Monday, March 30, 2009

Hurry Spring!

We just returned from the cabin where there was pretty snow falling this morning to Amarillo where it is WINDY! I had planned to put the summer sheets on the cabin beds, but not quite yet - the forecast low there for tonight is 16 - brrrrr! I think I may wait until later in April when the nights are a little warmer and the flannel sheets are not as needed. Mickey cleaned and refilled the hot tub and painted a personalized glider and rockers for the deck. They provide neat, comfy additional outdoor seating and are strategically placed just below the outdoor heater - mmmm, nice! Now, we need cushions. I look forward to sewing on our next work trip. We have a nice fire prepared for our return and will not try to hurry Spring again!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Spring Break 2009





Charlotte is going to the cabin with her "soup case"!







Our son, Cory and his three boys, Will (8), Grant (6) and Brock (3) joined us and our daughter, Crissy and her four children Jack (9), Holly Grace (7), Mitchell (4) and Charlotte (2) for Spring Break this year. We had campfires, 4 wheeler rides, hikes, hot tubbing and skiing. Brock saw the first "chick monk" of the season and we had "cotton balls" (aka popcorn balls) on our picnic at the end of a hike! Grammy and PawPaw are still recuperating!












Cory and Crissy











Jack







Will





Holly Grace











Grant












Mitchell





Brock








Charlotte





There is always maintenance to do!









Hot Tub Fun!
















Fire building


















PawPaw and "all he needs"














Jack's attitude.


















Holly's success.















The traditional measurement!

Entertainment tonight!

We love to entertain our family, friends and our weekend guests. Many years ago, I prayed for the gift of hospitality. Several years ago, Mickey wanted to convert our Amarillo home into a Bed and Breakfast. Now, we have combined these desires in the mountains. Our weekend retreats are comfortable and a good fit. We enjoy meeting new friends and welcoming our seasoned guests. We love to watch the tension leave as our guests enjoy the panoramic mountain views, the hot tub and being together. It is always exciting to watch projects develop as guests work on what they love doing.

http://sites.google.com/site/nmmountainretreat/Home.

Monday, March 23, 2009

From relaxation to renovation!







It was the perfect cabin! We loved the floor plan, the wonderful deck and the incredible view! Perfect relaxation! Perfect until...












A coat of paint here and there.
Thank you to friends, Gae and Doris!


















A major renovation! Thank you Cory and Steve!


















The original kitchen.














The first make over.













The final kitchen renovation!








We have had much help from friends and family. The changes have been phenomenal! What else have we done? Let's see -





  • updated and remodeled the kitchen.



  • updated the plumbing system to include a water purification system to add an ice maker and dishwasher.



  • expanded the deck and added a hot tub and enclosed an area under the deck.



  • added a heater in the hall.



Then, we got serious...





  • changed the divided loft into two bedrooms with closets and a half bath.



  • converted the attic to a loft area accessible by ladder to expand sleeping space.



  • turned the downstairs bath into two baths, including a laundry closet.



  • removed the wood burning stove and added a stone fireplace.



  • rebuilt the stairs to be easier to navigate and add aesthetics to the room.




We didn't build it, but we rebuilt it. This has been so much fun. Our son, Cory and Steve (Mickey's brother) helped us with the reconstruction, along with the help of many, many friends.

What's next?

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Welcome to our Blog!

We hope to chronicle our adventures in the mountains here, especially the updates that we make periodically. Maybe something like Blog Cabin? Only we won't be giving it away at the end!




The first thing that I want you to know is that our daughter, Crissy, set this up for us. Thank you, Crissy! Also she was our first follower. Isn't it beautiful? Please remember that I have never done anything like this before, but I am excited to get started. So, here we go...