Marilynne's World

Over the years, whenever I longed to escape to another place and leave the worries of my life behind, I always dreamed I would go to a cabin in the woods.  It would have a stream or a lake nearby.  It would be just an escape.  I’d go back home, but I needed not to be there for a while.  Do you have a favorite place to dream about?

Last week I found my dream cabin residing in my real world.  It was everything I hoped for and more.  We went to Nevada City in California’s Sierra Mountains for our granddaughter’s high school graduation.  Even though my daughter called a month ahead, she could only get a cabin at the Northern Queen.  “It costs a bit more,” she said, “but it was all I could find.”

We owned that cabin for three nights and four days.  It was tucked at the end of a road above the rest of the motel, at the end of a string of similar cabins.  Each cabin had a parking place lined with rocks and chunks of trees, and paved in pine needles.  The trees hung protectively over our heads and around the cabin.

View from the balcony

From the balcony, screened by trees, you could see the little creek below and across from that a tiny railroad that takes kids for a ride in the woods on hot summer days.  There were also trails for a walk around the grounds.  Stunned, I sat on the balcony and just sat for a while, taking it all in.  This was the place of my dreams.

If you live in a place that’s tree-lined, as two of my daughters do, it might seem ordinary to you.  When you live in a place with water rationing, and a scorched lawn in the summer, it looks like heaven.

The cabin came with a kitchen, living-dining room, and a small bedroom.  What I liked was just down the road there is one of my favorite restaurants in the whole world (my world that is).

The restaurant deck is surrounded by trees and overlooks a waterfall

I ate my breakfast every morning either on this lovely deck or inside with big windows over looking the waterfall.  I had wonderful things like a waffle ringed in strawberries and a fruit cup topped with macaroon cream.  My spouse would have been just as happy cooking and eating in the cabin, but I wouldn’t hear of it.  Many times, not only this visit, we have met our family here for a meal together.  I have memories here.

Or sometimes we just sip our coffee and tea and have a quiet moment together.

Reading the complimentary newspaper on the deck.

This cabin waits for our next visit.  Location:  The Northern Queen, Nevada City, CA.

Marilynne