Lego story #039: A-Frame Cabin, still sparking joy

Lego Ideas 21338 brings the outdoors indoors.

Eventually I tire of seeing the same sets on display. But I'm not bored of the A-Frame Cabin yet, though it's been on display for a year. Each time I look at it -- barely fitting in my cramped glass cabinet -- I think, "SO glad I bought this!"

Now that I've spent a year admiring this set, I better understand what drew me to it. 

Initially I was disappointed by the final version of the A-Frame Cabin, originally based on fan designer norton74's Ideas contest submission. (For example, I still prefer the cabin's original color scheme.) I thought, "Nah, I'm not buying this." But despite my disappointment, I kept thinking about this set and finally caved in.

On the surface I was attracted to its colorful foliage, the A-frame and wood architecture, and the dollhouse-like features. But what kept tugging at me on a deeper level was what the set represents, its overall concept: a refreshing forest getaway.

I grew up in the suburbs and spent little time in "nature." My home country doesn't have forests or autumn leaves; it has humid jungles and hot, rainy weather all year round. As a kid I dreamed of visiting cold-climate countries. I imagined the best holiday would be in a log cabin on a snowy mountain.

At my age now, I prefer a tame hotel vacation. But there's something still appealing about the *idea* of a woodsy vacation, even if I might not enjoy the reality of it as much. If nothing else, the A-Frame Cabin is refreshing precisely because it shows a scene so different from my everyday comfort zone. Plus, fall colors never get old.

This Lego set gives me a small whiff of the outdoors. How can a plastic model do that? It's like a photograph, I guess. Photographs aren't the actual thing being represented, but they can elicit all sorts of good feelings.

In the same way, I hope at least a few pictures on this blog give you a small dose of happiness.

Above: Base of the cabin, lined with Thor hammer pieces.

Below: Hodge-podge on the first floor: records, gems, a guitar...

Above: I love the detail in this kitchen. The sink tap is made of a Lego pistol, very clever. A black stove with logs piled beside it adds to the coziness.

Below: My favorite part of the cabin -- the writer's desk. It has a typewriter! Sand green, one of my favorite Lego colors, couldn't be a better choice for the desk.

Next up, cabin exterior. I can imagine sitting on this porch in the morning, frying eggs while watching a squirrel scamper by. I'd have a hot drink in hand -- but not coffee because, alas, it doesn't agree with my system.

The back of the house, meanwhile, has a shower! And an old-fashioned stove chimney.

The upper floor is a bedroom with an unexpectedly posh feel.

Above: The Blue Cottage painting refers to another of norton74's cabin designs. He also designed a red version that I love, Santa's Cottage.

Below: The toy on the floor looks very much like the 21318 Lego Ideas Treehouse.

Above: Watch out for the giant spider! That's the thing about a forest getaway...

Below: Finally, here's what truly makes this set visually attractive -- the autumn colors.

 

The A-Frame Cabin set comes with a significant number of wildlife creatures: 1 otter, 1 squirrel, 2 birds, and 2 butterflies.

I added 5 creatures. They come from the Hundred-Acre Wood!

By the way, this is my 101st post! I hadn't kept track and happened to notice last week that I had written exactly 100 posts. Over the course of 5 years, that's an average of 1 post per month. Not bad.

More posts coming. I've got several smaller sets already photographed and waiting to be uploaded for posterity.

Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to a relaxing trip somewhere. With two kids in tow, that's not anytime soon. But it will happen some day! For now, I'll keep enjoying this cheerful display.