Mackay's Back To The Land Project- The Fruits of Our Labor

[Mackay]

Greetings...today the reality really hits me. This city house is going on the market come end of June. Planning, and painting and cleaning are all commencing... and the welcome but hard reality that my two young men will be turned out into the world as their Dad and I venture into a new dream and project of returning to the land is starting to hit hard.

So, I thought I would use this forum to document our adventure and maybe process some stuff.

It really started about three years ago as we realized that our parenting responsibilities were almost over, retirement was near and a longing for freedom from the work loads and mundane repetitiveness of city life filled our hearts. Our search started with weekend ventures to the north and the south seeking a place that would bring us some land, some water, some good neighbors and some wide open freedom, freedom of all kinds.

On one trip we went up and looked at the north east corner of Idaho. So really very fine but to our dismay we found out that the billionaires of Jackson Hole had ousted the millionaires who were taking up residence in this neck of the woods pretty quick. We were just plain priced out. We also don't care much for those fancy type people...shame on me..

We went over and looked at Salmon Idaho and liked that real well but being the mother I am, and I guess I will never get over it, I just thought it was too far from the place where we think our boys will be living.... as we meandered down the valley we came upon a little town, which at first glance seems kinda sleepy and this is what we saw...

And immediately we were in LOVE! I knew I had found home. Now it did take many trips up to Mackay to find just the right place and dh really wanted to find some land on the very mountain side this photo was taken on but I am a flat lander.. I want animals and to walk without climbing all the time. So we looked and looked and due to being just plain stupid we lost out on a couple of real good deals...like 20 acres for about 70,000 with water rights and a view that would knock your socks off... but letting go again...we did finally find a very fine 8 acres and true to Mackey style it only took 9 months to sew the deal up! Really, a birthing wrought with more anxiety than either of my kids..anyway here it is before we start messing it up...

and this is one of our neighbor driving cattle down the road past our place.

All is well in MackayLand.

 

[Beekissed]

Words fail me! Very beautiful and majestic view!

Your story should be part of Nifty's idea for documenting SS lifestyles-type articles....he's having a contest and this would be perfect!

Someone starting out fresh from the city.....ought to make for very interesting reading!

Please tell us every detail....does it have a house? Will you build your own if it does not? Soil good for growing? Animals? Good neighbors?

 

[Blackbird]

Breathtaking!!!

Can I stay for a spell? I'm a good worker!!

I think I'd miss the trees of Minnesota.. but I can adapt!!

I hope you have a great time at your new place!

 

[elwood]

congratulations Idaho is a beautiful place. We lived there for 3 years until 2008. Move to Nebraska for work. We miss the mountains.

 

[breconbcs]

Those pictures are beautiful! Congrats on the move.

 

[reinbeau]

Gorgeous!

 

[Mackay]

I get up every morning at 4:30. Look out my window upon all the dark houses across the city scape. I think I will make a good country person. The dictates and pace of city life never fit me very well. After 8 years here we still don't know our neighbors very well as people keep holed up in their houses most of the year...we must be a courosity to them, the way we poke around the yard, plant trees, grow a garden, do most of the repairs ourselves...especially my dh. He's out there all the time. Since he is retired he's out there more and more...me , I just keep the going to work routine going. Got to keep sustaining this city house till its sold. The early hours are for house cleaning and net surfing. Three hours put in before I head out the door...It won't be hard to get up early once we are living on our land.

Last spring we went up to the land every chance we could and my work schedule permitted 5 days off in a row every other week so it was great. We needed to select the house site, the pasture placement, where the access road would go, the bridge, septic, electric box, the potential subdivision of the land, which we pray never happens, but would be there if we got strapped for cash in our old age. All the site planning had to be done now.

So there was a lot of walking the land, measuring this and that. Drawing pictures, hammering stakes, dreaming how it will be. These almost 8 acres are subdivided off a 27 acre peiece owned by some rich guy we never met...and seems we may never meet. It was never officially for sale but the real estate lady seemed to have this idea that he might be opened to a sale. The second we stepped on it we knew this was it.

This is the view from the top of the hill that looks down on our property. Its actually neighbors land and behind the fence is BLM land...so we don't have to walk far to hunt. Don't know what the neighbors would think, but I heard somebody took an antelope up there this spring.

We must of put tape every which way till we figured where the house and garage would go. The brown house here in this photo is our closest neighbor. Turns out he will be doing our foundation work as well as turning out to be a real helpful neighbor. Our property starts on the corner to the right in the forefront. Someday most of that will be pasture...at least thats the plan.

In this broader view the truck is sitting about where the house will go. dh will be living in the camper as he builds.

This is our neighbors headgate and pasture. We've been trying to figure out the water system and how to get it onto the land. We can irrigate off this same ditch that runs about 6 months a year off the resevoir located about 5 miles up the road. There's suppose to be some great fishing up there. Neighbors tell me you can make it all the way there on an ATV now that the shoulders on the road have been widened.

The first thing to go up will be the garage and its gonna take all summer to do and then some. Sorry to say I am no good with a hammer so in my book this is guys work. I will busy myself with other things, cooking, planting, cleaning the site and just in general being a support on the days I am there.

The garage will be 500 sf up and down. It will hold the pump house, shop, space of vehicle and general storage below and upstairs will be 500 sf of living space with a small bathroom of which I had to fight for every square inch of. As well as a small kitchenette. In time we plan this space to be a fall rental for hunters and fishermen, as they say the best is found in this neck of the woods and people come from all over to hunt deer, elk, bear. Copper canyon is where the pros go for salmon is it? Maybe a trout, either way it is a pink flesh fish. Most excellent.

This is my first project...and you are right. Not many trees here. So I put in 5 cottonwood and when my neighbor complained that we didn't need anymore cottonwood cause he was so allergic to them I could report that these were hybred, not cotton, no allergy. He was pleased and I guess maybe I made a friend. Guess so, cause shortly after they delivered a little tree in a pot for us to plant...OMG! Later I had to confess to them that I killed it..couldn't decide where to put it and left it for a week thinking it would be ok. Dried out to the bone when we returned... They laughed, I was glad for that.

Now for some reason my computer won't let me access photos of the trees I planted. These trees... I spent my first two days putting them in and I got a whopping intro to what life could be like in these parts. My second day out I found a tick on me, well inbedded. Four days later I was at the hospital trying to figure out why I was so dam sick. Sick like a dog. Turns out I got Colorado Tick Fever...and a lot of worry about getting Lyme disease too. The good part, if there is any good part about the fever is that once you get it you are immune. So now I just get to sit back and watch the rest of us go through it and tell them not to worry, they will live. As far as lyme goes I plan on stashing several rounds of Doxycycline. Treat it early and it can cure. So the rule is treat every tick bite. Don't think. Don't ask. Just do it.

Really, anyone who might come up this way, once we are somewhat settled will be welcome. That may not sound to inviting after my tick story

 

[keljonma]

Those are some breath-taking views you have, Mackay!

 

[gettinaclue]

Wow! What an incredible adventure!

I would be bouncing on my toes in anticipation.

Lovely, peaceful views.

I wish you luck and joy on this new journey!

 

[TTs Chicks]

That is some of the prettiest country I have ever seen. Congratulations and enjoy the process.