Christmassy Scene: Life Among the Logs
For 45 years, the log home built by Billy Perkins near the Welcome community has evoked Christmas card sentiments.
Written by JOAN DOGGRELL
Photos Courtesy of BILLY PERKINS
How many Cowetans have spent Christmas in a Christmas card?
One year, Billy Perkins and his wife Susan did just that.
White Christmases are rare in west Georgia, but in December 2017, snow-laden shrubs and pine trees surrounded the Perkins’ log house. Stark white snow contrasted with the rustic beauty of the hand-cut logs. Inside, the Perkins family and friends were warm and cozy beside a roaring fire in a stone-covered fireplace, the mantle elegantly decorated with pine branches and poinsettias. In a book-lined corner, stood a ceiling-high Christmas tree topped with a bright star.
The company enjoyed oyster stew, turkey with all the trimmings, and pumpkin and pecan pies, a traditional dinner made extra special by the magical surroundings.
“This is the quintessential setting for Christmas,” says Billy of his family's log home. “Susan loves decorating, and every year at Christmas, we enjoy entertaining friends and family.”
Since 1980, Billy has lived in the log house he built mostly with his own hands, though he credits family and friends with a lot of help. The rustic home is located near the small community of Welcome on the west side of Newnan; it's stood firm and solid for 45 years.
After Billy moved into the cabin, he still had a lot of work to do, such as rocking the foundation and the chimney. Well insulated with cement and mortar chinking between the logs, the home is more energy efficient than its builder expected.
The home has electricity, HVAC, indoor plumbing and all the comforts of a suburban house – plus an idyllic setting.
Billy and Susan married in 1990 and raised their boys, Craig and Blake, in the log home. There was plenty of room on their 20-acre lot for the boys and their friends to run around in the woods, build treehouses, and do the things city kids only dream of. With 10 acres of pasture, the family has raised goats and chickens and even a donkey, all which delighted the boys and their urban buddies.
When the boys were teenagers, the couple added two bedrooms and a den to the basement so their sons could have their own space.
Like most homes, the cabin requires continuous maintenance. The logs need extra care. Recently, they were sanded down and a fresh coat of stain was applied.
It was always Billy's plan to live in the house for life, so he made it good and roomy. In addition to the finished basement, there's a loft above the main living space. Now comfortably furnished with a television and stereo, it serves as a media room as well as a man cave, especially during football season.
Billy continues to build and improve.
“Out of necessity mostly, but also because I enjoy it,” he says.
One project involved turning his pasture into a sort of golf course.
“My brother came up with the idea of playing golf with a tennis ball," says Billy. "He called it flip-flop golf. We have fun out there in our leisure time.”
Many Georgians living in a rural area are deer hunters, but Perkins did not start hunting the deer on his property until he was in his 50s. So as not to disturb neighbors with gunshots, he learned to shoot with a bow and arrow. He brings down enough deer to keep Susan supplied with a freezer full of venison.
With the boys gone, the home feels like a mansion, but the Perkins have no intention of downsizing. Traveling is a different story. The pair recently toured the western United States, camping in a 24-foot travel trailer.
“After thousands of miles in this cramped space, the log home felt mighty welcome,” says Billy.
Now that he has retired from his insurance business, the log cabin builder has plenty of time to relax in his beloved home.
But knowing his history, few will be surprised to see another project looming on his horizon. NCM
