Since the largest wildfire in Texas history, an affected Bastrop County couple has worked to harvest, transport, mill, and are currently rebuilding their home from the timber on their Lost Pines property. With a creative and pioneering spirit to construct their home from the scorched trees, they are personally rebuilding from the ashes. Blessed by the relationship with a local sawmill, they are maximizing the wood resources in as many ways possible for construction and finishes.
It has been two years since the wildfire took our home and sense of normalcy. We have been living life in this temporary situation that brings with it insecurity and uncertainty, but also wonderful milestones of success along the way. It is truly a "pulling yourself up by the bootstraps" scenario. We see it as a tremendous character building exercise to take on these tasks of tree harvest and home construction, when basically these endeavors are foreign to us. However, we move forward each day in faith, continuing to muster the strength and keep our eye on the prize.
Admittedly, summer weather has had us a little stalled on the home construction. Rob has been working full time at the sawmill, and slinging boards in 100 degrees has
him plumb tuckered out when the weekends comeand in desperate need to
rest his body. However, over this past anniversary Labor Day weekend,
we were able to make some forward progress. We harvested the last of
our biggest trees in order to mill what will be the wall and flooring
material. Thanks to the help of a couple of friends, we were also able
to put up the last of the big wood rafters for the roof. We are hoping
with the fall weather approaching more can be accomplished as we move
along.
For the longest time it seems, Google satellite images hadn't updated the fire area in the maps...they finally did and consequently, we discovered that Google Earth has a timeline function. Compared to the memories we have, the dramatic view is seen each day at ground level, and now it can be seen over time from above. (Click for larger image)
Google satellites happened to capture an image three days after the fire broke out (9/7/11), which was before we even received confirmation that the home was gone. When we did return, we still were very optimistic about the trees around the home site, however over time the drought and fire shock were just too much. You can see the 99% loss of the trees on our property...we only have a handful of mature green pine trees that remain.
The
image above also shows the logging road that was cut through the property for
our timber harvest at the back of the property. We still have
many dead trees that ultimately won't be milled and most likely will be used
along the property bounds as natural barrier and animal habitat. My dad pointed out to me that the logging road is shaped like a raised fist...How awesome is that?!... Power to the people!... and the trees!
It
may seem odd to some, but it seems we have grieved for the loss
these woods more than our home and "stuff". We moved here for the natural environment and that old growth forest can't be replaced in short order. Facing the changes in the landscape has been emotionally challenging, leading us to this passionate mission. We are "big picture" people and know
time heals all things...fire is a natural process for ultimate
regeneration of the forest to an abundant vegetative state.
With that, check out the natural growth of our new cottonwood and black willow trees. They came up on their own since the fire 22 months ago...and some already over 15' tall! On the left Rob (6'1") is standing next to a Cottonwood, and on the right he is pointing out the height of a baby pine. We are going to have this awesome willow grove in no time flat...it's a pretty cool positive sight to see.
We are so pleased to have the opportunity to appear on the Texas Country Reporter. TCR is a Texas treasure for those who watch the show, and know the quality of their production and the fantastic storytelling they do. What a great honor to have our story told in such a beautiful fashion...it was an emotional experience for us to watch ourselves in relation to the devastation and recovery.
We were featured
in the Bastrop Recovery Special Episode. Here is a condensed version that appeared on KFDM, out of Beaumont, TX.
"This week on a special edition of Texas Country Reporter, Wildfires devastated Bastrop County more than a year
and a half ago, but hope is alive with the residents who still call it
home.
...meet a couple who lost their home, but not their resolve, as they personally rebuild using the very trees that caught fire."
"Texas
Country Reporter" is a highly-acclaimed TV program that celebrates the
history, emotion and beauty that make Texas and Texans so unique. Since
1972, Bob Phillips has traveled the backroads of the Lone Star State
and shared the stories of real Texans. From artists to cowboys,
hobbyists to musicians, "Texas Country Reporter" explores the passions,
interests, and lifestyles of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Every week you're invited to hop in and travel with Bob as he meets
the folks that make Texas such a special place. Bob Phillips, Jason Anderson, Ryan Britt, Brian
Hawkins, Mike Snyder, Dan Stricklin.
