Power to the People

We have officially been hooked into the grid... Like the Keurig is already thinking about my coffee in the morning.... when I have to wake at 4am to head to Wenatchee for a health seminar.... Like I don't have to run out to turn off the generator after I finishing studying tonight... Less propane, more current. 

Now all we need is a washer/dryer and a few more square feet and we will be set.  This whole experience does really change your perspective on routine life.  Don't get me wrong we are warm at night and sufficiently fed, but take away running water and power and getting those things take a good amount of time throughout a day/week.  We have been using a big water tank in the back of the truck that we have to haul to town and back to fill the trailer, that's at least an hour and a half (and enough of a trip where we have been watching our water usage=less showers).  The generators have treated us well, but when in the course of a normal day do you provide any effort at obtaining power, other than to write the check to the PUD.  It all adds up to time and effort. 

 



The floor is poured on the shop, trusses are delivered and ready to hang, metal colors are picked out, and it's getting chilly! Coats are on and the fires are getting bigger.  The movies are beginning in our heads of backing up to the wood stove in our shop while the snow silently covers our property... And lucky for us Cam just found out our neighbors bought an amazing snow plow!!!!  Lucky :)






It is gratifying watching the kids enjoy the outdoors and
gain their independence in play and activity.  Bear's mind
is getting imaginative and I so remember the places mine would take me playing in the woods and I delight knowing that he does the same.  Kendyl is such a force and so independent, this life will not hold her back from much I doubt. 
We've been discussing school ideas for them and different ways to grow their confidence and give them both skills and wings.  Maybe we will go way out on a limb :)  We shall see what the next few years brings us, but I can't think of a better place to grow than in the wild.    

The next few phases of the shop will hopefully go fast and we will soon be setting it up for living quarters.  Can't wait for that. Never again will I complain about folding hoards of laundry in my own home, on my own time.  You want to take a sample from people of various walks of like... head to your local Laundromat!  Speaking of luxuries... I think I'm going to go charge something :)

Strong BACK (Barrett Amanda Cam Kendyl) Farm continues pressing on...........................................................................................................................................

Let the Levee Break

 
 



You would think we had hit an underground oil well...  Something that would make us rich as we watched the oil rig methodically pump liquid money out of the depths of the ground; while we sipped home brew on a wrap around porch and used hundred dollar bills for coasters.  It's practically the same emotional process for us as... we now OFFICIALLY have running water.  After much ado, Cam figured out the correct hookup to run the new pump off our generator (until power gets hooked up).  Buying property without a well was a huge gamble over here.  Where our old well back home was 20 some feet, this one is 300 and the amount of water we get is no where near the same... but we have water.  That alone makes property value spike over here as it is not a given.  Like always it has not been a simple process for us, but we made it happen.  Daily showers anyone??  





This was a good weekend, my folks and brother
made it over for a great visit and a bit of exploring.  

Cam, the kids, and I treated ourselves to a night at the hotel as well.  It was nice to have some space and a long hot shower.  Bear woke up at 5:30 because he was so excited to see everyone.  They loved the visit and getting to swim with Pop Pop and Uncle Cam.  We took the "backroads" to Palmer Lake and Bonaparte Lake, the latter of which we had a good lunch at.  It's fun to share our love for this landscape with others, it's truly a great place for any outdoor adventure.  I really did miss my family and it's a bit bittersweet to say goodbye. 


My Mom made the kids and everyone "Mummy Dogs" (hot dogs wrapped like mummies)  at our property for lunch, and then they were on their way.  It turned into a beautiful afternoon and the guys both got haircuts in my outdoor salon, overlooking the valley.  We took a hike through our draw and explored a different part of the meadow.  It's fun to walk through and envision a herd of our cows, horses, and sheep... and pigs.. :)  After we got back the guys started a fire on the landing where our trailer is parked; there is definitely a chill in the air and higher up the valley I saw the first glimpse of snow today.


