![\"Tom's](\"http:\/\/marksisco.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/L1003085.jpg\")
<\/a>Tom’s Cabin<\/p><\/div>\n
During Kathy’s and my week long venturings through western North Carolina, we stumbled into\u00a0a 75-year old picker’s property. \u00a0Only in the south could one be driving through the most rural of areas taking in the autumn beauty one minute, and then a local resident invite us into his home after having only met us with 2 minutes of passer-by conversation. \u00a0Kathy and I stopped to consider photographing a stream, when Tom rolled up on a 4 wheeler to inquire what we were doing. \u00a0I said, “Just taking photos of this beautiful property and stream, assuming you are OK with it.” \u00a0His reply: \u00a0“Sure, we don’t mind that kind of thing around here. \u00a0So …… you like taking pictures? \u00a0If you’ll\u00a0follow me up the dirt drive\u00a0across the\u00a0road, I’ve got something to take pictures of that you won’t find anywhere else.” \u00a0I needed no arm twisting! \u00a0We followed Tom up the mile and half driveway, only to stop at a shack with a tin roof. \u00a0He proceeded to tell us he had just moved into it 2 days prior after “remodeling it” (take a look at the 1st photo below, and tell me if you consider this a\u00a0“remodel”).<\/p>\n
Tom proceeded to share the history of this old 1904 homestead – originally with no insulation or running water. \u00a0Literally a shack. \u00a0He had retrofitted it with plumbing, insulated the exterior walls and rafters, ran electric, patched to roof, and made it livable. \u00a0He asked to show us the interior. \u00a0So Kathy and I obliged (with some reluctance). \u00a0Low and behold, we make our way into what felt like a dungeon entrance and the interior was amazing!!! \u00a0Not perfect, not without dust and a definite rustic feel, but amazing! \u00a0He had repurposed old flooring from a nearby abandoned school to make his wooden floors. \u00a0He took some of the remnants of rafters he replaced from this very shack and built his own amazingly beautiful dinner table. \u00a0It must’ve weighed 200 pounds! \u00a0He bought the beautiful sink from someone in CA, which had an epic story of its\u00a0own. \u00a0The wood stove in the back of the kitchen was beautiful, and he used it to cook meals on as if he were living at the turn of the century. \u00a0Tom’s living room showcased\u00a0an ornate\u00a0wood stove, simmering with a slow burning fire that gave the home an invitingly\u00a0warm, \u00a0“you’re home” feel. \u00a0I could go on and on. \u00a0He did ALL of this with his own hands, and it was literally a diamond in the rough.<\/p>\n
Kathy and I are grateful for Tom inviting\u00a0us, complete strangers, to share in\u00a0his gem and allowing us to witness the outcome of his hard work and passionate vision!<\/p>\n