For our 11th wedding anniversary, Robert called in the calvary and got me some roof
framing... *he's so romantic* ....and sure knows
the way to this girls heart!
We found this scorched cedar tree on our property and have installed it as a support post for the valley boards in the roof framing. If you look closely, it has a gnarly face in it...beard and all.
Together, Robert and I have completed the framing of the two short gable ends. They may not look like much, but their completion feels like a big accomplishment...especially when lifting heavy boards 20' in the air on ladders. Life has forced our hand in many ways to grow from this experience. Robert has overcome so much on this recovery mission...and this now includes his fear of heights. He has a "gotta do, what'cha gotta do" attitude and is our family's hero. - Jamaica
Installation of our custom trusses went off without a hitch, and we had the Texas Country Reporter production team back to film their installation! We are extremely grateful for Stephen's time and talents given to us in order to have this unique element in our home.
The
timber trusses are a very exciting and special addition for us...we love them! Symbolically, they represent the big, heavy work done to
accomplish this home...they show the rugged, burned scars we've
acquired, and the ultimate beauty that rises from the flames and ashes.
TA-DA! Check out our awesome timber trusses that were completed today!...12/12 pitch, 20' wide, 10' tall, D-Logs with a raw edge, burnt bark and custom steel plates. Jamaica created the flame design, Rob cut the steel, and Stephen cut the timbers....next weekend, their installation!
In the early part of the twentieth-century, prior to the advent of plywood and other sheet materials, many homes were built with 1-by lumber as a structural sheathing on the exterior of the framework. In an effort to maximize our lumber resources, we opted to employ this type of construction using rough sawn 1"x12" boards hung diagonally across the studs. Due to the high cost of solid board sheathing, today this type of sheathing is rarely used, however it is recommended in areas that are earthquake or hurricane prone for it's structural integrity. Oddly enoughour situation, having the timber resource and relationship with the SAW Mill, has it being more cost effective to sheath with this method compared to buying ply or OSB. This is a win-win-win solution for us in terms of cost, it's high structural rigidity and the utilization our timber. Currently, it looks
kinda strange....the boards extending past the top plate will continue
up into the gable ends when the roof is constructed...and next on the
list, the trusses and roof rafters.
With the help of Stephen, Cody and another volunteer, we got off to a good start on Sat., Nov. 17th, by getting half of the exterior walls framed up. The following weekend, the Thanksgiving holiday gave Rob the opportunity to work on the other half with some assistance from Jamaica. The 9' walls with truss beam pocketsare constructed with 2"x6" studs on 16" centers, with2"x10" headers over 5 windows, a side entry door and a double patio door.
I
went for a walk with my camera...through the lens, I saw beauty, I felt
hope and my path led me back to the start of a new home. Giving thanks
for seeing the rainbow after the rain... - Jamaica
We have officially begun the construction of Phase 1 of our new home! Work on the house will primarily be done on the weekends when Robert is available. We are tremendously blessed to have the help of good friends that will assist us along the way...and we can not thank Stephen Wusterhausen enough!
On the first day of construction, the guys set and leveled the dry-stacked piers, laid the pine girders, assembled the floor joists, and decked the sub-floor. They made a very impressive pace for one days work and it is a very exciting beginning for us to finally make this project a realization!
"TEXAS COUNTRY REPORTER" TRAVELS TO THE LOST PINES
"Since 1972
Bob Phillips has traveled the backroads and told the stories of real Texans -
ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Texas Country Reportercelebrates the history, emotion and beauty that make
Texas and Texans so unique. Every week you're
invited to hop in and travel with Bob as he reminds us that the backroads isn't
just a place, it's an attitude." - www.texascountryreporter.com
Today we had the privilege of meeting a Texas favorite, Bob Phillips, "The Texas Country Reporter." In September we submitted our story to his production team and were contacted because our story was "very compelling". They would like to document our progress several times as we move into the construction phase of our rebuilding efforts, and will include us in a TCR story!
