Tuesday, July 8, 2008

OUR CABIN IN THE MOUNTAINS


We just returned last night from spending one week at our cabin in the Mountains. About 90 minutes from Los Angeles is the San Bernardino Mountains and a beautiful lake and resort town called Big Bear.






We own a cabin on Big Bear Lake. This cabin has quite the history. It was built in the 1930's by Cecile B. DeMille. He was a famous Director and had made several movies up in the Big Bear area. He was also the Director of the movies Ben Hur and The Ten Commandents with Charleton Heston. He bought the property for $10 and built our cabin on it. In the 1950's he sold it. We are the 4th owner of the cabin.



The cabin sits on approximately one acre of lake front property. When Cecile B. De Mille built the cabin it was only one level. This consisted of 3 bedrooms and 2 baths and a kitchen and large living area. The second owner in the 1950's built a second floor, which is now the middle floor and now a 4th bedroom, the Master Bedroom. The 3rd owner in the 1970's built the 3rd floor, which is now the bottom floor and this is the game room. We came along and built a boat house and did all the yard landscaping and walls.

The wood on the interior walls of the cabin have been preserved like it was in the 1930's.



















Old skiis on the wall and a antler light over the dinning table











Right in the center of the living room is the huge original two-sided fireplace. I have taken a picture of all 4 sides.




Each bedroom has a theme. The first bedroom is the Vintage Hat Room. I have decorated this room with Vintage pill hats from the 30's and 40's.




























The next bedroom has two sets of log bunk beds and it is decorated with Chairs all over the walls.



















The next bedroom has a queen log bed in it and is decorated with Ducks.

This is the view that I have from my kitchen sink. I can stand here and wash dishes all day long!












The Master Bedroom is on the middle 2nd floor.





















The bottom floor is the game room and it is decorated in a Coca Cola theme.





















One of my Woodlands Santa standing next to a old heater and old sled











Some old cans and kitchen items on a shelf









A collection of old match books and bottle caps in a wooden case










Jackalopes must be real, here is a stuffed one!





Old ice skates on the wall















Now we will go outside to the grounds. When we first bought the cabin, the yard was just pine trees, rocks and dirt. We have landscaped it and put up planters and walls.

This is the area when you first drive in by car. Doesn't that grass look great? No lawn cutting for this chick, all our grass is fake!






An old Ore Cart on track







A old wooden cart full of pine cones




















A old gold minning pan and a tree log make a really cute birdbath








A old washer tub and wringer dated in the 1890s filled with "Dreams Rose Picotee" Petunias, surrounded by yellow dwarf marigolds


















A cute wagon and wishing well







A old red water pump




My husband thought I lost it when I came home with a old OUTHOUSE!








Pacific Giant Delphiniums - They are perennials that keep coming back year after year!




















Roses just love that mountain air














Gaillardia Aristata "Sunburst Scarlet Halo"










Gaillardia Aristata "Sunburst Burgundy Picotee"








This cabin is like a dream come true except for one thing..........


I have this sign above the door way to 2 of the original bedrooms. You couldn't pay me to sleep in one of those rooms let alone spend the night anywhere alone in that cabin! Any one who has ever slept in one of those bedrooms has never been back to our cabin.


After we first bought the cabin I would wake up to sounds coming from upstairs. It sounded like people walking around and talking. My husband would tell me I was hearing things and I was believing him until we had someone stay at our cabin and they told me that they would be awaken at night to the sound of people talking but no one was there. I fell asleep once on the couch watching TV and I was awaken by a voice whispering in my ear. When ever I would enter in one of those bedrooms, I felt like someone was following me. I thought it was me just feeling creepy because of the sounds at night, then guests staying in those rooms started telling of their experiences like dark figures moving around the room, being awaken at night because someone was starring at them, feeling the presence of someone sitting on their bed, having the light turn off and on. I think the final straw came when I had the carpet changed in the cabin when I was not there and I called the company to let them know that I was satisfied and the lady at the carpet place told me she was glad I was happy because her workers said my cabin was haunted and they would never set foot there again. I don't know what happened to them, I don't know them and have never talked to them. After that incident, I had someone from my church give a blessing on my cabin to make them go away. I try not to think about it now when I go up there because it will just ruin my vacation. It is always just my husband and I going up there, none of our children have been back there in over 5 years and our friends never seem to want to come back to visit!

33 comments:

Darlene said...

