Thursday, August 28, 2014

Late Summer Walk - and a Tour of the Grounds.


Come along with me and we will take our morning walk.

We step outside to a warm and sunny morning - the last of the above 80 degrees days. 
Already I see that I need to sweep the stepping stones
after Whitey buried his morning treat. 


Who me? That's not dirt on my nose.....Hey, you're blocking my limelight! 


Moving along we see the hydrangeas have put on quite a show this year. 
I have filled many vases with their giant blooms and also used them for bridal shower and rehearsal dinner arrangements. Later this fall I will cut them for drying.


This is where Ling Ling the cat likes to sit in hopes of having a birdie lunch. 


Don't be fooled by that angelic looking face! 
(This is why she wears a pretty bell)


Bird houses recommended by Ling Ling
^^
oo
x


"I was only trying to be kind....."


"Besides, it was all Maggie's idea...."


"Oh, I'm so tired of her lies! 

Everyone knows I only like mice! 

That's why I don't have to wear a stupid bell!"


Champ is bored with all this cat chat and wants to play fetch!
So let's go....


The Tansy is blooming along the front of the tool-shed. 
Clumps of Sedum are turning rosy on the lawn. 


No matter how hard I try to tie it up, 
it wants to flop. 


Its bright button blooms bring sunshine down to earth. 

I'll harvest the leaves for moth sachets before the first frost. 


I have a bountiful apple harvest from my dwarf apple trees. 

They are not quite ready - still a bit sour. 


But the blackberries are ripe and I really need to pick some
 before the bears discover them! 


As we walk along we see the leaves are starting to fall from the cottonwoods. 

We have had a very dry summer. 


Soon I will be raking these monsters from the ground - 
the leaves of Big-Leaf Maple. 
You can see how large they are by comparison to my Mr.'s hand. 

We have several large specimens of these magnificent trees
and I use the fallen leaves as compost. 



The wild plums are also ripe and falling on the ground. 
They are the size of large cherries and very tasty. 

We rarely get any for ourselves, as the birds and woodland creatures 
gobble them all up. 

They have proliferated in the woodlands around our home, 
putting on a lovely show in the spring when they flower. 


We spy a snail making its way up a cottonwood tree. 
Escargot anyone? (Bleck!)


We come to the gate at the end of the driveway and see the neighbor has cut his field. 
Last fall we saw a couple of bull elk here, 
and a cougar was spotted by my son as he left one evening after a visit. 

Yes, I always keep my faithful dogs with me everywhere I go. 


Peeking through the fences, we see the next door neighbor's horses. 


A Douglas Squirrel chatters from above as we head for home. 


Another view of the hydrangeas against the picket fence. 

You can see a little break in the pickets 
where a bear knocked down the fence once.

(Whitey and my old dog Little Bear, chased it away)
My Mr. repaired it with a wire fence behind. 

I need to remind him to replace the picket one of these days. 


I just painted the picnic table and moved it in front of the tool-shed. 
My Mr. loves having this place to hang out when he is puttering around up there.
An old rusty woodstove, coal cart wheel and birdhouses (suggested by Ling Ling :) keep him company.  


My children's former playhouse - now a dog house in a fenced in kennel. 
We only use this for the dogs when we have 'company'. 

The rest of the time the dogs have free reign and sleep inside the house. 

The old picket fence runs alongside. 


A pretty feather from a Dark-Eyed Junco. 


Peeking at the side of the house...
The potted Cyprus trees started out as tiny 6" 'Christmas' trees, and now stand guard in front of the dog pen leading down from the deck. 

At night the dogs have access to this pen from a pet door in the kitchen leading out to the deck. 


A wider view from the woods. 


My new Japanese Maple waits to be potted along the walkway. 


Time to go inside...