They spent the day visiting with us and interviewing Robert about his efforts to harvest, mill and rebuild our home with our woods. They filmed him felling a tree and working on our lumber at the mill. Mr. Phillips said that Robert was a great interview and a genuine character (ain't that the truth). The Texas Country Reporter has been producing the show for 40 years; and as a native Texan and artist, it is a really cool honor to appear on the show.
"Texas
Country Reporter" is a highly-acclaimed TV program that celebrates the
history, emotion and beauty that make Texas and Texans so unique. Since
1972, Bob Phillips has traveled the backroads of the Lone Star State
and shared the stories of real Texans. From artists to cowboys,
hobbyists to musicians, "Texas Country Reporter" explores the passions,
interests, and lifestyles of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Every week you're invited to hop in and travel with Bob as he meets
the folks that make Texas such a special place. Bob Phillips, Jason Anderson, Ryan Britt, Brian
Hawkins, Mike Snyder, Dan Stricklin.
Here's a 3D rendering of the floor plan we are preparing to build. It is our own custom design...1660 sq.ft. with 392 sq.ft. of covered porches, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, a loft, and timber trusses in the living room side. In an effort to take this thing in stages, get out of this 400 sq.ft trailer and double our living space as soon as possible, we have made the decision to divide our construction into two phases...We will start by building the living room/kitchen side first. The trusses on that side create an independent roof line separate from the other portions of the house. We will begin with this 20'x40' space, build it out completely and live in it while we finish out the rest of the house.
It has been quite a journey on this road to recovery with the efforts to mill our burned timber, and we are so fortunate to have had supportive media attention about our story. Our biggest exposure to date is our appearance on the A&E cable television show Shipping Wars. It is a good thing we can laugh at ourselves, because we certainly laughed out loud at many of the comments....our entertainment value comes naturally!The episode went by so fast we had to re-watch it to really decide if we liked it. I suppose to make for entertaining TV some things were taken out of context, but overall we
think it was pretty dang good. Of course, the show is primarily about the shippers and in this episode our "bad guy" shipper is turned hero- all while maintaining his contemptible persona. That's fine by us, because participating with the show gave us the motivation to assemble the transport help and deliver our logs to the mill in Elgin. Obviously, life took an unexpected turn...leaving us to take on an impromptu harvest and logging operation. Rob summed it up best when he said we're "winging it"- however, that shouldn't be confused for incompetency. Unfortunately, they did not share the really brilliant part of the story which is how we got all those piles of logs to the road in the first place (and no one was killed doing it!!!). Lucky for us, our creativity, hard work and good friends have gotten us this far..."reality" TV show or not. On the day of the filming, five trucks and trailers helped deliver 77 of the 20-foot logs to the mill.
We are very appreciative for the media opportunity and the transport assistance. We kindly thank all of the wonderful people who participated in our Log Pull Convoy, John Long, and S.A.W. Mill & Supply!
Shipping Wars is produced by Megalomedia for A&E Network. Executive producer is Jonathan Nowzaradan. Co-executive producers are Tom Mireles, Jeff Keels and Graham Davidson. A&E executive producers are David McKillop, Elaine Frontain Bryant, Neil A. Cohen and Devon Graham.
JAMAICA TELLS OUR STORY & OUR CURRENT EFFORTS TO REBUILD
What a cool honor and opportunity to tell our story about the experiences after the fire, and our efforts to harvest and utilize our timber to rebuild our home....Jamaica was one of 6 people from Bastrop County invited to come and tell our story to Story Corps as a part of their oral history project. Special thanks to Debbie Moore for joining Jamaica in this conversation.
Under the production of NPR, Story Corps is an independent nonprofit whose mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives. Recorded stories are archived for preservation in the Library of Congress. They are creating an "invaluable archive of American voices and wisdom for future generations". www.storycorps.org
I found this ad while going through some random stuff. The genius of Lost Pines Region marketing appeals to our inner pioneers...and we are pretty sure we're the stubborn bunch they speak of...
