My attempt to make it to my 10 acres in Terlingua Ranch and make a go of living on it. From the start it hasn't gone good at all, but I'm hopeful things will turn around!
Yes propane. Would is too scarce and off grid wouldn't work for electric heat. Full time running of the Mr. Heater gets me about 5 days on 15 pounds of propane.
Hey David, caught your blog from John Wells blog and started from the end, but went back to the beginning and am catching up slowly. I hope you heal up soon. I was in the navy in the early 80s, machinist's mate aboard USS Nimitz. Never went to a va hospital once I got out. I saw what they did to others. Avoid drs like the plague, try to take care of myself, gave up smoking and drinking and eat vegetarian. Spinal cord injury from a wreck put me in a wheelchair almost 22 years ago. I am planning on buying land down there and moving as soon as I can get land sold and debts paid off here. As I have been reading you and JW's blogs, side step every now and then into other folks that keep showing up on each of them. Whatever happened to ~wc~, I found the tail end of her blog dated about 2015 where she was looking at cancer surgery and her sister was doing a go fund me for it. Last post was just before surgery and it did not look good, blog ended there. Hate if I'm dragging up old hurt but it seems to me you two were hitting it off good and she was talking about getting property there and moving back in 2010. I take it you are still on your property or have you had to move due to your health? We used to push start mom's old 4 door falcon for her to get to work every morning in the early 70s for about a year until she could afford another starter. We were dirt poor, the good old days...
I'm still doing ok. Also still trying to get my back add on with the bedroom and bathroom finished, but as of now I still have to go outside to get in it until I can get a huge cabinet out of here where I can cut the door going directly back there. It also isn't heated yet so its more or less like using an outhouse. These cold nights and days suck. I can't do much of my own work anymore so the cost and finding someone who will do a good job at a reasonable price is making things even worse. I already have about four times the $$$ tied up in that project than I could have done it if I could have myself. I have a storage shed ordered so when it gets here I'll be able to get the cabinet out of here so I can cut the door in and maybe get things going my way again. I can't figure out who ~WC~ is so I don't have a clue. If you're talking about Mama Crow she has been through hell and is still going through it. She is on FB.
That's her, mama crow, she had changed her blog handle at one time. Glad to know she is still hanging in there. I am about to get either a 5 acre or 10 acre plot down there in a few days. We sold part of mom's farm(siblings) and now it is just getting a few questions answered. I am in a wheelchair but am able to do most things using lifts, winches, dollies etc. I replaced my truck rear end myself, last year, took me three days and God's help, but He is faithful. When I get there, maybe I can be of help to you. It's amazing what a man can do with a rope/strap and the right tools. I just can't put a roof on a building, I can do the rest slowly but surely. I know the feeling of trying to find good help, and if your body worked, not needing it anyway. Do you know how the septic/compost toilet inspection works and costs? I read all I could find on Brewster County zoning, it LOOKS like if you have 10 acres or more, no inspection is required. JW at TFL said you had to have 20 acres to not require inspection. One of the spots is about 2 miles from the American Legion, the other ones I am looking at are off terlingua ranch road about 2 and a half miles from 118. If I knew what the land size required to avoid or the cost of inspection of toilet system, I could make my decision. I want to get the land asap before someone else does.
Used to be 10 acres for no inspection and below that required a septic system, but things do change down here. Going east on legion road is growing up fast out here. Ranch road I don't know about.
Yeah, there are quite a few people on Legion, I have been using Google Earth to do all my looking. I appreciate you answering all the questions. I guess I am going to have to call in to Brewster County and ask. I was up all night last night, reading their pdf booklet on zoning, I couldn't determine much more from it either. No way I could afford getting a septic system installed. Read about that deal at the Legion off of your blog.
Most off gridders are using composting toilets and some maybe outdoor toilets. Who is going to snoop around to find out? Now I've been told that outdoor toilets are illegal in Texas now as well as composting toilets that are not commercially sold and licensed. Again who is going to be snooping around to find out. Your big mistake is going to be buying land sight unseen. A lot of the land down here is in flood plane and if you don't take that in to account you may get flooded out or not have access to or from the property for days or longer. There are other reasons not to buy it sight unseen. You need to know what you are buying before you buy it. There are a few people that will stick it to you selling you land. If you don't buy the land from a reputable person of company there is always the chance the land doesn't belong to them or it is the wrong land. I had one prick sell my other land to other people and they wound up having to move their trailer about a mile east and half a mile north to the actual land they bought.
I appreciate you taking the time to write all this info out. The 10 acre spot sold the other night. A realtor also stated the 10 acre and above do not need inspection/septic, ie they can use composting. More reading TX law agrees unless soil type prevents septic from working...I'm with you, who is gonna be snooping? What kind of idiot would attempt to sell something that isn't his? In my younger years that would have cost him dearly had it been me. Looks like it is warming up down there now, it's 11 degrees here, B R ! that's cold! Hope you are managing in this cold.
