Sagittarius Viking
Mindful exploring, through the eyes of a viking daughter.
Weekly Smile – A Visit To The (future) Homestead
My Weekly Smile this week goes to a perfectly wonderful road trip to Arizona last weekend. As some of you know, my longterm goal is to live a more self sufficient life. I’ve been taking steps in that direction for many years, by learning about organic gardening, and other homesteading skills. A while back I purchased two properties, one in Arizona, and one in Nevada, that both would be suitable for a small homestead. I am not ready to take the leap into off grid living on a homestead yet, I do keep on working towards it, one small step at the time.
Having the knowledge, the property, and a plan feels great. Being able to once in a while visit the property closest to me (the one in Arizona,) have been fabulous. The other times I’ve visited I’ve stayed elsewhere, but this weekend we camped out at the property! It was an awesome feeling spending the night there for the first time. The stars were so bright! All photos in this post are taken at the Arizona property, either of the property, or the view from the property.
Juniper
The temperature difference from when we arrived at a sunny 74 degrees Fahrenheit, to the lowest night temperature were almost one hundred degrees! My property is at 5400 ft elevation, and it is desert, but a very different desert from Las Vegas (where we currently live.) The air is clean, and there’s many 10-15ft high Juniper, and Pinyon trees on the property (some trees are even higher.) Pinyon trees have highly nutritious edible seeds, a staple for several Native American tribes. Pinyon pine trees are also known to influence the soil in which they grow by increasing concentrations of both macronutrients and micronutrients. The most common use for Juniper berries are alcoholic drinks (gin, wine and brandy,) but they are also used for medicinal purposes. Juniper wood is one of the most flexible woods there is. It was often used as the base for horseback riding saddles back when the West was still wild, and are still very popular for making bows and arrows. Juniper is also a popular material for fencing in Arizona. There is an old saying that Juniper wood never breaks. Both Juniper and Pinyon have a wonderful fragrance when you burn it, and a fire made out of these trees last a long time. Are you familiar with the fragrance?
Juniper and Pinyon Trees
My property is reasonably flat, and have some beautiful cacti like Cholla, and Prickly Pear, along with creosote bush but is not covered in them. I’m hoping to preserve, and enhance its natural beauty with time, while further improving the soil for crops.
Cholla
I had plenty of time walking through the property this weekend assessing plant life, and soil.
I noticed that the seasonal creek likely have been bigger this year during the rainy season, since I discovered two new paths it had taken. I’m planning on collecting rain water, so this is great. I also noticed a couple new potential places to build a cabin. Earlier I thought mostly about the view, planning on planting my own shade trees. I will still plant trees, of course (I LOVE PLANTING TREES.) My new angle is to utilize the shade I actually already have. I didn’t fully realize the amount of bigger trees further away from the road. If I decide to build where there’s already existing mature trees, that will make a big difference when it comes to staying cool in the heat of the summer. I could always build a greenhouse in one of the big open spaces with plenty of sun light, and a gorgeous view 🙂
Another thing I noticed this weekend was that we have at least a couple years of aged fire wood laying around, waiting to be processed. It would be logical to heat our cabin/house (haven’t decided on the exact model yet,) with wood since we have access to an abundance of it.
This weekend confirmed my suspicion that a fence around the perimeter is the first thing I need to build. There’s cows frequently visiting the property (the western states have open range at many places, and it is the land owners responsibility to fence out unwanted grazing animals.) A number of cows strolled by while we enjoyed dinner.
The black dots are more cows, further away. You can see the train from a far distance when standing on our property. What I didn’t know until I spent the night there was that you can hear it as well. It sounds like a low rumble. Too low to stand out during the day, but I heard it during the night. Not loud enough to disturb, just a reminder of civilization.
The cows didn’t bother us, and I like cows, but I would not want to be in the way of a herd of stampeding cattle. They could easily run you over, and of course destroy a garden. Besides cows we saw a big number of Javelinas (wild pigs,) and we heard coyotes nearby from dusk to dawn. The Javelinas looked liked they had eaten good all their life, they were fat.
At 11pm while my daughter and I were sleeping, something big walked by the tent, and touched the side of it (high up.) It could of been a cow, or a deer (there’s plenty of them as well.) I walked out to have a look, but whatever it was had moved on by the time I got my boots on. We do need to put up that fence. Our four season tent, and double sleeping bags kept us very comfortable even when the temperatures got below freezing. We were warm the whole night.
A room with a view.
I felt silly when I prepared our beds with double sleeping bags, it was sunny and 74 then. It was almost 100 degrees colder during the night. We stayed warm and cozy all night.
I got up before sunrise, just sitting outside the tent enjoying the brisk morning air, watching the sky change color several times, and listening to the coyotes sing to each other. 
I feel great about our visit this weekend. The best of it was just taking in the goodness of the place, OUR place. Several times I caught myself smiling, while listening to my daughter’s giggly conversation about all the important thoughts in her head.
Plenty of cows in the morning too.
What makes you smile? Share some of your smiles!
Love,
Maria
How amazing to have camped out under the stars on your land! I love pinyon – I had some pinyon incense a while back, it smelled wonderful.. So excited for you two!
