Mystique in my French Attic

Before I begin this post let me thank everyone for your great comments/suggestions/advice 

on my last post "Is it Cozy or Cramped." 

So many amazing ideas. 

I wish you all could go to the cabin with me to help me move furniture!
Thanks so very much!

***

Now on to this week's post "Mystique in my French Attic."

As I sit at my desk in a room I've always thought of as my tiny French attic,
it's raining and snowing outside.
Skies are painted Paris gray and gold leaves are tumbling down the street. 

But I'm snug and warm in my office,
a place that makes me think of the romance and allure of Paris.
Shall we rendezvous in my French attic?

Here's a wide shot of this tiny attic space.
You'll notice I've painted the bistro chair at my desk French blue.

The desk was six different primary colors when I bought it at an antique store. 

Looks completely different all white and pulls the room's French decor together. 

I love the warmth of a small lamp on my desk.
The shade is punched with tiny pinpricks reminding me of a magical starry night in Paris.

Note the wicker stand next to the red leather chair (estate sale bargain). 

The top holds decorating magazines and the bottom shelf stores large books.

I like to drape monogrammed linens over the front.
Don't you wonder who they were lovingly created for?

I found this pretty curvy gate in a neighborhood alley 

and it was the perfect size to frame my wicker flower stand.
I can imagine it on an ivy-draped French patio
where women were wooed and men were charmed.

Behind the red chair you'll notice the tall chippy post we rescued from a construction dumpster.

It adds age and patina to that French attic mood.

Tying my white sheers in the middle lets in light

and makes me imagine stepping outside onto an iron balcony
overlooking the rooftops of Paris.

I moved my vintage typewriter to the shelves above my desk, making room for a classic telephone.

This red mid-century modern cart complements the Paris apartment mood
and holds this enchanting vintage telephone.
 I wish it still worked.  I have to admit I like playing with the rotary dial!

You can't really see the top shelf in this room but it's lined with old black and white hat boxes. 

I wonder why we stopped wearing hats.
I loved the mystery behind the netting held with a black velvet bow.

It's fun to watch 1940s black and white movies to see how things have changed. 

Women were always dressed so beautifully and men looked so dashing in their fedoras!

It won't be long til the street below is dressed in white, a film noir just outside my window. 

So where are all the men in fedoras?

***

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Linking with:
Little Farmstead, Our Southern Home, Dwellings, The Dedicated House,
Between Naps on the Porch, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life, Designthusiasm,
21 Rosemary Lane, Follow the Yellow Brick Home, French Country Cottage

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!!

***

Linking with:
Shabby Art Boutique, Little Farmstead, Our Southern Home, Dwellings, The Dedicated House,
Between Naps on the Porch, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life, Our Hopeful Home,
Designthusiasm, A Delightsome Life, Follow the Yellow Brick Home, French Country Cottage

Look What I Won !!!

Hi Friends, I can't wait to tell you what I won!

Something that sure brought back a lot of memories. 

Remember when we typed on manual typewriters, forcefully striking the keys, untangling them 

when two keys got stuck together, returning the carriage when the little bell dinged, 

and starting over when we made a mistake?

Computers have certainly made typing a lot easier but you just can't beat 

the old vintage typewriters for charm.

Yep, I ended up with a real beauty and here's the whole story of how I won it.

At a recent vintage market in Colorado Springs, 

I entered my name in a give-away and pretty much forgot about it. 

Then, one day a week or so later, I received a phone call saying I'd won a gift certificate 

at my favorite antique mall in the Springs. Yay!

Colorado Springs is only about an hour from Denver so Ron and I
hit the road in search of bargains. 

After a couple of days of snow, we had a perfect Rocky Mountain day 

with sunshine, blue skies and 55 degree weather.

Something at this mall had caught my eye the last time I was there -- a vintage typewriter.  

I wasn't sure where it would fit and it was a little more than I wanted to pay but, with my gift card burning a whole in my wallet, I decided to go back to the mall and see if they still had it.

The Sweet William Antique Mall lies on the edge of a historic district
called Old Colorado City on Route 24. I love this mall.
The salesperson really gets into the spirit of days gone by with an amazing period outfit
and a wavy bob. Isn't she adorable?

Plus all of the booths are fantastic with a varied selection.

I was looking for an old typewriter for my office. 

I'd seen a couple previously but, sadly, they were both gone this time around. 

So we kept looking.

Guess it was meant to be.

I found a 1920s Underwood typewriter that was perfect. Not too big, case included and those wonderful shiny keys trimmed in silver metal. The carriage bell even dinged!

I happened to meet the owner of that booth and asked her if it was her best price. 

It had already been marked down $10 and I didn't expect a discount. Still, never hurts to ask. 

She was such a sweetheart and reduced the price another $15.

That and my gift card and I said, "I'll take it!"

Before we began our return trip to Denver, we drove a few blocks to Old Colorado City
and walked around the 1800s streets, oohing and ahhing at the gorgeous architecture.

Pikes Peak, a massive 14er, dominates the sky and seems to rear up right from the sidewalk.

We found an amazing restaurant called Paravicini's Italian Bistro and enjoyed our lunch

in an old renovated building. If you go, I recommend the eggplant rollatini. Yum! 

We're already planning a return trip this summer
when we can sit on their patio and admire Pikes Peak.

We learned that Old Colorado City was founded in 1859 as a supply hub for the new gold mines.

The town boomed in 1891 when two more gold strikes in Cripple Creek and Victor
created additional demand for supplies.

