CHRISTMAS AT THE CABIN

See how a North Carolina family has safeguarded an old log cabin to preserve its story and enjoy the ambience it brings to their farm.

A log cabin, now sited on the farm of a North Carolina family who wanted to protect its story, offers a one-of-akind opportunity to make it merry for the holidays.

During a commonplace drive through a commonplace neighborhood, Penny Ausley noticed a house for sale. What was in the backyard—a little log cabin— made her heart leap. “When I saw that little cabin sitting behind that house, I just wanted to take care of it and protect the history of it,” Penny says. “I guess it just speaks to my heart from the olden days and how life used to be.” Penny and her husband, Roger, inquired about the cabin and quickly purchased it with the understanding that they’d have to relocate it to their own property nearby. They gladly did so, working with a company that loaded the cabin in its entirety and moved it at a slow crawl through town.

Once it was settled, the Ausleys added new chinking to help with weatherproofing and had the old pine floors—complete with square-head nails—sanded and sealed.

When the opportunity came to build a new house in the country years later, they moved the cabin again, this time hauling it several miles to rural Burlington, North Carolina. “There was no way I could leave it behind. That was just one of the stipulations,” Penny recalls.

They chose to site the cabin on their new property where it can be seen from the kitchen window as well as from the road so passersby can enjoy it as much as they do. (Although the Ausleys receive regular inquiries, the cabin is not available for overnight guests because it lacks plumbing.) It’s so beloved by the family that an illustration of the log structure adorns the cover of the children’s book they wrote, True Tales from Happy Days Farm, which is available on her Etsy shop.

For more than 25 years now, Penny has relished owning the cabin and decorating it for the seasons. “I just hope when I’m gone that somebody will love it like I have and take care of it,” she shares. “To this day, I get so excited when I ride by a house that has a log cabin in the back. It thrills me that people care to take care of pieces like this.”

Opposite: The porch is a favorite spot for styling. “That’s your first impression, so I like to decorate the porch cute,” Penny remarks. A previous owner had added two electrical outlets and a ceiling light inside the cabin. The roofline is accentuated by white lights, which illuminate the cabin year-round. The mild winter weather allows the Ausleys to employ a full-size artificial tree, as well as sparkling lanterns, outdoors. The lighted chickens are a nod to the blog Penny writes with her daughter, Brittany May. Right: Tucked into a corner near the ladder to the sleeping loft, the combination of a slender antique door and small bench offers an area to decorate. Create a similar setup in your home and drop a small faux tree into an old tin and adorn a faux swag with vintage ornaments. Don’t shy away from adding real greens to artificials, Penny says. “I love the smell of the live. You can’t beat that.” Penny installed folding legs on the back of this door so it can be used as an extra table when needed.