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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Quiet Moments of Fall

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

So I'll let this glorious scenery in the Colorado mountains speak for itself 

and fill you with quiet joy. 

Happy Fall!!

'Nuff' said! 

Hope you're enjoying this wondrous time of year. 

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Aftermath -- the Cabin Break-In

Hi Guys!

Before I begin this post, I want to thank all of you for your thoughtful comments 

regarding the break-in of our cabin. I've never received that many comments on any post! 

Each comment was so supportive and sympathetic. I appreciate all your suggestions. 

We are in the process of replacing our door with something stronger and safer. 

 Thank you so much for caring. 

Now, on to this week's post . . . 

I'm actually feeling much better after scattered bouts of anger and sadness.

We've taken precautions and several of our mountain neighbors 

are keeping an eye on the cabin for us.
I don't want to let this incident take away from enjoying the cabin so life goes on. 

And what a life!

This week we were greeted by a wondrous scene at the cabin. 

The first snow!

Seems too early for it but at 11,000 feet, I guess it comes early. 

The cabin wore a dusting of pure white snow, 

making it look like a powdered sugar cookie . . . 

. . . while the meadow glistened and the majestic mountains gleamed. 

It was breathtaking, seeming to wash away any scary memories of the break-in. 

After removing the boarded-up doorway to the cabin, 

we went inside. I wasn't sure how I would feel. 

It's a creepy feeling to think about an intruder being in your home.

It was very cold inside but everything looked fine. 

Maybe our little Yei statue kept the cabin safe. (A Yei is a Navajo spirit diety.)

And, let me tell you, nothing lifts my spirits more than finding a great bargain at a thrift store.

While looking for a new cabin door at Habitat for Humanity, we found this gorgeous loveseat!

The perfect size, the red plaid I wanted, super comfy, and only $45!

It looked brand new so we hauled it up to the cabin in the back of our CRV. 

But just barely.

I spent a couple of hours moving it here and there, trying to find the perfect spot.

I think I found it!

The room actually feels bigger with this arrangement
even though it has a big piece of furniture in it now. 

Here's the perspective from the loveseat. Note the back door is still boarded up from the break-in.

Both seats have wonderful views of the mountains.

It doesn't get much better than this.

Thanks again for all your good wishes and hugs.

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Scary News: Our Cabin Wrecked!

Oh, where do I start?

I've been so upset, I've given myself some time to calm down before attempting this post.

Our lovely little cabin was vandalized!
Was it a bear or a human?

At first we thought it was the bear that has been visiting our neighbors.

He's a handsome fellow isn't he?

But the more we examined the evidence, the more we began to think it was a vandal, 

probably looking for money or valuables. Not going to find either in this cabin.

A thoughtful neighbor noticed our back door had been broken into in our absence and 

quickly boarded it up for us, then called us to let us know. Thank God for nice neighbors!

I was just heartbroken when I saw the huge mess the vandal had made.
It was much worse than I was expecting.

Here's the back door, smashed to smithereens. 

It sure looked like a hungry bear was the guilty party.

But we didn't have any food in the cabin.

Those of you who have experienced a burglary must know how I felt. I wanted to cry. 

We'd been working so hard to make this little cabin our own 

and now it was a total mess. I was so angry. 

The bedroom was trashed but the only thing broken was an oil lamp globe. Everything was tossed about, drawers pulled out and dumped upside down as if someone was looking for money.
It seemed unlikely a bear would do this.

Even a latched tool box had been opened and dumped (not easy to do without a thumb!). 

Outside we found a glass wine bottle that had been smashed against a tree and another tool box dumped. Looking more and more like vandalism or an attempted burglary.

The Parks and Wildlife guy came out and checked for signs of a bear but didn't find any
(claw marks, hair, poo, etc.). We then contacted the sheriff and reported the incident. 

I set about cleaning up the mess, sweeping up broken glass everywhere, making the bed, 

putting drawers and cabinets back together. 

As I worked I noticed the damage was just superficial, nothing too serious.
It could have been much worse but I still felt creepy. 

Ironically, the only thing missing was a canister of bear spray!

Since this happened, we've heard from another neighbor who found their door window broken 

by a rock. We also discovered a baseball-sized rock by our back door. 

I'm still working through my anger and sadness. 

For several days, I was so discouraged I didn't even want to go back to the cabin. 

But now I'm ready to return, replace our broken door and enjoy the mountains 

as the leaves begin to change and the high country welcomes Fall.

I won't be staying overnight there alone again though. 

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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. 

Exciting Mountain Cabin News

May 25

Sneak Peek of Mountain Cabin

June 7

Vintage Wood Cook Stove for Dummies

June 25

Is it Curtains for the Cabin?

June 29

Introducing Colorado Rustic Style

July 13

Our Mountain Cabin Gets a New Name

July 20

Warming Up the Cabin Bedroom

July 27

Thanks for taking the time for a second look.

I hope you enjoyed seeing the re-birth of Timberline Cabin. 

Happy September!

***

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 . . . 

"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  . . .

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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