The old well

The old hand dug well's concrete collar is covered with sheet metal, boards and bound with barbed wire. Hand dug wells are common features on land around here - usually shallow, some filled with garbage and most still serving in agriculture.

We hope to uncover and inspect the well and based upon findings of depth and water quality we will consider placing a hand pump over the well.

They moved the house in 1942

We spotted the old crumbly cedar stumps surrounded by dewberry vines and high grass. They served as foundation for a once modest, yet adequate wood frame home overlooking the pasture below.

Our locksmith was familiar with the place - his cousins lived here. He walked around reliving if only for a moment those times he frequented this place years ago. He shared that the house was sold and moved to Brenham in 1942.

We built a barn on a rise east of the old homesite - thinking someday a home may once again be perched upon the hill.

The trick is to keep it that way

The county agent came by just before we purchased the land. He said some things we really didn't want to hear but glad he said it just the same...and after some questions and answers when we were about to part company he said, "others have lived on this land a long time ago and it is a really nice piece of land today."

"The trick is to keep it that way."

That may not sound like sage advice but it did stick...and when one considers options for development and agriculture it makes a lot of sense. We are working hard to keep it nice.

Bluebonnets in front of the old garage

Did the realtor tell you it floods?

We met the neighbors. Nice couple. They were good enough to share photos of our pasture during the aftermath of tropical storm Allison in 2001. The land is positioned along a dry creek. We have not had that much rain since, but we have had some ponding water in the lower pasture after intense storms. It goes with the territory.

At first we were alarmed about the volume of water sheeting across the land during heavy rains, but later observed everyone experiences the same thing. The great thing about living near a dry creek is that the area will not be developed and there are not many mosquitoes. Neighboring pastures should remain wild and wooded for quite some time.