The Inaugural Poker Night & Drinkfest…

It’s official!.... Last night the founding Hut Men had the first official night of poker and libations at the Manhut. The gaming was brisk and the beverages flowed as we chowed down on some fine fine chili (thanks Linda), some excellent Bambi burgers (thanks Penny) and a wide assortment of top shelf spirits and beer (thanks to all the guys). Of course the night would not be complete without a fine selection of cigars for those of us who partake; choices included Acid, Monticristo, Alec Bradley, Padrons and more.
Everything in the hut worked great from the heat to the lights to the stove as the fun went on into the wee hours of the morning.
A Good time was had by all!.....

A Busy Day At The Manhut….

Yesterday we made some serious progress winterizing the hut :

• Fitting and installing rigid foam in the soffits…. Isn’t that something! (Thanks Bobo).
• Installation of the propane stove Lou got from his dads old Chris-Craft (Thanks Lou’s Dad & Grizz Man).
*** Huge shout out to Grizz for the new built-in bar counter he constructed and installed during the week.
• Our new 12-volt electric system and Ox-Yolk lighting fixture (Courtesy The Weave).
• Installation of the foam insulation and gutter guards (Big Lou done did it).
• General crack filling and caulking (by the one and only B-Man).

After all the work was done we felt pretty good about the progress we made to help keep most of the heat inside the Manhut. But, there are so many gaps in the heavy oak floorboards that the cold wind just whips in from underneath (Who’s idea it was to build on a slanted rock ledge anyway?). The heat is toasty warm about three feet from the floor up but below that it’s like an icebox. We really hate to cover up the great looking wood floors, but we might have to. And besides Bobo “knows a guy” who he might be able to swing a deal with for some cheap carpet. Maybe we can just leave it up there for the cold winter months and roll it up during the rest of the year. Stay tuned.

(Photo above) The Grizz admiring the labors of his work after a long day.
Note: this shot is really two photos I cleverly pasted together which you would not have known unless I told you...

(Photos below) Shots from all the work going on at the Manhut yesterday (click on image for a closer look).

A Test Drive…

Last night a few of us decided to take the Manhut out for a test-drive with a few of our international friends (friends including Mr. Saranc, Senior Corona And Sir Johnny Walker). Our enthusiasm was “fueled” by the installation of our propane heater earlier in the week… Ironically last night was the coldest night of the season reaching a bone chilling 17 degrees Fahrenheit.
Here’s what our test drive taught us; When you build a wooden box perch perilously off the ground with gapping floor boards, open soffits, no insulation with an overall R value of zero… There’s no amount of clothing or international spirits that can keep you warm.

Conclusion: We have got some serious weatherizing to do before next Saturday’s first official Poker Night & Drinkfest

*** Saturday, November 29th, 2008 is the first official Poker Night & Drinkfest ***
(Invitation only – casual dress)

The Buck Stops Here…

Hunting season began this past weekend. Lou and his Bro Brian spent both days up on the moutain and didn’t see much more than a couple of psychotic squirrels.

The good looking 8-point Buck to the left was shot (I mean photographed) by our fellow Hutman “The G-Man” in his back yard this morning…. A couple hundred feet from Lou’s front door.

Kind of ironic don’t you think?...

Sorry Big Lou

A Few Creature Comforts…

It’s official, the Manhut has heat! The Manhut has HEAT!... Old Grizz hooked us up good by installing the propane tank and heating unit yesterday. Lou’s bringing up the stove he got from his dad. The Weave is hooking us up with a 12-volt battery operated lighting system complete with a 100-year-old ox yolk chandelier he’s wiring up. Bob created an awesome fire pit already filled with wood scraps and ready to burn. And I install the most crucial comfort…. The bottle opener.
YEAH BABY!!!

*** Saturday, November 29th, 2008 is the first official Poker Night & Drinkfest ***
(Invitation only – casual dress)

Making A Little Progress...

Yesterday I spent a couple of hours tinkering up at the Manhut. First I reversed the two 48” x 54” windows (the ones we swiped from the trash) that the Shed Guys installed backwards. I took one of them (the one on the right) and hinged it on top so that if desired the window could swing up and out of the way. I put a handle at the bottom for easy maneuvering. Lou came up and we figured out where to place the propane heater; under the front window… a nice fit and out of the way. Lou and his quad were on their way further up the mountain to scout around for an ideal hunting spot since the season opener is next Saturday.

This morning Bob picked up a gutter for the rear roof. The Weave came up and we installed it pretty quickly. Still need a rain barrel to catch the water - want the water just in case of an emergency, like a campfire getting a little too big.

Manhut Rules...

Went on a business trip out to California this morning for two days. Sitting on an airplane for five hours makes you think about all sorts of stuff. Here's what I did; checkout my Manhut Rules. I'm gonna frame em and put em in the Manhut.

*** Feel free to print out your own copy of the Manhut Rules for your own personal use in your Manhut***

A Sunday Morning Romp...

It was an absolutely beautiful morning today, 50 degrees and sunny… A perfect day for a romp through the rocky wooded hills of the Hudson Valley with the guys, or, as my wife calls us “The Quad Squad”. Bob and I were kickin it up pretty good on our twin 1986 Honda FourTrax 350’s, while Lou cruised on his big Can Am Outlander 400MAX… With all that power, fully automatic transmission and 4-wheel independent suspension Lou blazed the lead trail passing through the roughest terrain like it was a newly paved parkway. I got jammed up a couple of times; once teetering on a boulder and another time wedged up against a tree… nothing too terrible. Bob had one little incident when he slid sideways on a wet log and got locked up against a tree… The three of us picked up the quad and were soon on our way. Two and a half hours of muscling my machine through the woods really made my muscles ache, but, this may be the last recreational ride for a little while since hunting season starts in two weeks. Lou has his brother coming up for opening day, they’re gonna take their quads up the mountain and are hoping for a couple of eight pointers. We’ll see…. I just don’t think he’s that patient.

Solid as a Rock!...

Today we finished the support structure for the Manhut. Ever since The Shed Guys left us teetering on the rock ledge we’ve all been pretty restless about getting the structure better supported. In the end everything worked out great; The uprights were dead-on level, the cross members kissed each joist and the angled kickers added extra strength and stability. Soon we’ll get some heating in and if we do nothing else we should be able to enjoy our sanctuary for the winter months ahead.