Mid-July and the work doesn't stop in the 100° heat...transport
operations continue, and now we have a donated tractor and truck to
use as we continue to haul the logs to the mill! We are tremendously fortunate to have met Stephen at S.A.W Mill & Supply. He has agreed to let Rob and Cody save money by providing their labor to assist in milling our lumber. How amazingly awesome these men are...from cutting, logging, and transporting the trees, to then be able to process them into lumber so that they can personally rebuild homes for our families-- what a inspiration they are to be so strong, positive and resilient to the situation that was thrust upon them.
A national cable TV show (scheduled to air this fall) filmed and participated in the transport effort of our harvested timber to the mill! With a change in venue, we delivered our logs to a local mill in Elgin - a very wise decision on our part...because Stephen at S.A.W Mill & Supply is awesome...and, as it turns out, so is our Lost Pines lumber! From our fire scorched old-growth Loblolly Pines we milled Grade C-cabinet/furniture quality lumber! Once the green lumber was cut, we brought it home to "sticker" and allow to dry in the Texas summer heat. Our good friend, Cody Murphy, who
also lost his family's home, has been with us along this journey and is
a excellent carpenter, contractor and jack-of-all trades. Together with Robert, he has collaborated in all the efforts to cut, harvest,
transport, mill and now utilize these woods, and together we plan to
rebuild the two homes by ourselves. Going forward, we will continue to collaborate in our efforts and will soon begin the home building process. These homes will be built primarily from this lumber...the framing, the walls, floors, ceilings, and cabinets, plus whatever else we can think of. It is a lot of hard work and dedication to utilize them, but our loved and lost Loblolly Pines will live on with us in the form of a new homes for our families.
A soot-covered participant in theLost Pines Log Pull...breaks for lunch.
It is very nice that the writer included personal elements of our story, however I am not the one to play the role of "sad sap" very well-
and although this article doesn't feel like the positive solution-based
approach we hope to convey- it is our prayer that
our actions are effective in the message. Perhaps, the reality with the trees is that we are in a sad sap
situation and that sadly most will just rot and fall. We obviously have hopelessly optimistic attitudes, and remain dedicated to making the best of our situation. - Jamaica
Well, that worked!--Because the
Log Pull event was AWESOME!!!
Over the 2 day challenge, we had 15 log
pulling vehicles and over 90 people on property participating,
volunteering or spectating. The diversity of the participants was so
cool....of course, young guys with their big trucks, neighbors with
their antique tractors, but also 4 all-female teams, which included
senior ladies from the Episcopal
church in their 4WD SUV...Four trucks from the "Dirty
South Rigs" truck club came from Elgin; and we even had one man travel
nearly 200 miles Sunday morning from Crowley to participate in the cause
with his son.
1st PLACE- Scott Keen and his "Band of Rednecks" from Taylor - 1143 diameter inches pulled
Our winners of the challenge:
"The Band of Rednecks" from Taylor. Leading their crew was Scott Keen,
a Technical Account Manager with Dell Computers, who fabricated a
custom winch system in the bed of his truck for this event. His Ford
F350 with a 12v Cummins Diesel engine and crew were pulling 4-5 logs out
of the forest in one pass of the course. Both days, they were "in it to
win it" and operated like a 60 foot-long log-hauling freight train.
Their winning haul: 67 logs or 1,143 diameter inches. Their total
winning prize was $1,500 after we received an additional $300 from a
private donor!
Everyone came with their own
story to tell- like Jan Riley in her Jeep Wrangler, "Nellie
Belle"....Jan, ran the course solo, hooking up and hauling logs both
days! Her husband passed away shortly after the fire. The two of them
often enjoyed off-roading together for
recreation. She assisted in our mission in the memory of her husband,
and said it was the most fun she has had since his passing; that she
wasn't in the field alone and his spirit was with her. From this
experience we have met so many new neighbors and friends who
participated in a desire to move forward in a positive direction and be a
part of the cause for the trees.
2nd PLACE- James Reed and his LS Tractor from Paige- 908 inches pulled, 120 points "Good Sportsman Conduct"
In total,
the Log Pull competition brought 237 logs out of our forest and out to
the road for accessibility. I estimate that to be about 44,000 board
feet! This Log Pull event successfully
pulled approximately one-third of our dead trees out our 7 acres of
forest.
