Tuesday, February 17, 2015

MY 1941 SMALL COTTAGE HOME

My new home

Finally I have everything moved into my new place. Moving is certainly not for the weak at heart. 

As a result of an exhausting move I have a new mantra -- for every one thing that is brought into the house beginning now -- one thing will be subtracted from the house. This will keep my living sparse and simple. I have the basics and that is all I need.

As one can see in the photo above my place is a small, clean, vernacular place -- built in 1941. It sits on a ridge along the mountainous Oregon Coast Range near the Siuslaw  (pronounced sigh-YOU-slaw) River which is truly a wild river -- no dams in its forks to slow it down. Its run begins WNW of where I live and travels 110 miles ending in the Pacific Ocean. 

About fifteen to eighteen homes sit here along with me on this ridge. A private one lane road fronts the homes with a posted speed of fifteen miles. 

No one lives across the one lane road. It is a large open flat area to enjoy however with woods surrounding it. Also across the one lane is a large fenced area for a community garden and another fenced area for chickens if one is so inclined to have chickens.

 Fenced chickens along one lane road.

My backyard is small and flat, about 40 ft. X 25 ft. Where my yard ends at the back -- the tree filled mountain begins its climb gradually. 

A very small post office is just down the main road with limited open hours of nine a.m. to one p.m. Since the homes on my ridge are considered on a private road I had to purchase a post office box for my mail.


Our private one lane road

Sounds are occasionally some wind, very seldom a few cars or a truck, a dog's bark infrequently, a night fright train whistle ever so often all the while the river constantly softly roars and races its wild body of water toward the Pacific. 

Overall my place is peaceful, beautiful, and private. 




25 comments:

  1. Congratulations. I hope you'll be happy there for a very, very long time. The road is indeed a "lane" with all the simplicity that suggests. The chickens are beautiful and I'm sure the community garden will be beautiful in season. The river is a gift of sound and sparkle. How fortunate your searching has resulting in such a perfect place for you.

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    1. June -- thanks for you kind words. I am not quite settled -- but slowly over time I will get my act together -- as far as finding all the smalls that I packed when I moved. I am so looking forward to the discoveries I plan to make around this area. I hope your weather will be improving soon -- I have been following the winter storm patterns that have been occurring in the East! -- barbara

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  2. Looks like a very peaceful place to live.

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    1. So nice of you to stop by my blog. Always nice to have a new visitor.I checked out your interesting blog -- will visit you again. -- barbara

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  3. It looks like you found a lovely place to live. Since we have lived on our farm, at the end of a road, it would be difficult for me to live in a neighborhood again. However, your place sounds lovely to me.

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    1. Michelle -- I imagine your road is a peaceful one. When I lived in KY I lived on a private road and loved it -- so quiet and peaceful. Moving to Vancouver and Portland, I was overwhelmed by the traffic. They are both nice cities but coming from Ky I found the traffic difficult to get used to. I think we are both country folks. thanks -- barbara

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  4. It sounds and looks perfect! What a sweet little home. I'm so happy for you ... a wonderful new adventure and way of life.

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    1. Teresa -- Nice to hear from you. I'm sure you are experiencing some of that arctic blast weather that I've have been hearing about. Stay warm! Yes, it is a new adventure -- a new territory for me to prowl around. There is always so much to learn around every corner. thanks -- barbara

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  5. Your road is beautiful. My home started out as a four room cottage, and the main living area remains that size. Built in 1940, I met the sons of the man who built it. They were involved, digging the basement, for instance. I would love to hear the history of your cottage, if you do go looking for it.

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    1. Joanne -- Interesting that your home started out as a small cottage. I think the era of the 40s produced many small cottage type homes for the returning vets with a bit of change in their pockets and wives awaiting them. Made good first homes, For me, at my stage in life, a small house is all I desire. I have found out a bit of history of this one lane road with its small homes lining it. I think it will prove to be quite interesting and will write a blog about it later. thanks for the comment -- barbara

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    1. turquoisemoon -- thanks for the very nice comment. I think this place spells contentment. -- barbara

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  7. Congratulations! This seems like a place perfect for an "outdoor-person". You can be glad that the garden isn't larger - it takes to much time to keep in proper order. The cottage reminds me of a small in the neighbourhood of our summer cottage. When it was built after WW2 it looked almost like this.

    Good Luck!

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    1. visualnorway -- As I mentioned to Joanne above -- it seemed that the small cottage style was prolific in many areas as it provided homes at a reasonable cost to returning vets. Now it seems that retirees are buying or renting these small homes as they are less work to care for.
      For instance my cottage comes with lawn maintenance. I once planted huge gardens but no longer -- I just enjoy others that have gardens. A few pots of plants on my porch will be my garden. thanks -- barbara

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  8. Your new home is peaceful and lovely, a sanctuary. I'm happy for you.

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    1. Lisa, yes, in some ways like a sanctuary. I read where you live in a rural area of Alabama. You too must relish the slower moving world about you -- giving you freedom of time and space. thanks for the nice comment

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  9. Looks so quiet and peaceful. Enjoy.
    Rosezeeta.

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    1. Primrose Attic -- Yes, the quiet is soothing when compared to busy cities. Peaceful in the respects that nature is in abundance. thanks for the comment -- barbara

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  10. Looks perfect for you! Moving is hard work, but does help weed things out. Congratulations on completing it!

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    1. Melissa -- My weeding out of possessions began several years ago -- selling or giving away a good portion of my belongings. Now I am down almost to the very least of what I need to enjoy my life. It is interesting to realize how many folks live with so much when they could live easily without some of it. Go to a garage sale or estate sale and realize what they have been holding in their garages and attics. thanks for the comment -- barbara

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  11. What an absolutely lovely setting. I'm so happy for you, that you've found a cottage that will be simple to care for, and the environment that will offer rich peaceful inspiration for your artistic photos. Can't wait to see what you capture and share with us!

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    1. Barbara -- Nice to hear from you. I have yet to really get out on the roads and take many photos as the move took up so much of my energy. I moved four hours south of where I was staying in Portland. I drove back and forth several times over the past three weeks, to wrap up all the odds and ends of moving. Now the time is here to begin anew and discover. I am ready. thanks for the comment -- barbara

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  12. Beautiful! And, it sounds like a wonderful place to live! I am sure you will enjoy living there.

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    1. Janet -- A new experience for this old gal -- but I do think I will like it. thanks for the comment -- barbara

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  13. Barbara, It sounds like a true haven...I am happy for you that you have found your way to this small cottage Home...It seems that you are nestled into good piece of nature, which is filling and soothing for the soul. I have the same philosophy as you about what comes in, but I don't always succeed at it. Simplify, right? And yes, moving is not for the weak at heart or muscle!

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