 
Team Brown 2014




Our reflections on moving are so far focused on the fact that while things are not exactly easy and "normal" right now, taking the plunge/making a change will reshape our lives.  We are insisting on a different way of life, and we are going to make it by the sweat of our brows. Brick By Brick. While it's hard to be away from family and our comfort zone, life is all of a sudden very intentional.  Where we had just been going through the motions, every moment seems to matter now.  And there is something to say for that. 

Easy Street Is Overrated

Cam tells me that if things were easy we wouldn't have any stories to tell... Hmmmm maybe I will have a book to write by the time we come out on the other side of this adventure.  Another busy week at school for me.  Our main instructor is out on medical leave and the rest of the quarter is packed full.  Just one thing after another, but I'm trying to battle back.  I will be starting clinicals soon in the local community!!!  Looking forward to getting out of the classroom and out into the real world.   






We discovered it does actually rain East of the mountains, and when it does it means it.  Cam and the kids toughed it out on the ponderosa though.  I'm sure the trailer will shrink in size once the weather changes, and we will feel like kings in the shop.  It's the best to come home to all three of them. 
 





Our shipping container full of our previous life arrived this week as well.   It's amazing how much stuff we have and how we have not once wanted or needed anything from it.  Simplicity is quite a nice way to exist really, and a practice I would love to continue.  If it weren't for my mile high stack of books I have I could really get into it.  "Lloyd" as we like to call the container was nevertheless a welcome sight.
Building progress this week was focused on digging the water line from the well to the shop, getting the pump and accessories for the well, and pouring the concrete for the shop floor (they did half of it).  Cam is brainstorming ways to set up our living quarters.  As always it's a lot to think about and you have to be able to visualize the future and determine the best way to not mess it up!  Hello??  Easy Street??  Maybe we could just try you out for a while???

Oh For the Love of Pinecones....

It's a bit of an inside joke between Cam and me that I have a strange obsession with collecting pine cones from our travels.  I think it began on our honeymoon, and every subsequent trip since then I have picked up one on our camping trips.  He always asks why I am bringing home such a commonplace object, and I always respond that it could be worse.... I could be in to collecting fine art, diamonds, or something more costly.  Sometimes we need a reminder to take joy in the smallest places of our lives.



 


Sunday was not the best day.  Let's just say that technical difficulties and stress do not always play nice.  Luckily my husband is unfaltering in dealing with whatever life throws our way, and Team Brown once again prevails!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday and we are back at it again.  Half day of school for me.  Cam lining up the pump for our well, waiting on the electrical inspector so we can actually get hooked up, and workers continuing on the shop.  All the while racing the proverbial snow this area is known for.  For those who don't know, my commute home is not completely ordinary.  About 20 miles North of Omak you head West toward the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area, a prestigious valley that looks like something out of a Kevin Costner movie; home to Double R Ranch (sells meat to Haggen), and the area that sucked Cam and I in (ranches, mountains, wildlife and VIEW).  From the highway we drive just over a mile and hit gravel, we stay on gravel for the next 20 minutes or so, winding through ranches and canyons, climbing up to our driveway... Still Water Hill Road is our driveway and from gravel road to our house site is just about a mile and a half.  It has been somewhat the topic of conversation among our parents as some of the road borders some steep country.  Let's just say there is no zoning out... full attention is paid to the road and deer alert is high.  It's great :)

After the kids woke up and lunch was had me and the kids set off to hike our property.  60 acres makes me feel like quite the land baron... like I should probably have a horse to ride the fences (hint hint Mr. Brown)... oh and we need some fences too.  There's an anticipatory feeling when you are exploring around here; you never know what you might see: bears, deer, turkeys, grouse, it keeps things interesting.  Bear likes to find the biggest stick he can carry and pretend it's his gun.  It makes for slow walking, but good times.  Here are some of the pics from our journey through the draw today. 



 















It's becoming "normal" life around here.  Good days: delighting in not hearing the hum of I-5, amazed by the number of stars, in aww that this is really our view/backyard.  Bad days, realizing we aren't just camping, there's no king bed and double head shower waiting for us at home... and yes it's pouring out and we have to walk 100 yards in the rain (both ways) to use the bathroom.  .   It's not always pretty... but it's REAL. 
      