I might be able to get my brother to ride out and check it out, he lives in El Paso. There is one other that I am looking at. I just have to sell my car and telescope to be able to get it. Most of the things I own, I by used and fix them up. Always has been that way. Unfortunately, where I live now, I can't work on anything. That is one of the multitude of lesser reasons, I have to want to move to the desert.
Hey tffnguy, How are you doing in this recent cold snap? Make us another blog entry and let us know how you are doing. Might get a few pictures in there too, hope you are stocked on food n propane. Looks like I am going to be moving there after mid Feb, have to get in touch with the guy down there that sells the storage buildings. Wouldn't know a site I can look him up on would you?
Christmas Shopping
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ADVENTURE LOCATION:
ROCKPORT, TEXAS
December 5, 2024
Home Work Today
Today was a shopping and fixing day. Our first chore was to find printer
ink f...
Tradition
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I don't celebrate Christmas like I used to when Ronnie was here.Also,
Natasha and the grandkids have moved to Scotland.So, it is just Richard and
I here.Th...
Other items to consider..
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My buddy Jackie, that helped me building the west TX cabin passed away a
few months ago. He was 58.
John Wells, The Field Lab blogger, that was a distan...
My computer was hacked
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Last week my computer was hacked. I had several tabs open when it started
slowing down to a crawl and I thought *Spectrum* had gone down again. Then
it l...
New Chapter Begins
-
I finished closing up and winterizing the rig up in the cold place and
today I can stay home in the warm place (Quartzsite) and enjoy small town
living....
Draw an Ask Old Jules card on YouTube
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Hello everyone, I decided to upload videos of drawing one card at a time on
YouTube. This will happen three times a week. If you want to go over and
look, ...
Life Changes
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I miss doing this blog. I miss the lifestyle I lived and shared with
everyone while doing it. I miss the good people on here and I miss keeping
up with ...
December 1st, 1960
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On this day 61 years ago I flew to Hawaii.
The 1st of Dec. 1960, we boarded a 707 in Los Angeles and flew to Hawaii. I
was 7 years old. I don't remember...
More Terlingua Cabin
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Starry night, man what a beautiful dark sky.
My electric comes from Solar, works great.
Dead quite, beautiful sun rise on the Chisos.
Wild burrows ca...
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE....!
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Just wanted to break my self imposed silence long enough to wish everyone a
safe and pleasant TURKEY DAY!
I hope you all are safe and well! Enjoy the day...
Swankie is back in the house...
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Hello Friends,
I began this blog over 10 years ago. Somehow last year... I got locked
out of it... and with everything that was going on, I just could ...
Had a Good Day
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Had a good day today. Started out by going to the Flea Market and walking
all through the outside (under roof) tables and then going inside and going
all ...
*****NEW WINNER ANNOUNCED*****
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I want to say, Thank You to all my Blogger friends for participating in my
recent give-away.
Two winners were selected in this give-away. One of the winne...
-
Wow, A long time again since my last post. Work always gets in the way of
posting and this is strictly a business plug.
See UvAirPurifiers.com for UV, Phot...
Been a While
-
Well here it is,,, almost 11pm,, and i have been to bed, tossed and rolled
for over an hour, and got back up. This is almost every nite. I'm so tired
durin...
A New Project
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I started a new project today. We'll see if I ever finish it. This will be
decorated with vintage jewelry pieces and beads and fitted with lights and
sold ...
This land... is no longer my land
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My land has sold! I will sorely miss it, but it has gone to someone that
can really get some use out of it.
Apologies for not updating the blog for so long...
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Last Friday my wife Lana and I headed out to have lunch with several
couples. We were on the freeway in the fast lane when traffic ahead started
stopping,j...
Beautiful pics.
ReplyDeleteStunning. Thanks for sharing. Keep warm...
ReplyDeleteGreat pics... looks so different.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting. Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteNice David - thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBernie O
So the heat concern shifts from outside to inside. What do you use for winter heat? Propane?
ReplyDeleteYes propane. Would is too scarce and off grid wouldn't work for electric heat. Full time running of the Mr. Heater gets me about 5 days on 15 pounds of propane.
DeleteThat's just plain old beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHey David, caught your blog from John Wells blog and started from the end, but went back to the beginning and am catching up slowly. I hope you heal up soon. I was in the navy in the early 80s, machinist's mate aboard USS Nimitz. Never went to a va hospital once I got out. I saw what they did to others. Avoid drs like the plague, try to take care of myself, gave up smoking and drinking and eat vegetarian. Spinal cord injury from a wreck put me in a wheelchair almost 22 years ago. I am planning on buying land down there and moving as soon as I can get land sold and debts paid off here. As I have been reading you and JW's blogs, side step every now and then into other folks that keep showing up on each of them. Whatever happened to ~wc~, I found the tail end of her blog dated about 2015 where she was looking at cancer surgery and her sister was doing a go fund me for it. Last post was just before surgery and it did not look good, blog ended there. Hate if I'm dragging up old hurt but it seems to me you two were hitting it off good and she was talking about getting property there and moving back in 2010. I take it you are still on your property or have you had to move due to your health? We used to push start mom's old 4 door falcon for her to get to work every morning in the early 70s for about a year until she could afford another starter. We were dirt poor, the good old days...
