Richardson Log Homes — A family business with andartistryheart
For Lance and Rebecca Richardson, building and restoring log homes is about integrity, follow-through, artistry, and caring for their clients. Richardson Log Homes (RLH) is based in Terrebonne, with a client base that spans the nation. With a thriving business, Lance and Rebecca feel blessed to work with family doing what they love.
“With skill and excellence, we partner with our customers to build the home of their dreams,” said Rebecca Richardson.
Decades of skill and artistry is apparent in every Richardson Log Home. Countless testimonials from delighted clients recount how they immediately knew they were working with exceptional professionals who were creating something truly handcrafted. No manufactured log home can compare.
“We always encourage them to come out to the log yard and meet Lance and see the houses going up,” Richardson said.
Clients immediately see that the logs are big and majestic and that the craftsmanship is extraordinary. They can also visit finished homes. The Richardsons maintain long-term friendships with many clients who are eager to show prospective log home owners what a Richardson Log Home truly looks and feels like.
“We handcraft beauty one log at a time, peeling every log by hand,” Richardson said. “No milled wood can compare to the old-world
style and warmth of hand-drawn logs. Beauty is not only in the eye of the beholder. Beauty just is, and as you sit in front of your stone fireplace with a good book and a warm mug, you’ll never tire of gazing at these logs.”
In addition to crafting exquisite log homes, RLH is also expert in restoration of these landmark buildings.
They have been doing restoration work in the northwest for over 30 years. They assess what’s failing first, then repair in the right sequence: structural logs before sealing, sealing before staining. The result is a restored home that holds for years, not just one that looks good the day the crew leaves.
Services provided by RLH include barn design and construction, building custom, energy-efficient homes, tiny house construction, and floor plans. They also offer full log home restoration. Those services include: log replacement, rot repair, media blasting, log inspections, consultation, pest control, stain and top coat, and fall log wash.
Richardson says there’s something about the wood and history of log homes that brings comfort: “There’s a secure, solid feeling in a log home. No matter the weather, you’re safe and snuggled inside.”
Lance Richardson watched his father build log homes when he was young.
“That’s our history. It gives my husband a rich past with log homes and a deep love for
Customers say it best...
Richardson Log Homes completed a full exterior restoration on our log homes. These homes had not been maintained for 25 years. Lance and his crew blasted, repaired, and stained the homes. They now look like new. They didn’t linger. They worked full days and communicated through the whole project and cleaned up.
— Searl Lachausse
Richardson Log Homes did a restoration of our 40+ year-old log home. Lance did an inspection of the home and gave us recommendations explaining each step to us and why it was needed. Lance and Brandon did a fantastic job restoring our home under tough working conditions due to hot temperatures. We are extremely pleased with the finished product and would recommend Richardson Log Homes if you’re looking to breathe new life into an old log home.
— Jerome and Sandy Loomis
them. We love people and enjoy staying in relationships with the people we build homes for,” Rebecca said. “We stay connected with them, we remain available to assist them in consultation, maintenance, and long-term care of their homes.”
Learn more about RLH online at www. richardsonloghomes.com. Rebecca and Lance invite folks to email them at info@richardson loghomes.com, or give them a call at 541-7288787. RLH’s physical address is 71330 NW Lower Bridge Way, in Terrebonne.
Lance and Rebecca are a rare and unexpected gift. There are very few companies you work with these days that you know — right from the start — you won’t have to worry about your investment... Richardson Log Homes is one of these companies.
We always knew we wanted a log home but even after we had looked at many of the log homes they all seemed to be the same. Milled logs are nice but we were looking for something special. Once we drove out to the Richardson’s property and laid our eyes on the structures that Lance was creating we knew we had found what we had been looking for. But what Lance and Rebecca have done for us completely, 100% surpassed our expectations. The quality of these log homes is amazing! Lance builds these homes by hand and is tougher and harder working than even my own husband — that’s saying a lot!
