In March of this year, my wife Cheryl and I purchased a few acres of land in the Big Bend Valley section of Terlingua Ranch. We named our little place Dos Arbolitos. We feel fortunate to own a little piece of the Chihuahuan Desert and all of the sky that comes with it free of charge.

Last month, a few of my buddies joined me to start fencing Dos Arbolitos. We were able to complete the front section of fence, including the gate. We also set and tensioned all of the corner posts and added bracing at the midway points of each property line.
Last week, I returned alone to Dos Arbolitos to camp out and to clear the brush along our property lines. This next step had to be completed in order to make it possible to finish the fencing in the coming weeks. With the boundary lines clear, we will have an easier time of setting the cedar and t-posts and then stretching and securing the welded wire fencing.

I don’t mind admitting that clearing brush is hard, especially when working alone. The before and after pics tell the story. The scratches on my body tell the rest of the story. And the feeling of satisfaction in my heart completes the story. So happy to have this phase finished.

One thing I am learning is that even though we have a small piece of property, there is always something that needs doing. I find myself thinking about the next project when my brain has a minute to slow down or when I go to bed at night. There is so much to think about and so much I am learning.
At sixty-two, I could have found an easier path. Instead, I am glad that I have something hard to do, something that challenges me to learn how to do things I have never done before. In my spare time I find myself reading about solar power and water catchment and desert flora and about all kinds of off-grid stuff.
The process of turning our dream of a desert getaway into reality is happening slowly but surely — a nickel and dime at a time. Dos Arbolitos is more than 600-miles from our comfortable suburban home in Katy. It’s a long haul to get there. We know it’s going to take lots of trips between dream and reality.

Every trip requires lots of planning. We have to make sure we have everything we need in order to complete a project because forgetting something means having to drive a long way to the nearest town for supplies. We make and check our supply lists at least twice.
One thing is certain, we are enjoying the journey. It’s fun to dream and to dream again — to draw up plans, rethink them, and then refine and draw them again. Every trip to Dos Arbolitos gets us a step closer to the day we will have our little place where we can get away to drink in the quiet, breathe in the refreshing desert air, and take in the spectacular views.

Thanks for following our adventure of making our little dream come true.