leanin' H
Well-known member
My folks were able to buy a little piece of ground out near the ranch where my Mom grew up. The family dynamic has changed and the welcome mat got turned over so they really wanted some place to try to continue the tradition with their own grandkids, that we got to have with my grandparents. Thankfullly, they now have a place to camp and visit and just be theirs. I sure am happy for them as they deserve it. 
We did need to get a fence around it, so we went out last weekend and started putting it up. Looking north toward the mountain.
The south fenceline looking east.
This is the fence i built last year for my Aunt. This ground borders Her's and she was sweet enough to sell Mom and Dad theirs.
The mountain is sure dry this spring. Haven't had a drop of rain in awhile. Hoping for some Thursday but we shall see.
Starting another posthole in the granite infested, boulder strewn country that i love so dearly. I do love the desert but the rocks, not so much. :x
Same posthole an hour later. It is a character building experience to dig postholes with a shovel and bar. An auger wouldn't stand a chance. Maybe some C4 or Dynamite. :shock:
The rock pile should tell ya the story.
But if ya perservere and are stubborn and not very bright, you make progress. I plan to start a rock crusher operation at the completion of my fence. Wonder where i can find a nice rock pile? :lol:
He's 72, he has slowed down only a tiny bit, his suspenders are still fun to flip when he ain't lookin', his knees are bionic and he has traded his horse for a wheeler, but that guy right there has cowboyed in dry,rough,steep,mean country his whole life while raising a family and working multiple jobs to keep us fed. He is my hero, he is my pal and he's my Dad! If he knew i took his picture, he'd probably knock me into a freshly dug posthole. If he knew it got put on the internet, he'd fill the hole with a rockpile.
They dabbed on a couple of nifty loops, stretched him out and are waiting on a hot iron to brand a maverick cedar post top.
My folk's camp on the desert. It may not look like much, but the ground is pretty special to us all.
We three son's and our families all have our camps out there for the summer too. It may never replace the ranch my Grandparents had or the memories we had there, but it will be a place to make new ones with our kids and their Grandparents. I guess i could be bitter over how things have went or just try to move on and make the best of what life offers. I hope by choosing to start new traditions and memories, my kids will have the chance to gain the same love and respect and sacredness i feel for the west desert.
Had to clean and re-season the old dutch ovens after a winter of non-use and neglect. Nothing a campfire and some oil can't cure.
As the sun sank into the west and the air cooled off and so did i with a cold Pepsi. I sat in a camp chair and listened to nighthawks call and a distant coyote sing to his pals! My shoulders hurt and my hands have a permanent curve from gripping a digging bar, but the smell of pork ribs in one dutch oven and spuds, onions and bacon in the other helped to distract me from the labors of the day. My folks are happy, my kids are playing and my wife loves me! All that and the fact i can sit in the middle of one of God's finest creations brings me peace and sure makes a guy feel humbled to be this blessed. Have a fine evening!
We did need to get a fence around it, so we went out last weekend and started putting it up. Looking north toward the mountain.
The south fenceline looking east.
This is the fence i built last year for my Aunt. This ground borders Her's and she was sweet enough to sell Mom and Dad theirs.
The mountain is sure dry this spring. Haven't had a drop of rain in awhile. Hoping for some Thursday but we shall see.
Starting another posthole in the granite infested, boulder strewn country that i love so dearly.
I do love the desert but the rocks, not so much. :x
Same posthole an hour later. It is a character building experience to dig postholes with a shovel and bar. An auger wouldn't stand a chance. Maybe some C4 or Dynamite. :shock:
The rock pile should tell ya the story.
But if ya perservere and are stubborn and not very bright, you make progress. I plan to start a rock crusher operation at the completion of my fence. Wonder where i can find a nice rock pile? :lol:
He's 72, he has slowed down only a tiny bit, his suspenders are still fun to flip when he ain't lookin', his knees are bionic and he has traded his horse for a wheeler, but that guy right there has cowboyed in dry,rough,steep,mean country his whole life while raising a family and working multiple jobs to keep us fed. He is my hero, he is my pal and he's my Dad! If he knew i took his picture, he'd probably knock me into a freshly dug posthole. If he knew it got put on the internet, he'd fill the hole with a rockpile.
They dabbed on a couple of nifty loops, stretched him out and are waiting on a hot iron to brand a maverick cedar post top.
My folk's camp on the desert. It may not look like much, but the ground is pretty special to us all.
We three son's and our families all have our camps out there for the summer too. It may never replace the ranch my Grandparents had or the memories we had there, but it will be a place to make new ones with our kids and their Grandparents. I guess i could be bitter over how things have went or just try to move on and make the best of what life offers. I hope by choosing to start new traditions and memories, my kids will have the chance to gain the same love and respect and sacredness i feel for the west desert.
Had to clean and re-season the old dutch ovens after a winter of non-use and neglect. Nothing a campfire and some oil can't cure.
As the sun sank into the west and the air cooled off and so did i with a cold Pepsi. I sat in a camp chair and listened to nighthawks call and a distant coyote sing to his pals! My shoulders hurt and my hands have a permanent curve from gripping a digging bar, but the smell of pork ribs in one dutch oven and spuds, onions and bacon in the other helped to distract me from the labors of the day. My folks are happy, my kids are playing and my wife loves me! All that and the fact i can sit in the middle of one of God's finest creations brings me peace and sure makes a guy feel humbled to be this blessed. Have a fine evening!