Back home, I knew my vintage typewriter would fit on a shelf in my office 

but I thought it would be more visible on a retro metal stand I had.

I decided to style the stand with a few office accessories.

I love the feel of this early typewriter and the images it evokes.
I wonder about the women who used it almost one hundred years ago.

And today, it still works.
As the words on the top of the typewriter say, it's a real Champion.

So, a beautiful Colorado day, a fantastic lunch with my sweetie, antiquing and a gift certificate.
My kind of perfect day!

***

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 Boutique, Blue Willow House, Little Farmstead, Dwellings, The Dedicated House,
Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life,
Savvy Southern Style, Designthusiasm, A Delightsome Life, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson,
21 Rosemary Lane, Petite Haus, French Country Cottage

~~ A Post on a Post ~~

A post on a post? Why not? 

You won't want to miss this post . . . I didn't!

Find out why I went dumpster diving for a little piece of history. 

It all started when contractors started to demo an old house on our block.

The housing market in Denver has exploded recently and many of these lovely small bungalows 

are being scraped down to the ground or are popping their tops to add more square footage. 

The next few photos are about five minutes walk from our house in an old neighborhood. 

Such a dramatic change. 

Usually,  a modern structure that doesn't fit with the character of our old neighborhoods 

is hastily constructed where a lovely little bungalow once stood. 

Or a block of cracker-box "slot" condos that house too many people, increasing traffic 

and taking up limited parking spots, changes the vibe of these turn-of-the-century streets. 

It makes me sad to see the character of our historic city being overly-modernized,

especially when it happens on my street. 

These boxy condos are everywhere you look. 

How'd you like to live right next to the new lite-rail/noisy freeway?

So, back to my story.

This pretty Victorian on our street that was being demoed had lovely stained-glass windows 

and white columns on the front porch supporting a balcony. 

We kept an eye on the pillars the workers had leaned up against the house. 

I have been known to "rescue" alley finds 

but I restrain myself from actually taking anything from someone's property.

Then came the day when an enormous truck arrived to remove the full construction dumpster. 

I watched out my front window as the truck backed up to hook onto the dumpster.  

That's when I saw a white column sticking out of the top of the dumpster. 

I called Ron and we rushed outside and approached the workers in front of the house.

"Could we have that white post in the dumpster please?" we asked politely.

"Sure, but make it quick before he drives off."

We ran to the truck driver and asked if we could have a minute to rescue the column. 

He nodded and said the boss had told him to wait while we got it. Such a nice bossman!

So, we tugged and pulled until we were able to remove the pillar from the dumpster, 

thanked the driver, and scurried home with our treasure.

I didn't know what I was going to do with it but not only was it part of our neighborhood history, 

it was chippy and white and I loved it. I knew I'd find a home for it somewhere. 

Ron set about removing rusty nails from the top.

Inside, I tried it here and there and finally found the perfect spot for it in my "attic" office.

The top piece of the post was missing so I put an old plate on top 

and nestled a spider plant on it in front of the window.

That plant has a fun story as well. We were leaving an estate sale and saw a man loading a big spider plant into the back of his truck. That's when I saw a baby spider get torn from the mother plant. 

After he left, I ran over and retrieved the little baby from the sidewalk. 

I plopped her into a glass of water when we got home and she immediately grew some healthy roots. Now she's potted atop my rescued post and sending out more babies.

So, this story ends well for everyone.

The orphaned spider plant has a home, the rescued post adds a dilapidated grandeur to my office,

and the history of our old neighborhood has been preserved.

The End (or is it?)

***

Linking with:
Shabby Art Boutique, Blue Willow House, Little Farmstead, Dwellings, The Dedicated House,
Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life,
Savvy Southern Style, Designthusiasm, A Delightsome Life, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson,
21 Rosemary Lane, Petite Haus, French Country Cottage

Let There Be White!

After the exuberant stimulation of festive holiday decor,

I'm craving something calming and simple like white.

White is so easy to live with. It calms a chaotic room and soothes our busy minds.

This simple bookshelf turned china cabinet holds some of my white ironstone
and is a restful focal point in the dining room.

I moved the old clock that had been on the top shelf to the living room mantel, 

making room for a large ironstone pitcher.
Because the pitcher had a tiny crack in the handle, I got it for just $25!

White goes with any style from Farmhouse . . .

. . . to Frou Frou.

It adds a touch of elegance to a simple vignette

and is the perfect foil for highlighting a few special pieces.

I love how white contrasts with dark wood.

A unique piece like this garden statue really stands out among white objects and old mirrors.

This statue was a wonderful surprise Christmas gift from Ron. 

I'd raved about it when we saw it in an antique store 

and he sneaked back to buy it for me. I just love it.

My china cabinet seemed to be overflowing with white ironstone

so I thinned it out a bit, letting each piece shine on its own.

I love how it looks through the leaded glass doors.

Here's where that vintage clock ended up.

The dark wood of the clock looks rich against the white mantel.

I also like the empty space at each end of the mantel, 

allowing some breathing room for the wall sconces. 

White decor makes me dream of a snow-frosted meadow in the Rocky Mountains --
a calming place where I can catch my breath and feel at peace.

***

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.
Thanks so much!

***

Linking with:
Shabby Art Boutique, Blue Willow House, Little Farmstead, Dwellings, The Dedicated House,
Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life,
Savvy Southern Style, Designthusiasm, A Delightsome Life, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson,
21 Rosemary Lane, Petite Haus, French Country Cottage