This weekend I was thinking about how far we've come with the cabin renovation and began looking at some pictures that were taken the first time we saw it.  That was back in 2015 and we closed on the property in December 2016.  We have come so far, and it feels good to have so much behind us.  We still have some repair work and painting to do on the exterior, but the inside is finished, and we are so happy with how things are coming along.  I haven't shared many of the before and after pictures with you so I thought I would.  I must admit I cringed a time or two as I was looking back...it was so bad!

Special Moments and Furnishings at the Cabin

The cabin is a special place.  On the drive up, it is truly amazing, how we feel the weight of the world lifting and peace settling in.  Once there, with the beauty that surrounds and the sound of the rushing creeks, it is always such a calm and relaxing place to be.

Inside the cabin, there is a small window of time when the sunlight streams in.  A little in the morning and a bit in late afternoon.  I love those times as the sun dances through the lace covered windows, it is brighter and the extra warmth...especially in the winter.  But mostly it's a bit dark inside, so on comes the lamp light, oil lamps and the flicker of candles.  This was taken in the morning, just as the sun was coming in the front windows.

The Cabin Queen

Names.  Names are good.  We would live in chaos if we didn't have names for things.  When I reference my friends and family, I call them by name.  When we go on trips, we name the places we are going.  Before going to the grocery store, I write the names of each item on a list.  When folks are coming to the cabin to stay with us...I find myself searching...searching for a name.  You see, there are three bedrooms in all (I’ll be sharing the others soon), each one has a view of the creek and since this bedroom has a queen bed, I’ve been calling it the “Cabin Queen”.  Besides not really liking the name "Cabin Queen" and that it would be fun hearing what you come up with ... what guy wants to sleep in the “Queen” room?!

I've shared bits and pieces of this queen bedroom with you and today I wanted to share the whole room; before and after.  Well, things are always changing, so for now this is the Cabin Queen.  (Help me name her please!)

Creekside Dwellings ~ The Cabin Exterior Updates

Since I've been sharing more of the cabin with you, I thought I should move to the exterior and then back indoors.  If you've been following along, you know our mountain cabin is a fixer-upper, with everything needing to be redone from plumbing to electrical, top to bottom, ceiling to floor...a total renovation.  We haven't focused too much on the exterior because we've wanted to get the inside finished.  I must admit, I'm a bit reluctant, because the exterior isn't too pretty...but it is what it is.  This December will be three years since we began and it's still in the works!

Fall in the Cabin and My New Find

It's been fun sharing more of the cabin with you.  There has been a lot of life rearranging to make it possible for me to stay up here in the mountains while the renovations are going on.  Being here has given me the chance to snap some pics and share them.  Today I wanted to show you my new find and some fall touches I've added here in the cabin.

Soft Touches in a Rustic Cabin

There are so many memories, stories and special people that come to mind as I look around the cabin.  For me, that's what makes a collected home so special.  Over these past few years while renovating the cabin, our friends, family and so many others have shared items and deals with us that have made this place extra special.  Here in the queen bedroom (I need to come up with a better name) I often think of my friend Judy as I cover the bed with Martha Washington bedding or a quilted comforter with floral stitching.  I think of Carolyn, antique shop owner turned friend, who just happened to be having hugely discounted sales during my cabin gathering days.  There are others, but mostly, I think of my mother.