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Opening up the cabin 2015

It’s time.
It’s time to open the cabin for the year. All winter the cabin sits in a frozen valley 200km from the door of my city house. It’s still chilly up there, but the promise of spring is in the air.
I took a lot of photos, and it’s probably going to be quite boring for all of you who’ve seen the cabin before, but, you know what, mostly I write these posts with Robbie in my heart, (because right now we’re apart.)

So here we go, for Robbie, but also, most definitely, for you! 😀

Driving in, there was a small, dead birch across the access road. I moved it off to the side.

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Outside the cabin Clover’s and Kers’ bespoke wind chime is still hanging up. They built it from the scrap iron they found along the railroad tracks, which are only about 100 ft behind the cabin.

outside

The lake, (which is actually a pond, but the previous owner and all the neighbours always referred to it as “The Lake”) has filled up already.

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And the cabin is still standing after the winter!

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I lit a fire to warm the cabin up and invite in the new year.

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Then, a quick check: Kitchen’s fine.

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No mouse droppings on the stoves or counters! A year ago Robbie and I went all over the place sealing up any little hole that a mouse might pop thru, and guess what Robbie, we did a great job!

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Dining area, living room all fine too. I didn’t take the shutters off the bottom windows.

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Fireplace working brilliantly, we’ll need to chop some more wood this year though.
Up the stairs to the sleeping loft…

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…everything’s just fine. No mice, clean linens, fluffy, warm duvets.

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The games are all waiting to be played with.

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It’s lovely to look thru the contents of the vintage medicine cabinet. A photo of my grandfather camping, my aunt’s silly doll from her studio, silver ore, a dried bat, a hummingbird skeleton, dragonfly wings, hand painted Easter eggs, C’s silver baby rattle, love all these treasures.

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Nothing is the worse for winter, nothing got knocked down by the vibrations of the passing trains.

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Everyone is fine…if a little cobwebby.

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On the property, the tool shed is fine. I think some mice snuck in under the door, but, since it’s such a mess there anyway, nothing bad going on.

Odds and Ends, the heritage train workers trailer guest cabin, will need a new roof and the metal chimney toppled off. Must do that this year before something happens to the interior.

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A beaver’s been thru and there are about 10 small trees…

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…and one rather big tree down. There’s our firewood, right there!

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And I think you’re right Robbie, some of the trees need to come down. Perhaps I’ll talk it over with Jon, Kers and Clove and talk to Billy Jr and ask him to harvest that great big cedar right behind the cabin…maybe the one by the side door too. And the blue spruces in the meadow need to be trimmed up, and maybe some of the alders need thinning out too so we can see the meadow and the river from the cabin.

cabin pond

Apart form that, the porches need rebuilding and the broken window need replacing. (Darn Canada goose)

So that’s on the project list this year: Thinned trees, one small roof, one wrap around porch, and a window.

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But guess what happened as I was locking up and leaving? I got the feeling that I was being watched!

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From up high by the window of the loft. Who’s that? Could it be a great horned owl?

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It is!

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Who is the luckiest girl in the world! That would be me. Who else do you know who has a great horned owl as the guardian of their cabin? 😀 I need to paint him, don’t I?

Comments: 12

  • March 28, 2015
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    Beautiful! Never boring!!! I love every journey, every step; you take us with you in words and vision… Mxx

  • Patty/NS

    March 29, 2015
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    Such a lovely getaway spot to escape to. Magical! Thanks for sharing.

  • March 29, 2015
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    Yes, please paint him! Glad all is well at the cabin. Thanks for sharing this year’s opening.

  • March 29, 2015
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    You’ve got a lovely rustic cabin — the way cabins used to be before all the city people started building mega-mansions out in the wild.

  • PSC

    March 29, 2015
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    What a LOVELY space, Veronica! Thanks for sharing it. I SO enjoyed this virtual visit! 🙂

  • March 29, 2015
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    even before i dived into your rich, rich post, i knew i was going to love it. walking through a sleepy house, a house which will be loved, and dressed by the people who know it well… it is such a luxury to have this, but also such a privilege for us to come and see this wonderous refuge. i mean, what does an artist need more than a safe haven in a tranquil spot, where the sky can be reached by stretching out. what a glorious spot. thxs, v.!
    and then that owl! oh, you are being watched. and guarded. now that’s the best news…!
    ps – your bunch of figurines??? hooray!!!

  • daryledelstein

    March 30, 2015
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    i forgot what a cozy cabin it is .. thanks for sharing the re-opening!

  • March 30, 2015
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    Love the cabin, LOVE the stove and moreover, loved being part of that intimate story of opening, connection & love. Robbie is the luckiest boy in the world – bet he knows that!

  • March 30, 2015
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    wahoo! thanks for sharing your cabin with us! I live so much like that, a wee cabin with two ponds, meadows and forest. I think my cabin is smaller than yours. but how fun that you have this! I loved seeing your photos. Was that a real owl? it looked a bit like a statue to me 😉

  • March 31, 2015
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    Oh my goodness! I thought I just went through a fairytale read by someone…by you! But then I realized it’s reality, this cabin exists and it’s really yours!! The part in the end with the owl totally flashed me! Lucky you, this is such a magical place!

  • April 1, 2015
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    What a beautiful adventure. Thank you for sharing it with us. What a fun idyllic get away. Bet you love the peace and quiet.

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