I bet you thought a log cabin was a rough-hewn thing that Abraham Lincoln lived in. Or maybe you’ve seen one of those modern log houses with the smooth redwood logs. But I bet you’ve never seen a log house like the one below:

Log House Exterior

This is a portable house/office made of logs located in Hilversum, Netherlands (no idea where that is; pls to google) . It’s designed by Piet Hein Eek, who seems to be a very clever, inventive type of fellow. Here’s a photo through the log house windows:

Inside the Log House Looking Out

It’s not a bad view. The whole thing is on wheels, they say, so you can roll it around your backyard. Don’t know if it comes with an extra-long extension cord or how you keep it plugged in. Finally, here’s a look at the interior decor:

Interior Decor of Log House

What do you think of the blue? Maybe sage green would be a better choice. But it’s The Netherlands, and it’s cold and snowy there, and the sky blue thing is very cheery. So maybe that’s what they were going after.

All in all, a fun, fantastic room! Sure beats the shed in my backyard! For more info, vist http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1y2BRU/www.homeqn.com/entry/amazing-tree-trunk-garden-house/

Here’s my perspective on the Panama Canal, the highlight of our 10-day New Year’s cruise:

Inside the Gatun Lock

This was the view out of the dining room window as we descended in the Gatun Lock. You’re looking at almost 100 years of algae growth on the original concrete wall of the lock. The green-blue colors are amazing! That little slice of blue in the lower left corner is the edge of the ship’s window.

The dining room was on the 5th level of the ship. We were well above the water line when we entered the lock, but within minutes the water drained out and we sunk lower and lower until we were below the level of Lake Gatun (85 ft). It was one of the weirdest feelings…but when we emerged from the lock, we were “above water” again.

They sure knew how to build things in those days: almost all of the equipment is still original . We transitted the entire length of the canal in a speedy 8 hours. Beautiful scenery, and a wonderful look at the possibilities of human know-how.