Imagine a late Friday afternoon drive down a country road when the sun is just starting to set. It's been a long, busy week, but you're taking your time, knowing a restful weekend lies ahead. You smile as you turn into a secluded drive. Slowly, you pull in, heading to a parking court, all the while beaming with pride at the charming cabin before you. As you get out of the car, you know you made the right decision to build this place.

Mindy and David Myers of Dallas experience this feeling every time they return to their cabin in David's hometown of Terry, Mississippi. It is here, on a lovely piece of property south of Jackson, that tall pines shade their quaint home, built from the Southern Living house plan Deer Run designed by William H. Phillips (WB-0109-731).

The cabin sits just off the road on land chosen for its close proximity to David's brother's house. "This place allows us to reconnect with friends and family," says David. Even though the house was never intended as a permanent residence, it's comfortable enough for extended stays.

According to builder Val Moore, the cabin is built almost identically to our plan. "We did everything that was suggested, down to the Arkansas fieldstone fireplace," he says. "Cypress is a Southern wood, so it was used instead of Western cedar." Clearly a project to be proud of, the cabin is a past winner of the Home Builders Association of Mississippi?s award for Best of Show in its category.

The one thing the Myerses did differently in the plan was changing the rear screened porch to a sunroom. They did, however, build a delightful detached screened pavilion alongside the house. "This is the party place," says David. "Mindy and I love having people join us, and this is the perfect way to entertain." Tom Czora, a master carpenter and friend, built the pavilion, which includes a serving area and fireplace. A separate building with a bath was also added.

Lane Varner, a local horticulturist and landscape contractor who cares for the grounds in the owners? absence, designed a landscape that ties the structures together. "There had to be easy access from the house to the pavilion. We made stone pathways so the walk would blend with the setting," Lane says. The parking court is stained concrete, a more subtle solution than gravel or asphalt.

The Myerses agree their project is far more successful than they could ever have imagined. "Folks have a fit about this house," David says. "It's just been fun sharing our place with so many." And because the goal was a retreat that would bring the owners closer to family and riends, it's safe to say that the mission was accomplished.