In addition to the quality, Richardson Log Homes’ customer service experience totally surpassed any expectations we had. Both Lance and Rebecca have held our hand through this process, making the decision to
build our log cabin so easy and stressfree — we can’t even fully put it into words. Replying to endless questions and texts throughout the process... they have both been truly fabulous. And, the logs they use for their homes are the best. Huge, beautiful logs... incredible. Lance hand-draws each log and his attention to detail is meticulous. He has been there for every step of this process. There are a lot of builders that show up to get paid and then disappear, but there are very few that not only follow through with what they’ve promised, but totally over-deliver. Additionally, Lance personally completes the construction process as well as the reassembly of each home. He gave way more of his time and energy than we could have ever expected. He and Rebecca are one in a million.
If you have a dream to build a log home, please contact Lance and Rebecca first. I promise they will give you the home of your dreams! They go out of their way to make sure you get exactly what you want, while also making you feel comfortable and treating you like family.
— Tom & Shanna Snell
PHOTO BY GRACE PULVER
Knowledge, relationships key to real estate success
Service at the heart of Sisters company’s work
Since 1999, Susan Bird has focused her real estate work solely on Sisters and Black Butte Ranch. Her depth of knowledge about her community is unmatched. In today’s market, that knowledge is indispensable — and it has created the kind of relationships that brings people back to Bird and Stellar Northwest Realty again and again. Repeat and referral business are keys to Bird’s success.
“The relationships are really important to me,” she says. “It can be stressful buying or selling a house. Sharing how stressful situations have been handled can reduce stress levels.” Nowadays there are additional stresses due to challenges around insurance due to wildfire threat. Bird recognizes that the community has done a lot to address concerns.
“We do so much, and so much has been invested in making us safe,” she says. “People do take it seriously, thankfully. A shout out to all the people who keep us safe.”
Challenges with insurance issues can be navigated — but it takes the kind of work that Bird
specializes in — persistent and hands-on, with a little pressurerelieving humor.
“It takes a lot of phone calls, basically, because it’s very fluid,” she says. “You want a good match with a broker,” she notes. “You want someone who really knows what’s going on. Negotiation skills are very important. A big part of my job is making sure that you are covered with anything that could possibly go wrong.”
For all of the challenges and continual changes in the market and the industry, real estate is still an excellent proposition in Sisters.
“People want this lifestyle,” she says. Bird notes that there are first-time buyers out there, and she loves to help them realize their dreams. Whether she’s working with a first-time homebuyer or one of her many longtime clients, Bird absolutely revels in her work. “It feels like a huge purpose,” she says. “And I was just made for it. That runs in my family. My daughter, Carolyn, is now a Stellar Realty NW Broker!”
Things are heating up in Sisters Country. What nobody wants as summer comes on is to realize that their heating and cooling system is going out.
But things may not be as bad as they look.
Sisters Heating & Air will give you an honest assessment of what is really going on with your system. If you’ve received bad news from another company, you can get a free second opinion from Sisters Heating & Air.
They can often find a way to repair and service your system — potentially saving you thousands of dollars.
“One of our great strengths is our service capability,” says owner Mike Whitlatch. “I want to fix people’s systems. If it can’t be fixed, we’ll talk. But I’m a service guy.”
If you need to replace your system, they can do that, too — and you’ll be sure you’re getting the right system at a fair price. That’s the kind of ethic Whitlatch brings to bear in all his business dealings — what he thinks of as a “retro outlook” before everything went corporate; a mom-and-pop
outlook, but one based on a deep base of mechanical skill and technical know-how.
“We treat people the way we want to be treated,” Whitlatch says.
That’s an ethic that every one of Sisters Heating & Air’s technical specialists brings to the job naturally. It’s not a policy —it’s a deep-seated approach to life and work.
“I don’t really have to tell any of them to do that,” Whitlatch says.
All the techs are empowered to make decisions based on a simple principle: “I always reiterate — just do the right thing.” Estimates can take a day or two — because they want to make sure pricing is accurate and targeted to an individual job, not based off of a template. They do tailored estimates and system analysis.
Whitlatch appreciates Sisters as much as the community has come to appreciate his company.
“We want to thank the community,” he says. “I’m so grateful that I have this business to come into every day.”
Design attractive, fire-resistant home landscapes
A new Oregon State University Extension Service publication shows homeowners how to create “fire-wise” landscapes that still look appealing and reflect personal style.
