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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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!!

***

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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

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)

***

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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!!

***

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The Dedicated House, Between Naps on the Porch, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life,
Designthusiasm, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, Follow the Yellow Brick Home,
French Country Cottage

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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Just subscribe (it's free) in the upper right corner of this page.
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Thank you!!

***

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Shabby Art Boutique, Little Farmstead, Rustic & Refined, Our Southern Home,
Dwellings, Between Naps on the Porch, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style,
Designthusiasm, A Delightsome Life, Follow the Yellow Brick Home, French Country Cottage

Our Mountain Cabin Gets a New Name

Finally thought of the perfect name for our new cabin in the mountains.

Since it's right at timberline at 11,000 feet, it seemed Timberline Cabin was a great choice.
(Timberline is the altitude above which no trees grow.)

So, welcome to Timberline Cabin!

Come on in and see what we've been up to.

Here's a view out our front window during a beautiful thunderstorm that turned into hail.

You can just make out timberline in the fog.

This was a very welcome wetting rain, as the firefighters call it. 

I think that means it's a heavy enough rain to significantly reduce fire danger.

The sound of the rain and hail tapping on our skylight took me back to fond memories 

of family tent camping as a young girl.

I stepped outside briefly to inhale the fresh moist air
and admire the glistening trees wrapped in foggy blankets. 

With the forest fires under control and the altitude sickness at bay, we had a great time this week. 

However our little dog, Roxy, did not fare well at altitude last visit, 

so we left her in the care of our fantastic neighbor, "Auntie" Tonda. 

We had a surprise visitor at the cabin when a curious hummingbird flew into the cabin.

Since we don't have screen doors, the doors are usually flung open, 

making it just too irresistible to the teeny-tiny birds.

Unfortunately, it couldn't figure out how to get back out and was flying into the windows.

Ron came to the rescue as he gently covered the hummer with a tea towel and released it outside.

We have got to get some screen doors. 

After all that excitement, I decided to warm up the living area by adding a few accessories.

Those little touches mean a lot and can change the whole feel of a room
(or two rooms in our case).

I had the idea of turning two wine crates on their side and stacking them to make a bookcase.

Who doesn't need more storage?

Ron made a base for the bookcase to give it a finished look,
added a shelf and screwed the two boxes together. 

Then I filled it with CDs, books and some vintage containers.

I love that it fits perfectly under the window and you can see the writing on the side of the boxes.

Note the cute carved owls that hold a tea towel. 

Ron also made the table top that rests on a vintage sewing machine base,

creating a multi-purpose surface. 

Isn't he handy?  

I added a few things such as an old alarm clock, an antler,
a battery candle and a colorful woven cloth. 

I think it's quite serendipitous that we already had almost everything we wanted for this cabin -- 

things that we've collected over the years and knew someday would find a perfect home.

Now they have . . . in Timberline Cabin.

***

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, Rustic & Refined, Our Southern Home, Dwellings, The Dedicated House,
Between Naps on the Porch, Stone Gable, A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style,
Designthusiasm, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, Follow the Yellow Brick Home,
French Country Cottage

Introducing Colorado Rustic Style

Hello My Friends!

Thank you all for your wonderful comments and interesting stories about altitude sickness.
I really appreciated hearing from you all but have not had time to answer each comment.

You may have noticed my blog hasn't been about French Country decorating lately. 

That's because my creative energy has been directed toward the mountain cabin 

I purchased about a month ago.

I wanted to let you know I'll probably be writing about the cabin this summer, 

returning to French Country decorating in my home in the fall. 

I hope you're enjoying hearing about the progress at the cabin as much as 

I'm loving every minute of this exciting new adventure.

So instead of French Country, I'm calling this summer's style Colorado Rustic. 

Although it is a rustic style, I think the area rugs, floor-to-ceiling drapes and 

Native American weavings add a softness to this more masculine look.
Wait til you see what I do with these green chairs! 

This beautiful weaving is an authentic Navajo shoulder robe or shawl

purchased in Taos, New Mexico many years ago. 

It may have been used as a young dancer's shawl.

So, on to the latest news . . . we had quite a scare this past week.
The day after we returned from the cabin due to altitude sickness,
a lightning strike caused a forest fire close to our cabin. 

This is just one of many fires scorching the western U.S. 

and my heart breaks for those who have lost their homes. 

WE LOVE OUR FIREFIGHTERS!!

The road to our cabin has been blocked by the state police unless you had proof of residency. 

So scary, watching the progress our amazing firefighters have made on the evening news and Facebook updates. As I write this, the Weston Pass fire is 63% contained. 

We felt somewhat safe because our cabin is in a marshy area 

surrounded by steep rocky mountains. Still, such a worry. 

Ironically, we met with an insurance underwriter at the cabin this week 

to see if our wood-burning cook stove is approved for a policy. 

Fingers crossed. I'll feel better if we have fire coverage. 

Oh, and speaking of marshy areas, guess who else likes our marsh. 

We were thrilled to see this 7-foot bull moose quite near the cabin --
probably a football field's length away!

Ron also saw a cow with a calf but they were too far away for a picture.

We are making good progress on cleaning up the problem areas

and I'm excited to cross things off our to-do list. 

This week, we are loading up our car with hopefully the last of the trash

to be removed and are working on a few small projects.

Most importantly, we are learning to relax and slow down

so we don't get altitude sickness again! 

***

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, Little Farmstead, Rustic & Refined, Our Southern Home,
Dwellings, The Dedicated House, Between Naps on the Porch, Stone Gable,
A Stroll Thru Life, Savvy Southern Style, Designthusiasm, A Delightsome Life,
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, Follow the Yellow Brick Home, French Country Cottage