Back to the "Big House"...did I hear someone say cocktails???

On the way back to the "Big House" from our afternoon at the bridge...


One end of our favorite porch...perfect for games, chit-chat, drying wet shoes and t-shirts...and did I say cocktails???


The other end of our favorite porch...perfect spot for afternoon reading, chit-chat, slumber, watching the trees grow...and did I say cocktails???


Yep...this is the "Big House"!!!!


Love this place...no picture does it justice...everytime I round the bend of the switchback where the house comes into view, I am stunned by the beauty of this place...and my good fortune to be able to visit here each year and make it our home away from home, even for a short period of time...

Okay...time to go in...

Anyone ready for the Name Game???

Hmmmmm....who's got dinner duty tonight???

Aside from our newly remodeled kitchen at home, this is by far my favorite kitchen!!!

Love this fireplace...especially with a roaring fire in it!!!

One of our favorite spots to hang out, play games, chit-chat, slumber....did I say cocktails???

Leaving is always bittersweet...and I often think of how beautiful it would be to live here...

Hmmmm....the trees, the animals, the quiet, lot's and lot's of picturesque winter snow...

no central heat, water from the mountain, electricity dependent on the flow of water, no snow plows, mountain closed by the US Forestry Service, no stores...

Hmmmm....maybe going home each year is a good thing!!! Love my comfy bed!!!
And love returning every year to watch the trees grow...

Our Wild Weekend of Fun, Frolic, Friends and Family!!!

The nearest point to Heaven...

One of our furry friends...a yellow bellied marmot...hanging out on the rocks at cocktail hour....

The old mill...

My darlin' hubby took this one!!!






Another perspective of Heaven...




Friends and family plus one...contemplating the distance to the water....

Getting psyched for the jump...






Hanging out with the big Kahuna after those amazing jumps...



Is it time to head back to the Big House for cocktails??? The Name Game???

The first two weeks in Paradise...

The first two weeks of our stay in Paradise were spent in what's known as the Caretaker's cabin...remember that big, gorgeous lodge in the previous posting? These photos are of the cabin where the "Caretakers" of the "big house" stay...the caretaker does odd jobs around the big house, taking care of the switchback road to the house, watching the hydro-electric system, monitoring the cleanup when the guests of the "big house" are leaving, and pretty much keeping an eye on things...

Which would include watching out for bears!!! This beautiful black bear sauntered through the nearby forest and up the hillside in front of the cabin...he wasn't terribly impressed by the humans watching him...he simply stopped and looked, and continued on...

Unfortunately, one of the downsides of the very narrow switchback road to the "big house"
is the very real possibility of losing an oil pan, as our friend who came up to visit mid stay came to realize...the road to the cabin is sooo steep, narrow and with a multitude of switchbacks that the only way to get the car out was to tow it by tractor!!! Once up to the main road, the idea was to meet the tow truck from the nearest town (from the lowlands)...he got into an accident on the way up and was delayed significantly...once he arrived, he was heard mumbling..."I'm never driving up here again"!!!!

Fortunately, most of our time in the "Caretakers" cabin, was spent watching the trees grow, reading about a book a day, and contemplating life's twists and turns...

In next week's posting, we'll visit the "big house", our wrap up weekend with friends, family, and a lot of fun!!!