I think the layered diagonals (ground, background leaves, and lavenderish foreground leaves) intersected by the tree trunks is very effective. The Simplification and leaf colors are winners, too. A very appealing image.
It is! I love the colors and treatment, but the house leaning as though it might fall down the hill distracts my attention from the gorgeous forest. It would be a very easy fix to go to Edit > Transform > Distort and pull the UL corner out. (Hold Shift to constrain it to a horizontal movement.) You won't get any noticeable degradation in details and won't have to crop as you would if you rotated.
Hazel, do you want this to be a theme image? The light shining through the forest is lovely. And I like that the house and part of the slope below are in shadow, creating a framing effect and contrast that makes the brighter parts more dramatic. I also like the position of the tall darker tree trunk on the opposite side, completing the framing effect. The bright and shadowed colors on the leaves are beautiful. I didn't notice the tilt of the house until Diane mentioned it.
This is so well done Hazel, and the repost really improved it. Perfect application of Simplify, and the colors are gorgeous. It's a wall hanger for sure!
Very nice. It has a wonderful, fall feel to it. I love the processing your did. The colors are beautiful. As someone wrote above, the framing of the light areas with darker ones looks quite natural and lovely. I wouldn't change a thing.
Hazel, in addition to the spot on comments already posted (Diane nailed the fix it with the distortion tool)-I must say that you have quite an eye for composition. Leading lines, framing, diagonals, perspective and excellent color/tone space balance (blue/orange and green/burgundy) are all present and accounted for! The watercolor treatment softens what could be harsh hues and works wonderfully. Nicely done!
You're welcome, Hazel! I never know if I'm butting in or providing some useful information -- I do tend to make suggestions. But all were gleaned the hard way, by experience. : >)