Fall Greetings from a Colorado Cabin

It's the most beautiful time of the year here in the Rocky Mountains 

when the stately aspen trees quake in their golden finery 

and the marshy bushes snuggle under their bright orange blankets. 

You never know what you will wake up to here at our cabin at 11,265 feet.

The mountains may be dusted with snow one day 

and bathed in golden sunlight the next.

The mosquitos have moved on to warmer climes, 

students are back in school 

and families have wrapped up their summer vacations 

so it's quiet here at the cabin.

We hold our breath and listen for bugling elk. 

We've seen their signs but haven't heard any mating rituals yet

which can be pretty exciting. 

However we were thrilled to see a moose with her calf close up and personal.

(That post in the lower right corner is our front deck!)

It's perfect weather for being outdoors so we hike abut two hours, 

skirting an old 1897 silver mine

then returning to the cabin on a back road that winds through a ghost town.

If you look closely, you'll see stumps scattered on the hillside 

where trees have been chopped down for old miners' cabins or mine structures.

The mountain in the distance is one of Colorado's 14ers. 

As we walk through the woods, we occasionally view a giant mountain 

peeking through enormous green pine trees. 

This unusual formation is shaped like a horseshoe. 

Breathtaking. 

It gets dark early here in October and, with no electricity, 

it's darker and colder than you can imagine. 

The temperature overnight was twenty-four degrees. Brrr.

Roxy has claimed her favorite blanket to keep her warm.

So sweet. Her nose is usually buried in the blanket.

Soon the narrow road will be impassable with snow depths of eight feet or more. 

As total darkness overtakes our little cabin,

we turn on our battery lights and fire up the small propane stove. 

(Thank God for propane!)

 

Is it Cozy or Cramped?

Ron and I have this ongoing argument  discussion about furnishing our mountain cabin.

Is it cozy or cramped?
Charming or cluttered?

We're both proponents of simple living but realize this means different things to different people.

Do we live with the bare necessities or simply do without those things we really don't need?

Maybe it means we stop holding onto things in case we might need them someday?
If it gives you pleasure, is it OK in a crowded room?

What does simplifying mean to you?

Since I love French Country style, I prefer a casual/elegant look with comfy, cushy seating, a soft rug on the floor, chunky throws, warm comforters piled on the bed and vintage accessories --

more like in our guest room here at home. 

Ron, on the other hand, prefers a more simple look with, well, just the basics. 

Maybe an antler here or there.

I wouldn't call him a minimalist though because he also loves collecting
quirky old toys and 1950s memorabilia.
But in the cabin he's satisfied with a chair or two and a table to hold a beverage and a sandwich.

I think the trick here is to sneak, I mean mix, in a few things that I think will make the cabin
feel personal and inviting such as this black crow decoy and vintage child's dress. 

I've had this vision for the cabin bedroom in my mind
since we purchased this cabin four months ago.
There's a spectacular view out the bedroom window that looks directly at a massive mountain.

I kept thinking I needed a small writing desk at that window where I could look up from a
magazine and contemplate this impressive mountain in between sips of hot tea.

I hadn't had any luck finding one and then,
I came across just the table I'd dreamed of in an antique store. 

And it was 50% off!

I was attracted to the unusual "peanut" shape of the little desk 

and knew it would fit perfectly under the window.

But the desk and chair made the small room seem a tiny bit crowded
with a rocking chair, bed and chest of drawers in there.

I remembered my self-imposed rule of "buy something new, get rid of something old."

In this small space, I knew I couldn't get away with just recycling a paperback book.
So instead of getting rid of something, I decided to try moving something.

 I tried shifting my Dad's lovely old rocking chair into the living area, and although 

I thought it looked welcoming and cozy, Ron proclaimed it was too cramped. 

Therefore, with compromise on my mind and love in my heart,
I thought about taking it back home.

One thing I have learned in this small 336 square-foot space is that every inch counts,

whether you're creating a cozy room or building a strong relationship. 

Today we have the tiny home trend to help us think about using space in a different way 

and perhaps living a little more simply.

Not that I'm giving up on adding my own personal touch to our tiny cabin. 

And even Ron agrees this pretty plaid loveseat is cozy, not cramped!
Here's a photo of the space without the rocker. 

So, for now, I'm living with the chair in the living room (first photo).
I'll take some time to mull it over before making a decision.
Cozy or cramped?

I still think that rocking chair looks welcoming and cozy!

I'd love to know what you think.

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A Giant Step Back in Time

What better way to welcome fall to the mountains than by taking a giant step back in time? 

Say to an 1880s mining town.

On the way to South Park City, the weather was absolutely perfect in the high 70s, 

with a brilliant blue sky and not a drop of rain in sight. 

It made the trip across the Continental Divide even more breathtaking 

as entire hillsides magically turned to gold.

We spent the day near our mountain cabin visiting a reconstructed "ghost town" 

that recalled the romance of a by-gone era.

The town has a fascinating history.
In 1957 more than 40 original historic buildings were moved to a common site 

where an authentic mining town now called South Park City was born.

