Bittersweet

I was up at 3 this morning, doing last minute chores and checking my lists for the 100th time.  The truck and Hummer were packed, the refrigerator cleaned out, floors shining, and everything tidy.  Carly and Colter came over at 9:45 and we went through the house, turning lights on and off, showing them electric panel locations, water systems, etc.  They left by noon and we gathered up our last items, tied things down on the truck, and set off for Tucson.

As I drove, my head was flooded with memories made on Winchester Ranch.  Papa and I found the Rock House and bunkhouse in total disrepair when we arrived in September 2003, with the roofs half off and animals living inside.  We embarked on a major renovation of both, feeling overwhelmed by all the work ahead and the size of the ranch, with not much grass at that time, fences down, and water sources not much developed.  I helped design our new home on the ranch and was contractor during construction.  I built the house compound from breaking ground to full completion in 13 months.  At the same time, we began ranch improvements, adding 2 water wells, 20 miles of pipeline, 30 miles of new fence, solar pumps on the wells, new drinkers and storage, on and on.  Papa bought our horses, Oscar and Pablo.  We put cattle on the ranch in 2005.  By 2009, the herd had grown and we began our annual summer roundup and branding week, and winter roundup just after Christmas.  Those times felt like we were living in a western storybook, only for us it was very real.  

Our family came to Winchester Ranch many times over the past 13 years, with each of our children bringing their children, to ride horses, look for rocks, hike, ride in the Ranger, and make s'mores.  Papa and I hiked often, exploring as much of our 24 square mile ranch as possible, discovering several primitive Indian dwellings with simple pictographs and marks on the walls.  We got to know the ranch better than anyplace we've ever lived... the grasses, trees, animals, wildflowers,
and seasons.  We've felt closer to nature than ever before.

Living on Winchester Ranch has been an incredible experience.  We will miss it!  We are looking forward to our next adventure!