After back-to-back trips to Cambodia and Türkiye in January, I was grateful for a few days off to spend with Cheryl at our off-grid cabin in Big Bend. We have grown accustomed to the 9 hour and 60 minute trek from Katy to our place in the Chihuahuan Desert. We enjoy the drive and our stops along the way.

Because we are still developing our place, we always have a list of projects to accomplish on every visit. We have learned to plan well, to always buy an extra one or two of this or that in case we run short, to see visible progress, and to dream about next steps.

On this particular trip, we had a few things on our list.

First, we took a truckload of firewood with us to restock our supply so that we can continue to enjoy evening campfires under the dark skies of Big Bend. I recently purchased a log splitter to make processing firewood faster and easier. When you consider that a bundle of firewood is about seven bucks, the log splitters has more than paid for itself.

Second, we carried supplies to complete the perimeter half-wall in front of our guest cabin. We are especially excited about this courtyard enclosure that will become a nice place for guests to cook or to simply sit to enjoy the views or conversation. This courtyard in the desert is akin to a front porch.

Years ago I posted a blog entitled The Front Porch in which I wrote: “The front porch, once an essential architectural feature of homes, has become a thing of the past. In the days before the twin sirens of air-conditioned comfort and television lured families into their homes, the front porch was the gathering place — the spot where families cooled off on hot summer nights and actually conversed with one another before going to bed.”

I grew up in homes that had front porches, actual places where we sat and had conversations and laughed and talked about the events of the day. Our little courtyard in the desert is meant to offer folks who visit a place to do those very things.

We are far from finished but pleased with the progress. I managed to finish the perimeter walls and then Cheryl and I started on the pavers. We set three rows of pavers, enough for us to move the fireplace from our outdoor cooking area to the courtyard. It’s exciting to think about all of the good conversations and laughter and stories that will be shared around that fireplace.

Third, we made more progress on our electrical plans. Our neighbor Joe and his son, who is visiting from Minnesota, spent a couple of days running power to my shop and our outdoor cooking area as well as adding some components to our solar system. So happy with the progress.

Fourth, we had to squeeze in an unexpected project. Three years after installing rain barrels in the back of our cooking area, the recent freezing temperatures froze the water in a partially exposed area and busted the pipe connecting all of the bulkhead fittings on the rain barrels. Bottom line: we lost 275 gallons of precious rainwater.

We had to drive an hour north to McCoy’s in Alpine to pick up new fittings and more pipe insulation to make the repairs. The repairs were easy enough but time-consuming. But, that’s life off-the-grid. The weather is always taking its toll on something out in the desert. You just have to roll with the punches and do what you gotta do.

Cheryl and I enjoyed another great week at the cabin, some spectacular sunsets, beautiful sunny days, and some really cold nights. From the cabin we drove to Dallas to celebrate our oldest granddaughter’s sixth birthday — our Valentine’s Day baby. And then from Dallas back to Katy. A lot of miles but grateful for every minute Cheryl and I had to spend together and with our family.