Our Adobe Hacienda
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Arts Entertainment -> subcategory Humor.
Our Adobe Hacienda
Introduction
When I was a teenager, my family embarked on an adventure to the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado, the largest alpine valley in the world. We moved into a long-abandoned adobe house that presented us with what seemed like an impossible challenge. However, as we tackled the daunting task of reclaiming our living space, a sense of passion blossomed. This adobe house, formerly built by a Japanese family, had become a popular hangout for local teens until we arrived.
A New Beginning
Initially, the adobe was overrun with chipmunks, from the attic to the floor. We started the exhausting process of scrubbing, cleaning, and refurbishing the place. By winter, we were settled in, albeit with the discomfort of an outhouse. Accustomed to the warmer climes of southern New Mexico, the biting cold of 40 degrees below zero was a shock. I’ll never forget how thick the ice was?"immobilizing anything left outside. Despite the harsh conditions, my siblings and I enjoyed ice skating on Sangre de Cristo Creek.
Building Memories
The "old adobe," as we fondly call it now, was our cozy haven. The main room, heated by a large wood stove, became a hub for visitors who enjoyed gallons of hot coffee and my seemingly endless peach cobblers.
The following summer, Luther Bean, a retired history professor, frequently visited from Alamosa to help with building a much-needed bathroom. Alongside him, we sifted sand, gathered stones, and mixed cement. Our efforts extended beyond construction; we cultivated a garden beside the creek, and our livestock included chickens, hogs, goats, and a beloved sheep named Baby. Thoughts of dining on Baby faded as she grew into a cherished family pet.
Life on the Farm
We also acquired two dogs, Sandy and Curly, our enthusiastic livestock herders. My mother, an experienced seamstress, set up an upholstery shop in an outbuilding. We spent our summer days canning, and I’ll never forget the cold shock of well water as we washed our garden's bounty.
Raising chickens was a familiar task, though plucking them was never pleasant. I still recall a humorous incident in Texas where Mom tried, unsuccessfully, to prepare a chicken for dinner. That night, we dined on beans and cornbread instead.
Rustic Living
Our home had an unconventional electrical system, with wires to be manually hooked together for light. Miraculously, none of us ever suffered a shock?"it was as if we were under the care of guardian angels.
Despite our rustic lifestyle, I never felt deprived. Surrounded by dreams, books, and daily adventures, I experienced a richness that transcended material wealth. When I spent 24 years away from the Valley, its memory lingered as a profound homesickness.
A Touching Farewell
When the Japanese family visited, they were moved to tears seeing their old home revitalized. The adobe had meant so much to them, just as it did to us. I remember the cozy smoke curling from the stove pipe, with icicles hanging like delicate gingerbread trimmings.
Years later, I returned to discover the adobe was gone, bulldozed by a local farmer. Although the building was lost, the lessons and memories of living simply and richly remain etched in my heart. I know I could embrace that way of life again if necessary. Here's to wilderness adventures and the enduring spirit of the adobe hacienda.
© 2005 Dianne James
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