Becoming

 

 

 

Our visitors left this morning.  Although I was absent often for school, it was nice to have our family and friends here to enjoy our new land and visit with us and the kids.  As always we were spoiled and very well taken care of, with warm yummy meals every night!  Much appreciated.  I'm sure Bear will wake up wondering where Godigo's trailer is.  They played hard everyday that's for sure.  Pat was kind enough to bring some pumpkins along and we had fun carving them in the rain, under a tarp, with a fire warming us :) 


And then there were just 4... We hit the grocery store in town after the guests cleared out. The kids both had a good nap this afternoon while I attempted to study for a looming Pharmacology exam taking place this coming Wednesday.  It will be a long week of school for me so I am trying to get ahead of the game.  Hopefully my internet will cooperate.

After the kids were rested and fed we set out on a truck excursion.  The land here is so vast, there is much to explore.  Today we set out on the back roads to Conconully hoping to maybe catch a deer on the way.  We took a road going North West out of Conc and found ourselves in the woods, following Salmon Creek.  It was a gorgeous area spotted with idyllic campsites, and the road could actually be followed all the way into Winthrop.  We decided not to voyage too far and headed back to the ponderosa.

  Much excitement ensued upon returning to our property.  After a walk with the kids, I returned to camp to find Cam with his eyeballs glued to his binoculars scoping out the top of our hillside.  Was it a buck?  The thing of legend?  The fabled animal we had yet to see this entire past week of modern rifle hunting season?  The answer was only available to those willing to journey out.  So, up the hill I went.  Now, for those who haven't been here, I should explain that our property is STEEP.  I've delighted in knowing that I will have strong legs living around here.  Nevertheless, it didn't take too long to grab my rifle and make it near the top.  Talk about adrenaline (and a bit out of shape), I felt like a biathlete ready to stop skiing and take a shot.  I put the stalk on....

Trying to replay all my hunter knowledge didn't take long as I don't have much.  Don't touch the trigger, be quiet, and make sure it has at least 3 points on one side, is about as far as I got by the time I got close enough to check out the suspects.  Nope, still not close enough to distinguish horns from brush.  Creeping through the sage brush I was finally breathing normal and gaining some confidence.  Hiding behind a pine tree within 30 yards or so I raised my binos one more time.  

Brush... not horns... sage brush.  With a sigh I stood up, bid goodnight to the deer and headed home to make dinner... B yelling "MOM" all the while as I descended (only those who have heard the intensity with which she yells this will truly appreciate it)..

This move for us has been an active step to create the life we want to live and one maybe a little out of our norm for the kids.  We are not experts... While I wish I had the knowledge of a seasoned hunter (I was proud I remembered how to unchamber my bullets after my little evening hunt),         veteran rancher, and model mom, I don't.... but we are LIVING.   

Power and Shelter

Tuesday was a big day at the  Strong BACK farmstead.  Power lines were run, and ground was broken for our shop.  Luckily I had the day off to see the progress!  It only took a mere couple hours to hook into the modern world of electricity.  The trench was dug and wire laid all the way down our hillside.  It's a bit bittersweet connecting into the real world, but I'm sure it will come in handy :)  Part of me was looking forward to truly living off the grid, but daily showers and a coffee pot don't sound too bad either. 






The plateau of "moon dust" has now become a construction site!  The crew has begun work on our shop... It is weird having hired help, but I am not complaining, they move fast and the threat of winter is near.  Bear of course loves to watch them and all their machinery and tools.  His Tonka trucks are out and in full production mode.   














Cal and Dottie arrived Tuesday as well, with their friends John and Pat.  Is nice to have some company and a chance to show people our new place in the world.  The kids are excited to have them and it reminded me of being a kid when Bear woke up and wanted to go to Grandma's trailer first off...