In high-risk wildfire areas, homeowners must balance fireresistant design with yards that complement the home. Selecting, placing, and maintaining appropriate plants can be a challenge, said Amy Jo Detweiler, an Extension horticulturist in Central Oregon and lead author of “Fire-resistant Plants for Home Landscapes,” which features more than 150 plants that are safe for fire-wise landscapes.
Scan code for brochure or visit https://extension.oregonstate. edu/catalog/pnw-590-fire-resist ant-plants-home-landscapes.
and the plants you’re putting in the landscape.
“For some, creating a fire-wise landscape might seem like very limited plant choices, more sterile appearances,” Detweiler said. “But it’s possible to design a fire-wise landscape that still maintains variation in color, texture, and plant type, while providing privacy.”
The publication features a pictorial guide to plant selection, spacing, and maintenance, along with examples of common hazards such as shrubs planted too close to homes, tree branches touching roofs, and flammable woody mulches.
The guide includes options that allow homeowners to match their landscape to personal preferences. Whether choosing native plants, specific colors, or varying textures, readers can tailor their design choices using the resource.
“The idea of creating a fire-wise landscape is starting the landscape farther from the home and thinking about plant materials that will be less flammable. You think about placement, design,
Every plant featured in the publication has research supporting its ability to contribute to a defensible space around a home. “I hope it empowers people
to make confident decisions,” Detweiler said. “This guide is an intersection of variables to create an environmentally sound landscape.”
Tools for rural and urban homeowners
The publication offers practical steps for homeowners in both rural and urban areas. Recommendations include:
• Maintaining clean rain gutters.
• Using decorative rock instead of wood bark mulch near buildings.
• Avoiding or removing ladder fuels — materials that can carry fire from the ground into tree canopies.
“I am hoping this helps educate folks on learning what plants to have in a fire-wise landscape and increases the safety for both homeowners and the fire crews,” Detweiler said.
Building with integrity across Sisters Country
Sisters Fence & Deck has established a reputation for locally owned, craftsman-built work, creating custom projects of all sizes, from small repairs to major fencing projects or deck building and restoration.
Their ever-expanding crew of skilled craftsmen are taking on projects across Sisters Country that not only include the company’s signature fence work, but also fast, high-quality deck refurbishing. Good prep work is key to a successful, long-lasting painting or staining project. That can mean hours of sanding — or you can contact Sisters Fence & Deck. Their sandblasting services get the job done safely and effectively — and far more quickly than anyone can do it with a sander.
The abrasive product is EPA approved and environmentally safe. It’s crushed, recycled, and sifted glass — like really fine beach sand. The sand is safe for the soil — in fact, it helps retain moisture. Cleanup is easy. The process opens the pores of wood so it absorbs stain and gives greater protection from the elements.
“It extends the life of the deck,” says owner Pat Burke. “This is like getting a reset on
your deck.”
If you keep applying stain, it will maintain the integrity of the deck for years.
But Sisters Fence & Deck won’t push to do more work than you really need.
“Sometimes it’s not the right application,” Burke notes. “Just a little elbow grease and stain is all that’s needed — and that’s what we’ll do.”
The maintenance capability adds value for customers — but Sisters Fence & Deck can build a deck for you from scratch if that’s what you need. They can also create a patio with pavers, and they offer the full range of fencing options that are popular and functional in Sisters Country: cedar; lodgepole; metal; agricultural fencing. You name it, they do it, and they have lots of experience with it.
With new wildfire defensible space standards and home hardening coming to the fore in Sisters Country, homeowners can consult with Sisters Fence & Deck on best practices and safe materials to make sure their home is in the best shape possible to resist embers.
Additionally, Sisters Fence & Deck can build your custom
gates and automated entryways. Single-arm, double-arm, solarpowered, the Sisters Fence & Deck crew has done all types of work and can work with whatever configuration is desired.
Burke has built a thriving business on quality, integrity, and a focus on customer satisfaction. Skilled craftsmen are eager to work for the company, and Burke is proud of the crew, from the office staff to the installers.
“The guys in the field — it’s the best crew we’ve had, start to finish,” Burke says. “We have three great crews going out the door every day.”