I hope you enjoyed our little walk-about. 
Thank you for coming along with me! 

xoxo

Linking with Good Fences

Monday, August 25, 2014

Dream Cottage at Suncadia


In my last few posts I showed you one of two cottages rented 
for the families attending my son's wedding 
at Suncadia in Cle Elum, WA. 

Come along with me and we will take a little tour of the Bride's family cottage. 
I was able to slip away unnoticed with my daughter, Heather, 
while the rehearsal dinner was underway in the cottage next door. 

On the outside, this cottage looks very unassuming indeed. 


But step inside!......


We are immediately drawn to the beautiful post and beam architecture
and tall stone fireplace. 


Clerestory windows let in plenty of light.


The beautiful fireplace can be used inside and out!

I love the bark covered photo frame and vintage snow shoes.



This lovely dining area also has a view of the fireplace.


Gorgeous wood framed windows stand in for artwork,

and the twig chandelier adds the perfect rustic ambiance.

I love the spot light on the tripod in the corner!

Let's take a peek out the lovely glass doors.....



How peaceful and beautiful is this?

Right on the golf course.

Fore!
(a word shouted loudly as a warning signal when a ball is hit and heading in the direction of another player)


As we come back inside through the dining area, we enter the kitchen.
I could see myself cooking up a storm in this beautiful space!

How lovely are those reclaimed hardwood floors?

Daughter Heather gives us a smile.

Let's take a look through the door to her left....


We pass through and look to the right
and find a very efficient laundry room
with beautiful cabinetry, bead board walls, a sink,
and locker style hanging cubbies.


A quick peek out the kitchen window.


We re-enter the living room, past the front door beside the staircase
and enter the hallway to see the master bedroom.


I showed you this photo before....


But I didn't show you this!


Or this! An indoor-outdoor shower!

I think I could live here.....


Let's go upstairs, shall we?


At the top of the stairs we come to a light filled office area.

Don't you love the desk chair?



This is the view over the railing.

We continue past the office area to the next level
up a few more steps and come to a long hallway.


Reclaimed barn board frames the light filled corridor on one side,
and two bunk cubbies fill the other side.


Each cubby has its own t.v.!


At the far end of the hallway were two more bedrooms,
this smaller room on the left, with framed quilt art,
(and un-made twin beds and personal belongings),
and another large bedroom suite with bathroom to the right.
(also occupied).


We return down the hallway, noticing the pretty paned windows.


A woodland scene graces a shelf opposite the stairway.


We continue to the end of the hallway to a 'bunk-house' bath!

Mirrors flank the two windows and you can see Heather and I reflected in the glass.

What you can't see is my expression of delight!


I was absolutely charmed by the porcelain sinks, the weathered paneling....


And the vintage style faucets.


Such beautiful detail.


A sliding barn door concealed a tiled shower and toilet.

Is it possible to fall in love with a bathroom?


But with guests waiting next door,
it was time to say goodbye to this wonderful dream house.

A true example of Northwest Cottage Style.


I hope you enjoyed taking this little tour with me.
If you ever get a chance to visit Washington State,
I highly recommend this beautiful resort.

Each of these homes are privately owned
and probably out of reach for the average budget to buy,
(unless you inherited a trust fund)
xo
 but they are well worth the experience to rent
if you have several families
 or family members to
contribute to the expense of renting one.
There are cottages of all sizes and budgets to rent
and you can also stay at the Inn.


I do hope I get the chance to come back some day
with members of my own family
or maybe just the two of us. <3


There are so many wonderful amenities, including swimming pools, a spa,
hiking, golf, and in the winter, snow sports.


They even allow dogs at the Inn
 and we shared many an elevator ride with families
that included their beloved pets.


There is a fire-pit at night at the Inn
 and someday I hope to come back
and hike down these stairs to the Cle-Elum River
(pro-nounced Klee-Ellum)

I think I might need to get in shape first if I want to hike back up!




Thank you for all of your sweet well wishes for my son and his new bride.

It really touched our hearts.

xoxo




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