Update

 Benjamn is now in his 8th week of Marine basic training.  We are looking forward to watching him graduate in April.  We sure miss him!

Benjaman, protecting the homefront (well, really, hunting rabbits LOL)

Bo decided to build the shop before the house.  That way he can make sure to get the very best mix of caliche, dirt and possibly portland.

Shop wall, practicing for the house

 Bo insists he was never in any danger and that set up was stable.  I'm so glad he's still here to laugh about it.

What would we do without internet?!

 Our solar system is now ready for the house.  The will be an upgrade about 5 years down the road.  It works great.

Bo welded a frame for the new solar array

The new solar array

 Since we had a wet, freezing winter Bo started working on the fencing.  So far he's completed 1/2 mile of 4 strand barbed wire fence through the sand hills.

Corner brace for the fencing

H braces for the fencing

 Imagine that!

arrowhead found on the ranch

 Here are the soil samples.  I think he decided to go with the one on the far right.

soil samples for rammng

We decided to rent a small house in town for the winter.  Our campers are not cold weather campers. We are in the process of moving back out to the ranch. We just spent a few nights out there and it was fine.  The outside low was 44 degrees and the inside low was 55 degrees.  We turn the heater on in the morning to take the chill off.  The high yesterday was 92.  Welcome to the high desert where the temperature swings almost 50 degrees a day!

I must say, this has all been much harder than either of us envisioned.  It seems everything in the universe is conspiring to get in our way.  We are persevering though!  We know God has a plan.