buckwheat Loc: Clarkdale, AZ and Belen NM

My neighbor invited us to her cabin in the mountains last week. Her grandfather had homesteaded a section of land, and even though it has been divided among children and grandchildren, it remains in the family. A windmill pumps the water which must be carried to the house. No electricity means going to be kind of early. I was there to work as she had several projects she had started, but ran out of steam and help. She's only 67. But after working for two days at 8,000 ft elevation, I was beat, so I took a day off.

She was born and lived here until she was five years old. Grandpa had to build a sawmill in order to build the house, and he used the frame and engine from a 1928 Pierce Arrow.


Lots of deer and wildlife


This squirrel must have weighed about five pounds. I was able to get about 6 feet from him


Her father needed a tractor, so he made one


It had to be a job fencing 640 acres

photophile Loc: Lakewood, Ohio, USA

Well done series.

d3200prime

What an amazing story! Those folks back then knew what had to be done and did it with all they had. Why, when I was a boy I had to walk to school and it was uphill both ways.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

I agree.
You have a very strong independent family, good for you.

SonyBug

I certainly know what you mean. My father had to walk both ways uphill and he would have been 105 this year, but by the time I was born, I got to walk to school downhill both ways!

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

In the snow, all year, no doubt!