ReplyDeleteI'm still doing ok. Also still trying to get my back add on with the bedroom and bathroom finished, but as of now I still have to go outside to get in it until I can get a huge cabinet out of here where I can cut the door going directly back there. It also isn't heated yet so its more or less like using an outhouse. These cold nights and days suck. I can't do much of my own work anymore so the cost and finding someone who will do a good job at a reasonable price is making things even worse. I already have about four times the $$$ tied up in that project than I could have done it if I could have myself. I have a storage shed ordered so when it gets here I'll be able to get the cabinet out of here so I can cut the door in and maybe get things going my way again. I can't figure out who ~WC~ is so I don't have a clue. If you're talking about Mama Crow she has been through hell and is still going through it. She is on FB.
ReplyDeleteThat's her, mama crow, she had changed her blog handle at one time. Glad to know she is still hanging in there.
ReplyDeleteI am about to get either a 5 acre or 10 acre plot down there in a few days. We sold part of mom's farm(siblings) and now it is just getting a few questions answered. I am in a wheelchair but am able to do most things using lifts, winches, dollies etc. I replaced my truck rear end myself, last year, took me three days and God's help, but He is faithful. When I get there, maybe I can be of help to you. It's amazing what a man can do with a rope/strap and the right tools. I just can't put a roof on a building, I can do the rest slowly but surely. I know the feeling of trying to find good help, and if your body worked, not needing it anyway. Do you know how the septic/compost toilet inspection works and costs? I read all I could find on Brewster County zoning, it LOOKS like if you have 10 acres or more, no inspection is required. JW at TFL said you had to have 20 acres to not require inspection. One of the spots is about 2 miles from the American Legion, the other ones I am looking at are off terlingua ranch road about 2 and a half miles from 118. If I knew what the land size required to avoid or the cost of inspection of toilet system, I could make my decision. I want to get the land asap before someone else does.
Used to be 10 acres for no inspection and below that required a septic system, but things do change down here. Going east on legion road is growing up fast out here. Ranch road I don't know about.
ReplyDeleteYeah, there are quite a few people on Legion, I have been using Google Earth to do all my looking. I appreciate you answering all the questions. I guess I am going to have to call in to Brewster County and ask. I was up all night last night, reading their pdf booklet on zoning, I couldn't determine much more from it either. No way I could afford getting a septic system installed. Read about that deal at the Legion off of your blog.
ReplyDeleteMost off gridders are using composting toilets and some maybe outdoor toilets. Who is going to snoop around to find out? Now I've been told that outdoor toilets are illegal in Texas now as well as composting toilets that are not commercially sold and licensed. Again who is going to be snooping around to find out. Your big mistake is going to be buying land sight unseen. A lot of the land down here is in flood plane and if you don't take that in to account you may get flooded out or not have access to or from the property for days or longer. There are other reasons not to buy it sight unseen. You need to know what you are buying before you buy it. There are a few people that will stick it to you selling you land. If you don't buy the land from a reputable person of company there is always the chance the land doesn't belong to them or it is the wrong land. I had one prick sell my other land to other people and they wound up having to move their trailer about a mile east and half a mile north to the actual land they bought.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you taking the time to write all this info out. The 10 acre spot sold the other night. A realtor also stated the 10 acre and above do not need inspection/septic, ie they can use composting. More reading TX law agrees unless soil type prevents septic from working...I'm with you, who is gonna be snooping? What kind of idiot would attempt to sell something that isn't his? In my younger years that would have cost him dearly had it been me. Looks like it is warming up down there now, it's 11 degrees here, B R ! that's cold! Hope you are managing in this cold.
ReplyDeleteI always spent my half an hour to read this website's content everyday along
ReplyDeletewith a mug of coffee.
I might be able to get my brother to ride out and check it out, he lives in El Paso. There is one other that I am looking at. I just have to sell my car and telescope to be able to get it. Most of the things I own, I by used and fix them up. Always has been that way. Unfortunately, where I live now, I can't work on anything. That is one of the multitude of lesser reasons, I have to want to move to the desert.
ReplyDeleteHey tffnguy,
ReplyDeleteHow are you doing in this recent cold snap? Make us another blog entry and let us know how you are doing. Might get a few pictures in there too, hope you are stocked on food n propane. Looks like I am going to be moving there after mid Feb, have to get in touch with the guy down there that sells the storage buildings. Wouldn't know a site I can look him up on would you?
It'd be nice to find easy buttons to post this stuff on Twitter and Facebook . . .
ReplyDeleteNice photos.
Good luck with that ranch thing! You're a braver man than I.
Yоur method оf describing all іn thiѕ piece ᧐f writing is genuinely
ReplyDeletepleasant, everʏ one can simply understand іt,
Thanks a lоt.
Good to see your still kickin and posting!
ReplyDelete