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Thank you Kathleen! It was amazing! Pinyon smells wonderful, I’ve had Pinyon incense as well, but it was a long time ago. I hope your week got off to a fantastic start!
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Are the Pinyon nuts like the pine nuts? When the time comes are you going to drill a well for water or come up with a tank and have water brought in? Fencing is a great idea!
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Pinyon and pine nuts are related, but pinyon nuts are milder. Both are very good for you!
Eventually I will drill a well, but I will start out by collecting rainwater. Collecting rainwater from the surface of a 500sqf roof would be enough for two conscious adults, and a good size garden. Hauling water as as supplement is cheap in the area.
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I love your photos Maria, so beautiful! The landscape is amazing too. I agree, a fence would change the property in a good way. Have a dandy week guys! 😎🌵
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Thank you so much John!
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Oh the desert is amazing! And you own a piece of it!
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It sure is Nancy! We have that in common, our love for the desert. ❤
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It was like we went camping with you – and it amazes me how warm the right sleeping bags can keep humans these days!
Love all The pics and smiled with the burger and red chair shot!
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I’m so happy you enjoyed our camping trip 🙂 It was so much fun! Makes me dream about all the things I want to do there in the future. I hope your week is great so far!
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Things are good so far – thanks !!
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Wonderful!
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Beautiful photos of your property. How exciting for you, sounds like you will have an adventure of a lifetime. Oh and there is nothing like listening to a group of coyotes singing ♥️
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Thank you Margaret! I really like having something physical to hang my dreams and goals on. For now I am grateful spending time there every now and then. ❤
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Beautiful photos.
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Thank you so much Frank!
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That’s a great smile! Fencing to keep the cows out seems to be a must – I’m sure they feel your land is part of their range – but will it impede the natural movement of wildlife? Of course, depending on what was outside of your tent, you may want to impede it a little 😉 Sounds like a great weekend, being able to actually spend the night there. Have a great week ahead 🙂
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Thank you! It was fabulous to get out of the city. In so many ways! ….and yes I think I do want to impeded the wildlife a little.
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Aww…thank you for the trip to serenity – I so needed it!! I’m envious of you and your daughter’s bravery. The pictures of the area are gorgeous, I can see why you’re drawn there. Yep – a fence is needed!! Thank you for sharing your trip!!
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Thank you for coming with us Shelley! It was a wonderful weekend. I really needed to get away too!
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I enjoyed the trip. You have a beautiful spot to get away!!
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Wonderful! Thank you!
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You’re welcome!!!
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Looks very peaceful, MAria. Joy.
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Thank you! I really needed some peace.
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What fun! How many acres are there in your portion? Is there groundwater for a well? Step by step you are realizing your goal, so very wonderful! Cause for big smiles for sure. 🙂
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Thank you Eliza! one day I will have a well. Several of my “neighbors” have wells, others haul water. I’d say it’s 50/50. According to my calculation we would do OK harvesting rainwater, which is legal in Arizona, but of course I would like to have a well.
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I hope your feeling refreshed & energized. It was so beautiful to see more of your piece of paradise. Its so good that it already has so much that you can make use of. The dilemma would be once you have it fenced is which trees to string up a hammock between. Have a great week.
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Awe, thank you! I did feel wonderful away from he city 🙂 I think I can handle the hammock dilemma 😉 I hope you’re having a fabulous week!
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How fortunate you are to have the two properties and exciting that one will be your home. Even better that you shall be self-sufficient. Good luck, Maria.
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Thank you for your kind words Steve!
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I so ENJOYED your smile this week. What fun and it’s like we joined you on your travels. Such beautiful photos, I’m thinking the sunrise photos are my favorite as I can see you gazing into the sunrise seeing your future! It’s so great to be with you in spirit as you get closer to your dream homestead! Smiling from ear to ear! 😀🥰
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Awe ❤ I enjoy sharing my dreams with you. Being able to visit a couple times this year have been fabulous.
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It sounds like you have a wonderful plan underway. Beautiful view as far as you can see!!
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Thank you so much! It’s a longterm plan, but I enjoy very much to keep my dreams alive. Thank you for your kind comment.
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Your homestead prowess and adventurous nature are so inspiring, Maria. Your property looks lovely with the pistons and elevation. Who knows, we may be purchasing 2 acres up in Spokane, WA over Thanksgiving for our future homestead!
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Wow Terri!!! That is so amazing! Spokane is beautiful and have so much water! That is very exciting!
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Arizona or New Mexico is my dream too. Someday maybe I’ll get there. How cool you have land there now so you can enjoy it more. I didn’t know there were 4 season tents. My dog and I camp a lot and early summer in northern Michigan can get so cold (not usually below freezing, but certainly in the low 40s). Maybe I should check out a 4 season tent. And by double sleeping bags, do you mean two sleeping bags made into one? Or that the two of you slept in a big sleeping bag together?
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Yes, there’s four season tents. It makes a big difference. Both my daughter and I had two sleeping bags made into one, each (total of four sleeping bags.) I hope you go for your dream!
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