It’s not too late to get those crews going on your summer project. Give them a call soon, though, because summer does get busy.
Sisters Fence & Deck strives always to take a customer’s vision and make it a working reality.
“It’s best if the customer finds an example of what they like and says, ‘This is what we want,’ and we can build it,” Burke said.
Burke notes that Sisters Fence & Deck always strives to maximize the value the customer gets out of their investment. Clear communication with clients on costs, scope of work, materials,
and the desired end product is key to a successful project.
Burke says his crew “will figure out what the client wants and how we can build it, so when the project is complete, they say, ‘This is what I envisioned, and thank you.’”
Committed to supporting the local economy, Sisters Fence & Deck strives at every opportunity to buy materials and supplies in Sisters and Central Oregon. Burke grew up in Sisters and wants his company to continue to be integrated into the life of the community.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Slow cooker summer
By Dani Nichols Correspondent
Summers are for slowing down.
I know, I know. It’s very fashionable to have crazy, high-octane summers, full of vacations and reunions and adventures. And I’m all for fun. But, for what it’s worth, I also want some time this summer to trot down a trail with my horse, no destination or timeline in mind, or hang out at the lake long enough to wrinkle my toes, or stay up too late watching the stars peek out one by one.
So I am going to be falling back on some tried and true slow-cooker staples to keep my family happy and all of us free for as much of the nice weather as I can. These recipes are simple, delicious, hearty crowd-pleasers: if my adventurous husband, picky-8-yearold, growing-like-a-weed-4-year-old, wouldrather-eat-ice-cream-11-year-old, and yours truly all like them, then you know it’ll work for your rowdy crew too.
Here’s to a slow (cooker) summer!
Mother-in-law’s
Mississippi Pot Roast
My mother-in-law is from Louisiana and has the drawl to prove it. She is also an amazing cook, with a strong sense of Southern hospitality to back it up, and this recipe is one of our family’s favorites.
This is a very versatile dish that can be altered to your family’s spice tolerance. Serve over buttered noodles, brown rice, or loaded onto a hoagie roll. The next day, if you spread the leftovers over homemade mac-and-cheese, you will be lauded as a domestic wizard and your family will lick the casserole dish in delight (hypothetically speaking of course).
INGREDIENTS:
One 3- to 4-pound chuck roast (you can go larger for a big family, but just make sure it’s not too big for the Crock-Pot)
2 tablespoons butter
One 16-oz jar of sliced peperoncini, juice and all (if your family is nervous about the spice level, you can do less, although you might need to add a little water)
A dash of salt and pepper (you can add more later to taste)
One medium white or yellow onion, diced
Extra credit: fresh cilantro or green onions or both, sprinkled on top when served.
DIRECTIONS: Put the butter in the bottom of the slow cooker and then the roast on top. After that, chuck everything else in the pot willy-nilly (kids love this part) and turn it on low for 8-10 hours, or high for 5-6.
If you are in the house you can give it a stir and pull the bones out about halfway through cooking, but if you are too busy gardening or riding your horse or hiking the Metolious, just let it go. It’ll be just fine when you get back, hungry and ready for a hearty dinner.
Before you serve, taste to make sure there’s enough salt and pepper. Shred the beef and add extra credit herbs if you want to. If you need to add a little water to make the beef shred, just do so a splash at a time until the beef falls apart. Serve on a roll, over rice or pasta, or even on a baked potato.
Pairs well with cold iced tea (my mother-in-law’s beverage of choice), a lager-style beer such as Van Henion’s Helles Lager, or a lightly chilled red wine such as a Gamay or Pinot Noir.
Campsite Ham Soup
My husband loves to camp and I love to not eat hotdogs for days on end, so we’ve come to a compromise: we can go camping if the food is good. This soup is definitely good camping food, although it takes a little work to prep ahead of time. I have made it in the campsite with canned beans and premade hamstock, or, my preferred method is to make it ahead of time at home, pack it in the cooler with some good rolls, and reheat on the camp stove for a satisfying meal under the stars.
INGREDIENTS:
Stock:
One ham bone or smoked ham hock, roughly 1 to 2
pounds is fine.