Your cabin is BEAUTIFUL!!! I bet you had the most relaxing time....love the view from the kitchen. Who takes care of it when y'all aren't there? I remember you saying in another post that you thought it was haunted (I would be too scared)....you need to call Ghost Busters...lol

I'm glad you are back cause I love seeing all your flowers and beautiful things.

Anonymous said...

It is a phenomenal property! And the view is nothing short of priceless. I don't live anywhere near the mountains, but yearn to breath in that much-talked-about mountain air more in my lifetime! Love the outhouse. We had one when I was a kid, though there was an indoor bath at my great-grandma's too.
Brenda

Unknown said...

Wow! What a beautiful retreat...and you have done so much with the little touches!

I'll be glad to come out there and house sit for you! LOL

CIELO said...

What a beautiful place to go to.... just dreamy. Thanks for sharing...

cielo

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

Oh Ann, I love your cabin and have enjoyed being able to come vacation there with you & hubby! I actually don't mind sleeping in the "hat room", but the lights going on & off is something I have witnessed! Glad I didn't sleep in the "chair" room when we had all the girls come up! Oh my, what stories we could tell! Dear hubby and I will go up with ya next time! Thanks for the invite this time. Glad you had a wonderful time!

Love ya,
Maryjane

Unknown said...

What a beautiful place! I am obsessed with things that are haunted! I would love to stay in a haunted house! I love horror movies too, lol!

You have decorated your cabin so beautifully and the view is just fabulous!

Hugs,
Amy

You should call in TAPS of Sci Fi channel's Ghost Hunters! Seriously!

Deb said...

What an amazing cabin! Your pictures are wonderful!

Farmhouse Blessings said...

It all looked and sounded so wonderful until I got to that last paragraph. Yikes!

But glad you had a wonderful time!

Smiles,
Lea

Brenda said...

What beautiful place.I lived in a old home once and I had a experience with a dark figure beside my bed,but this only happen once and it scared me to death.
Best wishes
Brenda:)

Stephanie Suzanne Designs said...

Do you just love the knotty pine walls? The home we've just sold even has the pine on the ceilings. Your cabin is fabulous!! Really enjoyed looking..I dare you to sleep in one of those rooms!! LOL

Oh, and thanks for dropping for a visit at my blog! It's nice to meet you.

Hugs, Stephanie

Edie Marie's Attic said...

Hi Anne!
What a beautiful cabin and lake! A lovely setting and what a story! We have had experiences in our family like that and it can be unsettling for sure!! Do you suppose it's Cecil coming back to his old "fishin' cabin"?? I would call the church people to come back again. Maybe you need to have someone come in that deals with paranormal. There are people that have that 6th sense, I know that for a fact.
I've entered you in my giveaway drawing Ann, good luck!!
Hugs, Sherry

katylinvw said...

what an amazing cabin! i love the history of it (i must have watched the ten commandments 1000 times growing up!), and you have decorated it beautifully (the linens in the "duck room" match the sofa in my parents' home :) )!!! thanks for stopping by! i love meeting new blog friends :)

Rechelle ~Walnuthaven Cottage~ said...

I've seen your cabin. We are visitors to the Big Bear area and I love it there. It's absolutely beautiful and I can just imagine the fun times you must have there. I wonder if the ghosts that are there are of the old Hollywood set. How very interesting. Old houses come with history...no matter the "shape". Hugs

Margie said...

What a lovely "cabin"! That's certainly not what cabins in my area look like! Yours is just beautiful, but looks more like a mansion to me!

And your delphiniums are breathtaking!

Thank you for welcoming me to blogging and thank you for your kind comment!

Margie

Anonymous said...

wow! you've got a beautiful cabin..everything is so detailed and perfect! I enjoyed reading your posts.

By the way, thanks so much for signing in for the " From Thailand with Love - Give away' I'm looking forward for the contest to be posted here in your blog. Cheers!!

Lalaine's World
From Asia And Beyond
Day to Day Miracles

Rechelle ~Walnuthaven Cottage~ said...

Yes! Those really are the same hinges. I've so many more to go but I'm super excited that I'll be able to use my "vintage" hardware. Of course compared to the age of the "Lake House" my hinges and home are just babies (1954 ca. ranch) LOL! Thanks for the welcome and I look forward to getting to know you even better. P.S. I love, love, love your gardens and must ask how the "grass" holds up w/your dogs. We would love to put something like that in our front/back yards.
cheers!

