It's been awhile since my last post and I hope you forgive me! I have just returned from a long weekend in Bear Valley. Bear Valley is the kind of place you imagine when you think of the ski resorts of the 50's: small, charming, and beautifully secluded.

Every year for the last six years we have rented a little cabin in the hills above the cross country ski area. It lies next to a little creek and has it's own family of Blue Jays that all of the cabin's guests are charged with feeding.

The cabin has knotty pine floors and antique rugs. I love this antique bench used as a coffee table in the Living Room.

The owners have used fabrics and wallpaper borders in the William Morris style, which is a nice change from the expected "mountain motifs".

All of the bedrooms are charming and simple. It is the kind of place where one can relax and renew.

Every year we ski, cross country ski and sled in the stunning Sierra Nevada Mountains.

We build our own sled course through the trees near the cabin and it gets a little longer every year. The weekend never seems quite long enough.

But we do look forward to spending the afternoon in the Gold Rush town of Murphy's on our way home. It has become a very popular wine producing town, home of Stevenot and Ironstone wineries amoung many others. Many of the original stone buildings on the main street have been turned into antique shops, restaurants, art galleries and boutiques.

The Murphy's Historic Hotel, in business since the mid 1800's.

One of the many original stone buildings turned antique shop.

The Grounds coffee shop and restaurant.

Espresso and cookies at the Aria Bakery is a must!

We had lunch at a restaurant called Alchemy. Beet and Watercress salad to start and a wonderful chicken pot pie. Mmmm.

Spring has arrived in Murphy's and the show of flowers was beautiful!

Happy Trails!