Friday, August 31, 2018

Did You Miss These Posts? Summer Cabin Recap

Hello my friends!

I hope you had a wonderful summer and are looking forward to cooler weather in September.
If you missed any of my cabin posts this summer, here's a recap of what I shared in early summer.
I think it's always fun to look back and see how things have changed.

Just click on the links if you missed any of these posts or would like to revisit them. 

May 25


June 7


June 25


June 29


July 13


July 20


July 27


Thanks for taking the time for a second look.
I hope you enjoyed seeing the re-birth of Timberline Cabin. 

Happy September!

***


Friday, August 24, 2018

The Green Door

Do you remember that old 1950's song "The Green Door"?
I recall dances in our basement where the song would play over and over
while neighborhood kids jitterbugged.

As the younger sister in our family, I always wondered what was behind the Green Door
and why it was such a big secret . . . 


Friday, August 17, 2018

"Final" Touches in the Cabin

Decorating my tiny mountain cabin is never quite finished --
always a tweak here, a fine-tuning there.


A few little touches have a big impact in this small space.
And it's oh so cozy and comfy  . . .


Friday, August 10, 2018

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.)

***

If you enjoyed your visit, I hope you'll follow me by email.
Just subscribe (it's free) at the top of the right column of this page. 
You can also follow my Pinterest boards to see all my favorite photos.
Thank you!!

***


Friday, August 3, 2018

Going Solo in the Cabin

Hello my friends!
I've been wanting to stay overnight in our mountain cabin by myself. 
Although I'd stayed overnight with Ron and another time with my sister and nephew, 
I've yet to do it solo.


I had visions of enjoying the vast quiet with only the murmur of the rushing creek 
accompanied by the whir of hummingbirds peeking through the window.

Of doing some writing. Listening to music. Taking walks.
 Reading a book.


Sipping a cup of hot coffee in the morning, a glass of wine in the evening.
(make that a small glass of wine; learned my lesson about altitude sickness and alcohol).

Watching the Milky Way sparkling in the rare mountain air. 
Sleeping soundly cocooned in thick warm blankets.
Learning to identify local wildflowers.


But was I afraid to stay alone?
Nah.
Okay, well maybe a little. 
Mostly I was worried about my car breaking down or having a flat tire 
on the rocky road into the cabin.
Honestly, driving over this road is like sitting on a jackhammer. 


Last week, my guardian angel stepped in to address this fear.
I awoke to a flat tire in front of my house.
When we took the car to the tire store to get the flat fixed, the technician said all four tires 
were in very bad shape and actually had blisters ready to burst which could shred the tire. 
So, now I own four spanking new tires and shouldn't have to worry about flats.

Any other fears?
Well, maybe a tiny bit about marauding bears.
If all bears looked like this, I wouldn't be afraid of them.


We'd already seen quite a few wild animals including pronghorn antelope, deer, moose
and some pretty persistent ground squirrels.
(Did you know a group of squirrels is called a scurry? Me neither.)


Neighbors had told us they'd seen bears near their cabins. 
But no cabins had ever been entered, no one confronted.
Here I am carrying a big stick and my bear spray just in case.


What about food coolers?
I contacted the local forest service and asked them:
"Should we leave our coolers filled with food outside the cabin or bring them in at night?"

Their advice was to bring them inside when we're staying at the cabin. 
When we're not there, we shouldn't leave any food in the cabin as bears may break in to get it.
(I'm wondering why they wouldn't also break in while we're staying there??)
Also to keep the surrounding area clear of anything that might attract bears 
such as coolers, bird feeders and trash cans. 
Good advice. 


Oh great, I forgot about mountain lions.
I know they always say don't run but I'm sorry, get out of my way.

So, armed with advice, four new tires, a bottle of wine and a stack of books, 
I'm setting off for a solo adventure in Timberline Cabin.

Stay tuned to find out how it goes.
Hey Ron, do I have cell service up here?

(If you missed my last post about the cabin, you can read it Here)

***

If you enjoyed your visit, I hope you'll follow me by email.
Just subscribe (it's free) in the upper right column of this page.
You can also follow my Pinterest boards to see all my favorite photos.
Thank you!!

***

Linking with:
Shabby Art BoutiqueLittle FarmsteadRustic & RefinedOur Southern HomeDwellings,
The Dedicated HouseBetween Naps on the PorchStone GableA Stroll Thru Life,
DesignthusiasmHave a Daily Cup of Mrs. OlsonFollow the Yellow Brick Home,
French Country Cottage