Paula said...

That place is gorgeous, Ann... haunted or not!
Maybe it's the outhouse... you brought all the ghosts in with it, now they're trying to find a place inside! LOL

joyh82 said...

Welcome back! What a beautiful cabin. I love the wood paneling. It reminds me of my Gpa's house.
The outside looks just as nice and the inside. Pretty spooky about the ghosts...yikes!

Barb said...

What a lovely getaway. I think I would never leave. Years ago when I lived in the LA area, we would drive to Big Bear. It is just so incredible.

I love how you have decorated it.

hugs,
Barb

Anonymous said...

Anne,
What abeautiful cabin! Love the flowers,decoration,scenery aroung the cabin. What a wonderful story except the ghosts story. I would have a pastor to come and annoint the beautiful cabin with prayer. Thank you for sharing the beautiful pictures and story. You have a wonderful day.

Linda said...

Oh my goodness...what a beautiful place, and I agree the view from your kitchen window is awesome. I so enjoyed seeing all your beauitful pictures. Hugs, Linda

Theresa @ Take A Sentimental Journey said...

Great cabin, great story. Love it.

Jean said...

What a beautiful "cabin"! Just amazing! Thanks for stopping to visit. Would love to have you join with us on Bloomin' Tuesday! Click the button on my sidebar for details. E-mail me if you have any questions. Bring your friends along too! Jean

Debra said...

Hi Ann,

I loved your cabin.

I do remember feeling like someone was staring at me while I was sleeping in the duck bedroom.

We had a fun few days together at our "girlfriend's forever" get together.

Love,
Debbie

Deborah aka Miss Bee said...

What a wonderful retreat! ...but, it sounds as though you don't get much rest there at night!


xoxoxo,
Deborah

Anonymous said...

What a fabulous cabin in Big Bear. I spent time in Big Bear growing up. My best friends family had a cabin in Fawnskin and I'd head up there with her in the 60's. My family camped up there in the 50's
My cousin and her husband just decided to move there about a year ago...
It was fun to see this post below your pink Saturday. Enjoy...

Nancy said...

Anne Fannie - I came over to look at your "pink post" and just got caught up in your wonderful cabin. What an amazing place and I'm sure the ghosts mean you no harm. The "ear"ie whispering is a tad bit, uh, disturbing...okay...creepy! Thanks for the wonderful tour and your pink things are so beautiful, too! Hugs, Nancy

Anonymous said...

I love your cozy cabin on the water .....I'm so jealous .I've always wanted to live on the water . I'd just like to pick up the house I live in now and put it on a pretty lake some where :o) Sue

Heidi said...

Just had to write & comment on your cabin!!...Loved hearing about it's history, what a wonderful place in the mountains!We also love Big Bear & have always rented places to stay on John Muir....would love to someday own one too!...We live in Valley Center which is approx. 2 hours south of BB. Thank you so much for sharing!....Heidi :)

Rhondi said...

Hi Ann
Somehow your blog got dleted from my bookmarks and so I haven't been to visit for awhile. It was when I saw your comment that I realized it. So here I am finally stopping by again.That is a magnificant "cabin" you have and quite a history to it. You must love spending time there!
I love the delphiniums. When I lived inCanada I grew them in my garden but they don't do well here in NC at all.
Hope all is well.
Hugs, Rhondi

Joanne Kennedy said...

OMG! That is your cabin! I thought it was a big B&B. It's beautiful.

What I loved was the ghost stories. I grew up in a "haunted house". Then when I got older I lived in another house that was "haunted".

You may think I'm nuts but I love it. It was like having my vintage treasures come to life.

I would love to know if you rent it out. If you do, I would love to rent it from you. I would give anything to go stay in one of those rooms. I think it would be fun to try and find out who it was.

Do you know if anyone died in that home?

Hugs,
Joanne

Liz said...

Your gardens are just gorgeous.....you certainly have a green thumb! But I have never heard of putting fake grass on a lawn! Good idea....who wants to spend time mowing, when they could be washing dishes!? LOL And the cabin is great! Thanks for showing us!

Connie said...

I would like to know if the blessing worked, sweetpea. What a frightening experience that would have been. I doubt I'd go back after that. Also, NO GRASS?!?!?! How do you grow plants then and what IS it? It looks like grass. You can email me through my Profile page email, honey pie.
Smoochies,
Connie

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