I love being in the mountains. Almost six years ago, I purchased a small property just outside of Estes Park in Colorado. I visit “my side of the mountain” several times during the winter just to make sure it’s still there. Luckily, it is. Today, I am writing from my picnic table with my little dog, Goldi, beside me. It’s about 50 degrees with a light breeze; beautiful up here. I’m also taking inventory of what I need to, or want to, get done up here this summer besides a she shed spring spruce up.
Last year, I built a stone fire pit area, put up a rain gutter, repaired the road which runs through my property, split wood, put up lots of tongue and groove pine on the interior of the shed, put up a little garden fence, and partially furnishing my she shed.
I’ve already started my annual raking of the pine cones and needles and doing a little road repair. I discovered if I put pine cones and needles in the mud puddles it helps to dry them up and make the road easier to navigate. My neighbors who live on the mountain year round make the ruts on my property but don’t help to keep it maintained. We have a community road service guy but he hasn’t been out yet.
This spring I hope to plant some wild flowers and hope the deer and elk don’t eat them all. I’ve been preparing a flower bed so the deer can find them easily.
A deck is in the plan this summer. County code does not allowed me to attach it to my shed. I would also like to reroof the old cabin, reside one side and put in a sliding glass door. I may also see about leveling it as it has a rotten sill on the north side.
This summer, I am most looking forward to coming up here more often. Writing, hiking, and staying overnight for a few days at a time. I may have to add fixing the slats on my antique bed so I don’t fall through during the night like last year. I can’t wait! Mountain living is the life for me after my she shed spring spruce up.