Creede Fall (and a surprise!)

We've been in Creede for one week now and have watched the mercury bounce and the aspen leaves fall and blow away in the prairie wind. It's been a busy, fun week setting up the cabin and taking in the sites from a new, October perspective.

Among the highlights of the week were wildlife encounters, including moose tracks in the mud and this stunning red fox who we caught napping outside our window Wednesday morning:

The streams are filled with fish...

 ... And the trees with magpies and vireos (below).

We drove the Bachelor Loop on a spectacular sunny day to see the ruins of the old silver mines, starkly beautiful against the crisp blue sky.

 

And surprise! Patrick and Randy made a last-minute trip to visit and celebrate the new cabin and Randy's birthday. We had a great time with a birthday meal at the always-scrumptious Arp's, eating birthday cake (GF, of course), exploring Creede by truck and on foot, talking about fly fishing, shopping for SmartWool socks, and catching up on their trip to Ireland. We're so lucky to have good friends who venture to visit us, no matter how remote the destination.

That's all the Creede news for now, as we take the next few hours to winterize the cabin and then head west again to San Francisco to celebrate another special occasion with the extended family. Thanks, Colorado, we can't wait to see you again!

The Cabin

As of October 1, John and I are the proud new owners of a log cabin in Creede! We're hoping you come visit, but in the meantime, here are some pix from our first day settling in.

First, the cabin, below. It's D-log construction with full-length porches on two sides and lots of windows to enjoy mountain views in all directions. It also has a detached two-vehicle garage in back, with room for the teardrop and a workshop.

The neighborhood is called Bristol Head Acres for the mountain to the north that we can see from our living room. An equally beautiful feature is the Rio Grande River, below, a short walk from the cabin. As homeowners in this neighborhood, we have access to river angling and some of the best trout fishing in Colorado.

We closed escrow just in time for the peak of fall colors. The aspens are bright yellow.

The interior is quintessential mountain cabin with exposed tongue-and-groove pine walls and a wood-burning stove. A floor-to-ceiling pine tree post to the roof peak is a centerpiece of the living room.

Log stairs lead to a second-floor loft and master bedroom.

The loft is a great place to read or take a nap.

And a rustic log bedroom set perfectly complements the pine pitched ceiling.

The guest bedroom is ready for your arrival!