More than 40,000 artifacts and furnishings were donated to the project by local residents 

and today these original buildings stand in tribute to that time.

After gold was discovered in this area, mining camps sprang up in every gulch and gully.
Soon the hills were dotted with towns with such colorful names as
Buckskin Joe, Eureka, and Horseshoe.

While there were various reconstructions such as saloons
(there were probably a LOT more than just this one) . . . 

 train stations . . . 

and mines, 

my favorites were the recreations of pioneer homes. 

I couldn't help but think about our own little cabin that had been moved from this area 

and how it might have been used back in the day.

Plus I discovered lots of ideas on how to decorate our cabin.
I love this idea of using old newspapers as wallpaper.
The miners used layers of newspaper as insulation in their cabins. 

Fairplay loves its burros, the patient and sure-footed animals that were
largely responsible for the success of the mining operations.

Besides its famous Brown Burro Cafe, Fairplay hosts an annual burro race,
running approximately 30 miles through the mountains. 

Even the high school mascot is called the Burros!
I just love that!

Besides loving burros, the town of Fairplay in the real South Park
was the inspiration for the South Park animated TV series.

And, of course, like anyone else who has enjoyed "South Park" on TV,

we just had to get our photos taken as those characters! 

Such a fun and educational day.
With wooden sidewalks and a wide dirt road down the middle of town, it felt so realistic.
I have to say this was the best historic recreation I've ever visited.

If you're in the area, I highly recommend a visit. 

Take Hwy. 285 south out of Denver to Fairplay. It's just under two hours' drive. 

Exit at Fairplay. Turn left off of Main Street to Front Street and go to the end of the paved street. 

Then take a giant step back in time.

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Overnight in the Cabin ... Alone

Base Camp, Denver, CO, Elevation 5,280 feet

Journal Entry, July 30, 2018, 8 a.m. 

Today I'm driving about two hours straight up. 

I'm going to my cabin in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, elevation 11,000 feet. 

I've been there several times before but the big difference this time is 

I'm going by myself and staying overnight. 

The weather is cool and cloudy, not unusual for this time of day.
It should burn off in an hour or so. Perhaps it's a bit more hazy than usual
because of the horrific forest fires on the west coast.

I'm feeling excited, a little nervous, but mostly looking forward to spending the night
in Timberline Cabin solo.  I hope the skies will be clear enough tonight to see the stars 

and the bears will all tucked into their beds for the night.
I appreciate all of your concerns about my safety and have taken precautions. 

Timberline Cabin: Journal Entry, July 30, 2018, 10:30 a.m. 

I make it up the rocky road to the cabin with no unpleasant incidents. 

I drive slowly and carefully, relieved that I have four new tires and 

happy that I won't have to drive back out this road on the same day.

I feel as if this is my own little world up here. 

The cabin is dwarfed by massive mountains and tall pine trees that rise up all around me.
The weather is sunny, windy and cool. 

The temperature outside and inside the cabin is 55 degrees.

I have a lot of little projects to accomplish today so I get busy. 

I love decorating the cabin and making it our own. 

On my last visit, I spray-painted two bright green wicker chairs a dark brown.

Now, I tug freshly washed and bleached seat covers onto the cushions and 

add a red velvet throw pillow on each chair. So much better. 

I join two woven scarves to make one long one for the table under the front windows.

Then I add a Hopi basket, some antlers and two red battery candles.

 Next, I tackle the Roman shades in the bedroom. 

As they were nailed into the wall instead of screwed, it is quite difficult to get them down. 

With them finally removed, I hang some Martha Stewart lace curtains that I had at home. 

The room looks like an old Victorian bedroom now. Charming. 

I think the old miner who originally owned this cabin would have loved the lacy curtains. LOL.

Noon: This task actually wore me out (must be the altitude) so I take a lunch break.
 (Note: I don't get hungry up here and usually lose a couple of pounds
each time I visit which I promptly gain once I'm back in town!)

Temperature outside is now 70 and 66 inside. I have to be careful to close the doors so the hummingbirds don't get in. I don't think I could reach them if they flew up into the vaulted ceiling. 

As I putter, I listen to an opera CD, something that probably, 

no make that definitely, would NOT happen if Ron were here.

It's breathtaking to watch the light changing on the mountains as the sun dips to the far side of the cabin. When the wind gusts, it feels as if the whole cabin is shaking, as if it's a living thing. 

I feel safe and warm to have this little shelter from the elements. I've never had a skylight so I love putting my head back and watching the clouds slide past the glass framed by pine boughs.

7 p.m. I listen to a CD book but my attention is drawn to what's happening outside. 

The sun is slowly sliding behind a pine tree in front of the cabin; the mountains glow golden, 

gradually swallowed up by lengthening shadows. The rocks take on a rosy glow like a ripe peach.

Quietly, the shadow moves up from the base of the mountain 

until the entire mountain is wrapped in shade. 

I keep running outside to snap pictures of the changing scene.