  Unfortunately, my technological problems continue... Had to make a mad dash to town late last night to submit a Pharmacology quiz.  Gone are the days of studying books, I guess!  Hearing the little one rustling around waking up from her nap, so signing off for now, more to come. 

A Hunting We Will Go

Our first weekend at our property was a lovely one.  Nice weather and time off was a welcome change to the 10 hours we'd been spending on the road the past couple weekends.  And, while we had some chores to do (and I was preparing for my first Exam), there was a sense of some much needed free time as well.  So..  we went hunting! Deer season has brought traffic to our usually barren roads, activity on the surrounding hills, and much excitement to Mr. Brown.  Thankfully, he doesn't mind the rest of the crew tagging along, and I was so happy to stretch our legs and get a chance to explore some new territory. 

 

Our first excursion was up farther into the Sinlahekin Valley.  It was a bit of a drive up Cecile Creek Road, but some cool country.  The Tamaracks lent a brilliant pop of color to the dense woods we were in, and appeared to always have a burst of light on them.  We finally parked the truck and all four of us hiked for around an hour; we didn't see one deer.  Bear did a good job running along with us, and Kendyl rode in my backpack.  We saw some moose sign and plenty of cow pies, that lined the road like explosives.  The kids hit their limit on the way back to the truck and we still had a bit of a drive back home.  I whipped up some burgers for us and the Boyer crew who are set up down in the meadow.  The Brown's hit the sack and Mom got some studying in before pulling the blinds on a good day.

Sunday we enjoyed a good breakfast and then the kids and I hit the local park while Cam did some hunting up on the state land above our property.  The kids enjoyed the park and especially loved a lively squirrel that was hanging out in a nearby tree.  Home for lunch, naps, and another hunting expedition. 
Hunting with my husband reminds me a lot of the book "The River Why?"  Two different personalities/styles/thought processes colliding in one outdoor endeavor.  In that book it's the "plunker" vs. the fly fisherman.  Here it's much of the same.  Much like marriage... you take two very different people and you have to work it out.  Cam always tells me a good hunting partner is hard to come by... I'm working on it! 




The hunt ended on a South looking plateau.  We sat, had some snacks and glassed the hillsides around us.  I'd say it's about the most Quality time could get.  Active, adventuring, together. 

 

Through An RV Window

Blue skies and a nice breeze rolling over our hills and through my window.  Kendyl is napping in her bunk while the boys are out "deer hunting," and hiking the ravine.  Homework and coffee are on my horizons.  Feels good to have a day off, and gives me a sense of this being home now, and a routine slowly beginning to form.
Up around 7:30 this morning with a Bear covering most my face.  Soon heard the little one say mom a few times followed by her favorite obsession "MOOO COWWW."  If we ever get cows I'm thinking Kendyl will never leave their sides.  "Pony" is one of her newest words as well, much to the exasperation of her father!  Picked up our few square feet before heading out to breakfast, dump, and grocery store.  The blue skies are a welcome sight, and doing "normal" activities is fun in a new location.  Attended the Tonasket vs. Oroville football game last night... was very different.  Fun, small, and welcoming, but there haven't been too many sporting events where I have felt like an outsider, and strange to think of the kids being on their own over here.  I told Cam I was tempted to suit up and pretty sure I could beat half the team, after all my dad has said I would be the best nose guard this side of the Mississippi ;)  The kids met the tiger mascot and relished in a bag of gourmet popcorn which was deemed far better than Les Schwab.  Bear got a look at the elementary school playground, and actually thought it looked like fun. 
We have noticed an influx of hunters, and I have already made great plans in my mind to someday conquer the higher country where no one wants or can hike into.  I mean in all my spare time.  Speaking of time, my study clock is ticking as is nap time.  Back to work learning how to heal. 