In putting our story out and seeking
assistance transporting these timbers, we were recently contacted by national cable television producers. They liked our human interest story, want
to help, and are going to participate in the transport
these logs to the mill. As part of their show story line, they will
have a driver and trailer helping us make hauls Tuesday, June 12th.
We have put out the word and would like to form a convoy effort of
trucks and trailers to participate in the TV show filming and timber
transport. We will begin early morning at our home and will be making
25 mile hot-shot runs to S.A.W. Mill & Supply in Elgin.
3rd PLACE- James Denny and his "Dirty South Rigs" crew from Bastrop - 460 diameter inches pulled
Our initial intention was to work through Jim Leverett and Logs to
Lumber to trade out our scorched timber for milled lumber from a prominent sawmill
in Huntsville. We had hoped this arrangement
would be able to, at minimum, provide framing material for us and perhaps
others. When the time came to arrange transportation
logistics, many factors had us concluding that the exchange and transport to
Huntsville was not in our best interest. Committed to our cause, we decided
that our efforts are best spent by milling our timber closer to home. With our choice to mill
locally, Mr. Leverett introduced us to Stephen Wusterhausen with S.A.W. Mill
& Supply in Elgin. The Wusterhausen
family and business have a long history in Bastrop County and his family mill
specializes in wood siding, flooring, large timbers and trusses.
Shortly after the fire we had heard mixed messages about the
tree quality in regards to “construction grade”. We were not alone in our confusion and it
seems many were under impression that our Loblollies are not acceptable for
construction- due to the burn, their “softness” or grade. Not familiar with the industry terminology
and needing clarification, we spoke with our local mills who have been in business for decades right here in Bastrop
County, and they assured us we
could, in fact, build with the very pine trees from our property. As a result, we have decided that we will mill and rebuild
with the very pines and cedars from our property. Bastrop, Austin and
surrounding towns were built from these Loblollies, and Bastrop's great
historic structures are evidence enough to give us confidence in the
viability of our pines.
The pioneering spirit
that settled this part of Texas is the strength we
draw upon to reclaim our land from the tree hazards, rebuild our home and provide future
land management. Our trees were the only thing we had left to show from the fire, and for
us their death will not be in vein. It is a bittersweet experience to
move through the emotional process of losing them and labors of love to
utilize them, but what a great legacy we are creating for our family and
land to bounce back from this experience hopefully better, stronger,
wiser and sheltered.
Oh and check out our winner Scott Keen's gnarly "log surfing"style! The awesomeness of our winners "The Band of Rednecks" from Taylor,
TX... Not only do they have log pullin' skills running thru their veins...they also have a gnarly log surfing style! Congrats Scott Keen &
crew- your breed is rare. Thank you.
Together, Robert and I have completed the framing of the two short gable ends. They may not look like much, but their completion feels like a big accomplishment...especially when lifting heavy boards 20' in the air on ladders.
In the early part of the twentieth-century, prior to the advent of plywood and other sheet materials, many homes were built with 1-by lumber as a structural sheathing on the exterior of the framework. In an effort to maximize our lumber resources, we opted to employ this type of construction using rough sawn 1"x12" boards hung diagonally across the studs. Due to the high cost of solid board sheathing, today this type of sheathing is rarely used, however it is recommended in areas that are earthquake or hurricane prone for it's structural integrity. Oddly enough our situation, having the timber resource and relationship with the SAW Mill, has it being more cost effective to sheath with this method compared to buying ply or OSB. This is a win-win-win solution for us in terms of cost, it's high structural rigidity and the utilization our timber.
"Since 1972
Bob Phillips has traveled the backroads and told the stories of real Texans -
ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Texas Country Reporter celebrates the history, emotion and beauty that make
Texas and Texans so unique. Every week you're
invited to hop in and travel with Bob as he reminds us that the backroads isn't
just a place, it's an attitude." - www.texascountryreporter.com