I listen to a CD by John Barry, so reminiscent of a favorite Out of Africa soundtrack, 

sending me miles away. I go to bed early, weighed down by heavy blankets. 

It's totally dark and quiet. I fall asleep easily.

NEXT Day, 5:30 a.m. 

I wake up early but it is too cold to get out of bed.
I recall it was too cloudy last night to see any stars when I trooped outside to use the bathroom.
Pulling on my cold clothes, I see the sun peeking over a rocky ledge like a shy child.

It's 31 degrees outside, 49 inside. It must have been in the 20s last night.

Silvery frost blankets the front deck and bushes. I can't stop shivering
but I don't light the wood stove because smoke fills the room while the fire is catching

and I can't take the chance of a hummingbird darting through an open door.

Around 7 a.m., the sun is beginning to touch the cabin but it's still 49 degrees inside. 

I light the propane stove for the first time and don't blow anything up.
Then I make myself a cup of hot tea. It tastes unbelievably good. 

I stand in a tiny pool of sunlight while I sip my steaming tea,
cradling the warm cup with both hands. 

At 8 a.m. the temp has finally climbed to a whopping 50 degrees inside the cabin. 

I step outside and am pleasantly surprised to feel the warmth of the early morning sun. 

I decide to collect kindling, thinking some physical activity might warm me up.

At 9 a.m., it's a balmy 55 degrees. 

I go for a short walk down our road to see if any of my two-legged neighbors are home. 

I meet Glenda who welcomes me inside her warm and charming cabin. 

Nice to have a local phone number in case of emergency. 

We will make great hiking partners once I can walk
from my car to the cabin without getting winded.

When I return to the cabin, I am quite tired and don't want to think about driving back to Denver. 

But, believing it would be safer if I take off before I'm really fatigued, 

I reluctantly pack up and drive home without incident. 

But I do truly hate that bumpy road.

What I Missed at the Cabin:

Ron, my dog Roxy, indoor plumbing, paved roads, nearby restaurants, warmth.

What I Didn't Miss at the Cabin:

Traffic, people talking loudly on their cell phones, telemarketers, noise, did I mention traffic?

I hope you enjoyed your visit. Can't wait to go back!
(If you missed my last post about this cabin, you can read it Here.)

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Warming Up a Cabin Bedroom at 11,000 Feet

A bedroom should be a restful place with calm colors and soft textures -- 

a sanctuary where you can relax and gaze out the window at nature's beauty. 

But was it possible to warm up our cabin bedroom at a cool 11,000 feet?

Our small bedroom had a good start 

with rough plank walls, a dark wood floor and two windows 

with views of massive pine trees and steep mountains,

But it definitely needed some help in the furnishing department.

Here's a "Before" picture.

First, we cleaned out the stuff left behind.

We jettisoned a metal clothes rack, piles of junk, ratty rugs, and a gigantic plastic cooler.

Ron claimed this old dynamite box that had been nailed to the wall to store odds and ends.

I wanted to keep the look simple but cozy using warm colors and vintage accessories.

I was trying to decide what kind of headboard would look good

in this rustic cabin when I remembered I had a rusty metal headboard in my garden.

We lugged it up to the cabin. It was the perfect size and definitely looked rustic.

We'd decided to keep the bed that was already in the cabin.

The mattress was clean, comfortable and looked new.

Besides, we had no idea how to get a mattress in our compact car. 

The mattress lies on a home-made frame with six drawers

so we pitched the flimsy chest of drawers that didn't complement our style.

But guess what?

During a weekend yard sale hunt, we came across a rustic-looking chest of drawers.

It was marked $50 but the owner came down to $15 when we showed interest

and told her it was destined for our mountain cabin. Sold!

The oil lamp belonged to Ron's Aunt Viola.

A vintage hall tree found at an estate sale long ago and

 some old hooks along one wall hold hats, cameras and binoculars. 

I fell in love with this gorgeous comforter and pillow covers from Cabela's. 

Plaid cotton flannel reversing to fuzzy soft "primalush." 

Although I usually shop at thrift stores and estate sales, 

I plunked down some money for this new set. 

It was worth it. 

The little shelf and photo on the wall came with the cabin

although they were in a different place. 

On the other hand, the nightstands were a creative mix of our own things.

Ron's table is actually his grandfather's old milking stool.

And on my side is a garden table covered with a pretty crocheted piece

that my sweet neighbor Erin gave me and, of course, a pair of cowboy boots.

This vintage etched mirror came from my mirror collection at home. 

We have plans to cover the drywall separating the two rooms

with surplus planks stored in the loft

but for now I hung a Native American weaving flanked by two 

Harrison Begay prints. Both prints feature a young Indian girl tending her sheep. 

The antique rocking chair in the corner was my Dad's.

A Beacon Indian print blanket hangs over the back. 

The bedroom has been warmed up with soft textures and warm colors,
making it a cozy place to relax and snuggle.

At 11,000 feet, the nights are clear and cold, even in the summer.

We might have to add another blanket!

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