Out of the Draw

Writing this sitting near our future house site, under a HUGE moon.  You can almost see all the hills surrounding us under it's light.  Today we moved the trailer up out of the meadow to the hillside.  Up here there are copious amounts of the following: dust, internet service, VIEWS, dirt, fresh air, dusty dirt, and sunshine.  It will be much easier for me to complete my homework up here, and looking around I feel like this is the view I longed for.  The kids loved riding in the trailer with me while Dad pulled the trailer up the mountain, even if he almost tipped us over once :).  The kids proceeded to cover every crevice of their body with dirt... and I believe Dottie was right when she said they often could pass as the kids on the Please Help Me Posters!
Signed our final house paperwork today in Okanogan, got a title company cup and a small profit out of the deal.  Feels good to not have that bill, I think we were pretty lucky how fast and easy that process was. 
Power and the beginning of our shop are on the docket for the coming week.  I have my first lab test tomorrow, but I am confident that not waking up at 5 am to get to the coffee shop will help my concentration. 
Last nights ATV ride up the mountain brought several visits with the neighbors.  Bear already calls the neighbor boy Granger his "new friend," and always looks forward to seeing them.  Met Jason's parents who live on Turtle Lake.  They seem just as nice as the rest of the clan and offered their house and any help if we were to run into trouble during the winter.  Barb is a nurse as well, so that's handy.  It feels like we have a good "neighborhood."
We have already moved on from the outhouse to a port-a potty.  Quite the upgrade to high society if you ask me.
Our days seem to be packed with something to do every second right now.  But at least we are together. 

The Beginning

Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Woke this morning to frost on my windshield. Made for a quick dash to the outhouse before leaving for school. These past two weeks have been a busy blur of action and exploration. We arrived two Sundays ago, on the eve of my beginning nursing school. Home is now a 24 foot travel trailer parked in our "Draw;" an underground spring-fed meadow down the hill and South of our building site. Generators run our power and water is limited to what we can bring in a 40 gallon tank, as the well down here has already seemed to run it's course. Did I mention we have an outhouse??? It's a funny mix of pioneer and modern life. Our travel trailer lacks rustic charm, but daily life is no longer as easy as turning a switch for lights or flushing the toilet thoughtlessly. Much more planning goes into our week, but yet we are not without the ease of a propane stove or the occasional movie outside in our tented "living room." Unfortunately I am also tied to technology as school seems to now exist online rather than in the classroom. Part of me is ready to pull all electrical plugs and enjoy the absolute quiet.

The kids seem to enjoy this life. Spent together for the most part, sleeping close to one another, and spending the greatest portion of our time outside. Kendyl loves going down the driveway and saying hi to all the "Moos," (cows) while Bear corrects her that they are in fact "Yee-Haws" (Horses). Bear has found a love of hiking, especially up any mountainside, which are many. Cam blazed a circular trail around and through the draw, and that is a particular favorite of Bear's as well. His first blood was drawn after a particularly rough day I had at school. Pulling a bungee with all his stength led to a short lived red gyser from his head. It was not a good day and we were happy to move on to the next one. Nevertheless, all parties lived.

Water, power, and a shop are on our horizon. I am settling into school, and Cam is holding down the fort with his usual positive nature. I am lucky to have a partner in him, and at the end of the day it's very exciting to be on this adventure.


Monday, October 6, 2014
Finished packing up our Loomis Trail house yesterday. Took the whole weekend and a lot of help. It was a bit bittersweet saying goodbye to the house that Cam built. I remain grateful for such a good home to raise my kids in for the first few years of their lives. We had many good times amongst those walls, but the most important things are those that would be coming with us; the feelings we share, the memories we have together, and Team Brown love. Breakfast was great at Grams as well, but hard to say goodbye to those two. Lots to say about that, but don't know if I'm ready for that on a Monday morning!

The truck was loaded down on the drive over, and all parties (except the driver of course) had good naps. Didn't get home until after dark and it was a mad dash to get a few things in order before all of us zonked for the night. I was up at five am and off to the coffee shop in Omak to finish some homework online before class. School is a bit of an adjustment. Being away from the kids, meeting new people, and staying on top of the work load. I'm ready to feel a little more comfortable and settled, but the only way to do that is keep on chugging. It seems like the stakes are high right now; we have such high expectations for our life here; now we are fighting with all we have to make it a reality.