Our Neck of the Woods

I was born and raised in the Los Angeles area, but I've been in Colorado for almost 19 years now. It is no exaggeration to say that every single day I continue to be grateful and amazed that we get to live in a place with such natural beauty and historic charm. The vintage homes, horses, sheep, chickens, old barns, rustic fences and outbuildings, even rusty old trucks and farm equipment in the snow are all part of it's endearing personality for me. (although there is much more to this place than just those types of things!)
I still visit my home town in California, but every time I do, Colorado looks more beautiful when I return!

  
Our neighborhood is a pretty typical looking suburban neighborhood, except that it is surrounded by views like this. Moments from my front door you are in farm and ranch country with a wide variety ranging from very humble and rustic to more upscale ranches and horse properties. This afternoon we took a little drive and snapped a few photos (mostly of the more rustic side of the spectrum) and I'd love it if you'd take a little tour of our neck of the woods with me!

Just at the edge of our neighborhood there is a horse property. There's always someone cute to try and get a peek at through the fence : )

I don't know what it is about a rusted old truck in the bright snow, but it makes me feel happy.

This is a little glimpse of Main Street

 This is definitely not Los Angeles : )

We thought this big guy was pretty comical looking. He seemed a little grouchy though.
 

It's sad to see some of these old places left like this. 

Old school house.

I always thought I'd live in a place something like the one in this picture. I guess it's not meant to be in this chapter of my life, but who knows, maybe someday it will still happen? 

I hope you enjoyed the little tour of a winter day in western Colorado. This is really just one aspect of this beautiful place we live, and I hope to show you some different perspectives in the coming months. How about you? What is most endearing and beautiful to you about the place you live?


Keep your eyes open to your mercies. The man who forgets to be thankful has fallen asleep in life. 

- Robert Louis Stevenson

Come over and share along with me at:
Knick of Time Tuesday  
StoneGable-Cowgirl Up! 
Homemaker On a Dime-Creative Bloggers Party 
Vintage On a Dime-Welcome Home Wednesday 
Savvy Southern Style-Wow Us Wednesdays 

Permission to Nest: The Winter Living Room

     

We moved into our current home two years ago during a really rough time for our family. I was separated and headed for a divorce and I needed to get out from under the family home we had owned for six years. I was ready for the move, and grateful to find a comfortable and safe place for me and four kids to "land" for awhile, but I guess I felt for a long time that this home would be temporary. While I love decorating, I didn't know what was coming next and I just wasn't capable of investing myself in decorating a home I would just have to leave. I just didn't have it in me. 

Images:The Graphics Fairy

In the past several months I'm feeling a bit of a shift. I still don't know what's going to happen next, or how long we'll be in this home, but as I have more emotional healing from the divorce, I'm finding I have more of a desire to "nest" in this home. I'm quite sure blogging and Pinterest have helped to revive my desire to decorate!
Since moving in, the living room has been a mostly neglected space that I tend to avoid. In our home the entire main floor is one room, the living room-dining area-kitchen. It's a small, awkward space and tends to be taken over by kid stuff, school stuff, etc. 
I had made some half-hearted attempts to hang things on the walls, etc, but never really tried to pull it together. My room is more comfortable and tends to be where we all end up in the evening to watch movies and read, etc.

So last week I decided that when all the Christmas stuff was out I was ready to invest some effort into making our living room a place where I might actually want to sit down and stay for awhile. I'm giving myself : Permission to Nest.

 

This is how it looked getting ready for Christmas

This is how it looked taking Christmas down : )

This is how it looked on Saturday-possibilities!

Keeping in mind my decorating budget is ZERO, I had to "shop" my own house to pull the room together. I brought the electric fireplace and faux mantel backdrop down from the master bedroom, along with a few other pieces.

Upstairs I used a black shelf as the faux mantel, but here I wanted it to be all white. I created this mantel shelf using an old drawer front and some shelf brackets I already had.

Candles on the ottoman tray? Not likely in everyday life in this room, but I was fantasizing about being ALL ALONE in this room (ha!) with my tea....a book....some soft music, maybe? A girl can dream...

The same side-of-the-road crib I used for the mantel backdrop also became this chalkboard several months back.

 

 

 

Oh, awkward PIECE of brown SECTIONAL, how I loathe thee! Alas, we must try to make this relationship work for now! : )

I was inspired by Karianne at Thistlewood Farms to freshen up a twig wreath I had put together before Christmas. I sprayed it white (including the vintage sheet music leaves that weren't coming off). Added one of my snowy owls and a vintage hanger.

I tucked some nature inspired postcards and photocopies into these rustic frames and tacked them onto a white painted rough board, creating one larger piece.

My nearly 9-year-old Amelia is a prolific artist (and animal lover), and since she tends to spread out her supplies everywhere she goes, I thought I'd try to give her a little corner of her own here.



I used an old headboard to create a little backboard for the table. I won't mind if she tapes or tacks things onto it, and I thought the vintage hangers were kind of a charming addition.

This spot will certainly not contain all of her creative pursuits, but at least she'll have her own space to draw when we're together in this room.

I made this hotel sign several years ago from an old kitchen cabinet door.




Checkers and cards are more realistic than candles : )

This white crate has been one of the most versatile things I own. It has held firewood and toys, been a wall shelf, a book shelf and right now it's perfect for holding extra pillows and cozy winter blankets.

This hobnail glass mug from Target was a Christmas gift from my daughter. I love it!!

Totally charming antique Stickley settee on loan from my generous friends in China!

 

    I think I'm ready to spend some time in this room now. Movie, 

     popcorn, blankets, yep. Nesting success!

                                                                          

     

          If I end up having to leave this place soon and unexpectedly, 

     I'm going to need some hand holding, friends, ok? 

   Come join me over at: 

Farmhouse Porch-Cowgirl Up! 
The Dedicated House-Make It Pretty Monday 

Debbiedoo's Newbie with a Twist Party
Thistlewood Farms
Homemaker on a Dime 
Knick of Time Tuesday 
Vintage On A Dime-Welcome Home Wednesday
House on the Way-Twirl & Take a Bow 
Savvy Southern Style-Wow Us Wednesdays 
twelveOeight-Pretty Things Link Party! 
Timewashed-Blissful Whites Wednesday 
Coastal Charm-Nifty Thrifty Tuesday 
Embracing Change-Creative Inspirations Party 
StoneGable-Tutorial Tips and Tidbits 
French Country Cottage-Feathered Nest Friday 
Common Ground-Be Inspired! 
The Charm of Home-Home Sweet Home 
Funky Junk Interiors-SNS 
Homemaker On a Dime-Creative Bloggers Party Hop 
Diana Rambles-Pin Me! 
Creative Cain Cabin-Budget Decorating Party