The Grand...
Awoke late this morning. The sun blasting thru the window a good 5 fingers above the Teton range. To the east the Grand shimmering in all it’s perky suggestive glory.
Sleeping quite well in the old cabin. Moving onto 6 acres of pasture land (nothing taller than a fence post) acquired in the mid ‘90s Anne has kept it in it’s original rustic condition complete with chinking fall out from between logs and scorched ceiling from a past too aggressive stove fire. Now a single room appointed with bed piled snuggly with quilts, chest of drawers and cedar chest containing years of domestic accumulation, and a sitting area with leather couch and vintage chairs, it is the perfect albeit somewhat dark guest quarters. Exiting thru a door, the only structural modification, at the back, the kitchen acts as a connection between this very vintage abode to the newer two story log cabin that is now Anne’s primary quarters. Replacing barrels of water and a sink draining into a bucket (to be emptied out into the pasture) it is now festooned with real plumbing and electricity making a very functional kitchen. Walking past 3 aging china hutches containing years of collected family detritus, the attached 2-story contemporary log cabin is set up comfortably downstairs with dining room table, couch, desk, and a collection of various aging side tables and chairs warmly arranged around a very efficient gas stove. The view out the east window is another postcard perfect scene of the Tetons. Cold wood floors are warmly covered with a variety of threadbare oriental or Nepali rugs kept pristine with Anne’s obsessive cleaning activity. Up stairs, in what would be the attic, is the master bedroom with a collection of antique furnishings and a clothes rack hanging between log rafters. Scattered thruout this structure, on every available flat wall surface and table top, are photographs. Pictures of ancestors young and old, collections of Anne with friends skiing, hiking, eating and drinking; pastoral mountain scenes; old paintings by now deceased family members intermixed with a few professional florals or mountain scenes hang on every available flat surface with more to add!
Swinging on the squeaky porch swing on the back of the “little cabin”. Looking past the bleached moose antlers resting on the old washtub; pile of fire wood protected under a sheet to Tevac; the 3 sheep wagons, aluminum siding glowing silver in the setting sun; the scattered houses across the valley, the Tetons are cloaked in low hanging clouds as a dark thunder front marches down from the north. The temperature dropping rapidly, I’ll retreat to the warmth of the cabin. KHOL Jackson playing a good mix.
Dinner tonight: frozen ravioli in canned spaghetti sauce with leftover chorizo and bag salad accompanied with toasted olive loaf bread. Anne is the poster child for frugal living. Actually living well below poverty level she scores most of her consumables from the local food banks and, shall we say, is not too particular regarding her source of nutritional intake.
Dusk has fallen as the tree line along the creek is nothing but shadows. In the distance, in the winter, we would watch the lights of the groomers crawl across the blackness of Targhee. Tonight we’ll settle in to watch a movie recently obtained from the little Driggs library. The cabin toasty and glowing warm by the 12-volt lamps Anne likes to use. The last piece of baklava gifted by the tenants in the north cabin is calling my attention.
Posts
