As many of my friends know, I grew up on a small family cattle farm. Down the dirt road from my childhood home, my grandparents lived in house I’m now restoring. A walk across the field, past the pond, would take me to my Aunt and Uncle. It was a great place to grow up even if it meant excessively long bus rides home from school each day.
My grandma passed away when I was in junior high and my grandpa moved out of the house shortly after that. Since then it’s set vacant. As I’ve started the planning process my dad has given me bits and pieces of information about the home. Just enough to make me want to know more!
First walk through:
- There appears to be tracks still worn in the field from a wagon trail. Which was it? Did something happen where the family decided to stop and build here rather than continuing on?
- My grandpa put two additions on the home. What did this farm house look like originally?
- The house was build in 1860. To put that in perspective, our state wasn’t admitted to the union until 1861! Imagine what is was like here back then! I need to know everything.
- In the time my extended family has been on the farm:
- Went from: no running water > windmill water > modern well water > rural water in the house
- A clear hodge-podge of DIY electrical, insulation, and other construction
- Having horses, chickens, dairy cows, and now angus cattle
- So much more I don’t even know!
Intentionally Rural 