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.

Saying Good-bye to Our Cottage in the Pines

The day of our departure is getting closer. Right now  I'm spending a few days with my grandchildren near Denver, enjoying a break from packing and giving furnishings away.

A few days ago I snapped some photos of our cottage and the grounds. It was a beautiful morning, as is often the case this time of year in the Colorado Rockies. In the early morning light the easterly mountains appear blue.

Our cottage rests on a 1/2 acre lot filled with Ponderosa Pine, wild grasses, shrubs and flowers,

Strolling through the grass I spied Mountain Bluebells.

I love the way Primrose pushes its way through the rocky soil.

This is Rubus deliciosus, commonly known as Delicious Raspberry. Its fruit is dry and not highly valued. But the bush is very hearty and the flowers are lovely.

Menodora brighten the landscape.

I think more than anything I'll miss our log barn, which is now my husband's art studio. It dates back to the 1800's and was the original homesteader's cabin. About 400 acres were part of the homestead in those days. Now it's subdivided into much smaller parcels.



If we were staying here we would install window boxes for flowers and plant more flowers and shrubs around the cottage.



We really accomplished a lot in two years, though. The first three months we went from this. . .





 to this. . .



Last summer we finished the remodeling by tearing off the broken down back porch, moving the door and adding an eyebrow over it, and putting in new windows. I love the way it turned out.

It's fun to imagine how our next home will look. I wonder how the view from my new kitchen window (wherever it is) will compare with this one.