1 onion, halved
3 carrots
2 stalks of celery
Herbs (I like a sprig of thyme as well as a bay leaf or two, but you throw in what you like!)
One cinnamon stick
Beans:
1/2-lb. dried white beans such as great northern or navy (you can substitute two 15-oz. cans if you need a quicker soup)
Other soup ingredients:
One 12 oz. can of pumpkin puree (this adds a great creaminess and sneaky veggies for the kids. But if you don’t have it handy, you can leave it out.)
One or 2 medium sweet potatoes, diced
One 4-oz. can of diced green chiles
One tablespoon minced garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS: Start the night before. Put your ham and stock vegetables, herbs, etc. in the slow-cooker. Cover with water (I like to fill my Crock-Pot to the tippy-top) and let it cook on low all night.
At the same time as you start your stock, soak the beans in a large bowl or pot, covering in cold water. They will expand more than you might think, so give them lots of room to grow overnight.
The next morning, rinse and drain the beans and set aside. Pull the herbs from the slow cooker, discard. Cut any usable meat off of the ham and add back into the stock, same with the vegetables, chop into bite-size pieces and return to the pot. (If you have picky eaters who won’t like the veggies, feel free to discard. They have given plenty of flavor and nutrition to your broth anyway.)
Add the beans, plus the other soup ingredients and let cook on low for 4-6 hours, depending how hot your slow-cooker runs. (If it goes long it shouldn’t hurt anything, but you might need to add a little water if it gets too thick as it cooks down.)
You’ll know it’s done when the sweet potatoes are soft and the smell makes your stomach growl. Serve with bread or rolls for dipping, ideally eaten next to a campfire under the stars.
Pairs well with a good local whiskey such as Broken Top’s Backcountry Bourbon, a stout or porter like Three Creeks FivePine Porter, or a hearty white wine such as a Chardonnay or Grenache Blanc. Don’t forget to save room for s’mores!
Summer Night Bread Pudding
Long summer evenings are made for dessert, when kids are up late and grown-ups are hankering for a treat. This is a crowdpleaser of a dish, perfect for using up stale bread and whatever summer fruit might be on the verge of going bad. I like it served with a medley of squishy fresh berries (cut them up and mix them with sugar and they will be devoured) and a little whipped cream. It would also be great served with cut stone fruit and/or vanilla ice cream.
INGREDIENTS:
8 cups of whatever bread you need to get rid of, roughly chopped. (Raisin bread works great but anything will do!)
4 large or 6 medium eggs, whisked
2 cups milk
2 cups cream (you can use half and half if you want to cut down on the fat content, but I prefer it a little richer)
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 tablespoons vanilla
DIRECTIONS: Combine everything in the slow cooker and cook on low for 3-4 hours. When the bread on top is looking dry but not crusty, it’s done. You want a custard-like inside and a crunchy outside, so you can finish with 20-30 minutes with the lid off, if needed.
Serve warm, and pro tip: eat the leftovers the next day for breakfast.
Pairs well with a cup of black coffee or hot tea (you could even splash some whiskey in there, nobody is mad about that), a bright beer such as Deschutes Brewery’s King Crispy, or a fullbodied rosé.
M&J Carpet Cleaning
Sisters Country is hard on your carpet and upholstery. It’s especially notable after we’ve tracked winter in for months. It’s time for a good, deep spring cleaning. M&J Carpet Cleaning offers thorough and environmentally sensitive cleaning that leaves your carpet looking and feeling great.
M&J Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning’s methods leave no residue, so your carpets stay cleaner for longer. And it’s not just about aesthetics; it makes for a healthier environment, too.
It takes a lot of knowledge and expertise to safely clean upholstery, and M&J Carpet Cleaning offers just that. It’s a family operation with decades of experience to bring to bear. Water temperatures of 240 degrees and powerful vacuum capabilities mean your upholstery looks great and doesn’t take much time to dry.
M&J Carpet & Upholstery can clean leather, rugs, and fabric upholstery as well as deep cleaning your carpet. Whether it’s residential or commercial, your investment in your carpets and upholstery deserves to be well maintained.
