Back in the Rockies and the Mystery Cottage



I'm blogging today from Colorado.  The lead photo is last night's gorgeous sunset taken from Lake Loveland.  If you've been following our latest adventure, you know we called Colorado home until July 1. And that we've been traveling the state of Oregon since then looking for a place to call our new home. After thousands of miles, and hours touring towns and houses, and two offers on homes, we've settled on leasing an apartment in northeast Oregon. And now we're back in the Rockies to load up a U-Haul and make the final trek back to Oregon.

My good friend Dena Netherton and her husband are hosting us while we tie up the loose ends here. Dena is a talented author, and musician, who blogs at Dena Netherton: My Father's World. Take a moment to check out her blog. You won't be sorry.

We like staying in the Netherton's cozy guest room. When we're in their home, we feel like family. They have the true gift of hospitality.




 

Dena and I hiked the Yahosa Valley Trail a couple of days ago. The trail is a popular route for horseback riders.



At the end of the trail is Wind River Ranch, a Christian guest camp.


I think you need a closer look at the charming entrance.



Just before we left Wind River to hike back to Dena's car, we met two horse women Brook and Crystal.


These two young ladies are so delightful. They graciously agreed to pose for me. I wanted to adopt them, but I don't think their parents would be willing to give them up.

At the end of our hike we came upon the mystery cottage.

I don't know the story behind its seeming abandonment. It must have been a pretty place at one time.


We'll be back in Oregon next week. Stay tuned as I take on the challenge of making a rented apartment feel like a cottage for two.

Blessings,

Linking up with Weekly Top Shot.
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The Cottages of Yachats, Oregon

 
 
 
Several posts ago I mentioned we had begun our house hunting adventure in Yachats, a charming village on Oregon's central coast. Our time there was more for the purpose of relaxation than for a serious home search, but that didn't keep me from photographing some of the cottages I discovered on one of my walks.
 
I didn't find many brown cottages in Yachats, and this one seems more like a cabin I would have seen in the Colorado Rockies. The trees and flowers are definitely not reminiscent of the mountains, though. So pretty.
 
 
 
 

The detail on this cottage's siding is delightful.  I love the contrasting blues. And that pop of pink roses is the perfect accent.
 

 
 
The little enclosed porch on this cottage is so sweet.

 
 
 
 

 
This is a wonderful cottage. Very beachy
 
 
 
A vintage cottage with a little business in front. The paint job really sets off the trim on this one.

 
 
 
And this cottage is my favorite. It's very tiny, but large in charm. A plethora of buoys covers the fence. So colorful and creative. 
 
 
 
 


My husband thought so, too, and captured the scene in watercolor




I hope you enjoyed these quaint cottages. I'm ready to go back to Yachats and find more to photograph.



Linking up with Inspire Me Monday Week 84 at Create with Joy

Fairtytale Cottage in Stayton, Oregon

Fairytale Cottage in Stayton, Oregon (Locals call this home "the castle.")


I feel like I've been MIA for over a month. Oh, wait.  I have.

In my last post we were in Yachats, Oregon, enjoying the sand, surf and ocean breezes. A lot of hours and miles have been logged since then, as we search for our next home. From my perspective there have been a lot of highs and a few lows on this adventure. And one major meltdown somewhere in Tillamook on the thirteenth day. (Sometimes a home body just gets tired of traveling.)

One of my highs was stumbling upon the enchanting cottage, pictured above, in Stayton, Oregon. I love everything about this place. The owners have a private bridge that crosses the creek and serves as a driveway to their garage. You can't see the garage in this photo; it's the dark arch to the right. The Stayton (Oregon) Daily Photo blog claims the locals call this home "the castle". I wouldn't describe it that way from what I've seen. A castle is extraordinarily large in my definition. But whatever you call it, it's definitely a beauty. Too bad it's not for sale.

The creek curves away from the property and becomes part of the adjacent idyllic countryside.

Stayton, Oregon Creek

We're currently365 miles way from Stayton, in the northeast region of Oregon, and still searching for a home. Although I have much more to share with you, I feel compelled to break the trip down into small posts like this one. To do otherwise may be like trying to drink water from a fire hose



Linking up with You're Gonna Love It - Week 66