EASTER SUNDAY DRIVE

BOB AND CAMILLE GET AWAY FOR THE DAY - April 16, 2006

 

MEMORY LANE

On this beautiful morning, we drove out to a river we once lived close to and found it to be just as pretty as we remembered it.

 

The first blush of green grass on the pastures made us happy for the coming of spring after our first full winter in 10 years.  We parked the car and went for a long walk along the same road we once rode often on our horses, Jesse and Penny.

 

GATED ESTATES

We were amazed at how many enormous homes we saw on our way north to open prairie lands.

One after another, after another.  And many of them already up for resale as if someone would spend a million dollars or more to take ownership of someone else's (failed) dream home.  If you have that kind of money, wouldn't you rather build your own version of the American Dream?

A bit preposterous, is what we thought!  If this isn't conspicuous consumption, what is?  And the really sad thing about these monster homes is that no one is ever home.  At least not outside enjoying the private splendor of their own personal and fenced off piece of usurped wheat field. 

 

NOW WE'RE TALKING!

 

We drove north, past the behemoth homes and stopped beside this windmill which is used to pump water to the stock tank behind Bob.  "Now," we said to each other, "THIS makes sense!"

 

WARY AND FLEET

As curious about us as we were about them, this small group of antelope stood and watched us

before running away!

 

NORMAL-SIZED HOMES

Relics of a bygone era, these weather-beaten structures are testament to the time when people spent more time outside than inside.  We thought they would be the perfect size for us.

In obvious deference to nature, these old homesteads lean away from the wind after years of neglect.

We don't know how old these houses and barns have been sitting out on the prairie, but we read that the first homesteaders came to this area in 1862.  In accordance with the Homestead Act of 1862, any U.S. citizen, 21 years or older could move onto public land and cultivate it.  They were given 160 acres with the expectation that at least 40 acres of that had to be tilled.

 

EASTER BUNNIES!

And then, we saw them!  Two large jack rabbits grazing close to the road.  They stopped and watched us looking at them and then tore off across the prairie.  Click on the picture for a closer look.

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