you April! This is no April Fool's joke. I seriously loved Still Life. I'm so happy I finally "discovered" Louise Penny.
Rating: 5/6 for a delightful murder mystery. Yes, that sounds odd, I know. But Louise Penny masterfully brings a small village to life with three dimensional characters, a puzzling murder, and a pretty clever whodunit. When I read the passage that gave this mystery its title, well, I was just blown away. I can't wait to return to Three Pines, and get to know Chief Inspector Armand Gamache.
Available in paperback, ebook, and audio.
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