Rancho Sierra Vista

Today we delivered job opportunities to the chapter houses in Chinle, Many Farms, Lukachukia and found two of the people the bishop in the Many Farms ward would like us to visit.  We will probably deliver to Round Rock and Ruff Rock next week.  We found the bishops place in Lukachukia and visited with his wife. 

The post office still can’t make the key work for our P O Box which I predict will take at least six months.  Dad loves it as he gets to go ask for our mail, which they have a huge sign saying do not ask for your mail!

We walked out to the rim of Antalope trail which overlooks the Canyon De Chille said da shay, and looked down into the valley it was like looking into another world.  There are farms and all kinds of things growing, trees, crops, just beautiful.  The lookouts are on our way to and from Lukachukia.  Up on top is total desert, to include the volcanic rock we had in Cameron.

The weather has been very warm since we got here and so the trees around our trailer have to be watered.   Some day some missionaries are going to have an oasis to enjoy.  The one draw back here is that the electricity goes out quit often and the water gets turned off two or three times a week, then we have to let it run everywhere to get rid of the brown water, to include the tub and washer, lots of fun.

The “ranch” was established in September 2000.  It is a beautiful 80+ acres of hay and trees.  About forty acres are in hay/grass with side rolls to water it.  The other half of the land is treed and takes in a canyon with water running year round.  From the area the house will be built if we live long enough you can see mountain ranges in all four states making up the four corners region.

In the beginning dad and Justin spent a week putting in a road to where we have the barn/house built.  Since that first attempt to inhabit the land we have truly lived in a third world country.  No water, power, telephone.  After seven years and much work we have power, water, irrigation water under pressure, and a telephone line (s).  The barn is mostly done except for the upstairs where we will live, some day. 

This summer we harvested about 2,000 bales of hay and sold most of it to our friends on the reservation. 

The pond was dug out and filled, but not soon enough for the mother duck (wild) to come again and have her babies like she did last summer.

Now that the summer is over we are leaving home and heading back to the Navajo Nation.  We served last year, October to April in Cameron and the Grand Canyon.  It was a wonderful time and we made some really neat friends, and got to hike the beautifl painted desert as well as the whole of the top of the Grand Canyon.  We were the only belagonas so everyone knew where we were even if we didn’t.  We got found when we were sure where we were.

This winter we will be in Chinle, serving in Many Farms and Lukachukia.  Lots of belagonas here so we don’t stand out like we did last year.  We are looking forward to working with the people here.

Last night we were in Provo for the wedding reception of one of our nephews, one of my younger sisters sons. This is always a fun event since we get to see all of the relatives, cousins, nephews and nieces - which is always a treat. We used to drive to Utah for our vacations so my children would have the chance to get to know their cousins and this is an extension of that - though, it is kind of sad to see that my children don’t always know their cousins.

Being at the reception last night helped solidify that son John will be getting married very soon. He and his fiance Erin are getting married in Manti, UT at the temple down there. The day will be filled with the temple sealing and a luncheon and, that evening, a reception at the Springville Museum of Art in Springville, UT. This is exciting and a little terrifying, all at the same. When you think about it, cousins getting married, and the way receptions and events come together, it is strange to think that a lot of small, individual, events have to merge at the right time for everything to be just right.

The reception, last night, was very nice. Seeing my brothers and sisters and their children, and having my own children with me, was fun. Having a son getting married means I get to see these people again.

This is where John and Erin will be married on August 3, 2007.

Welcome to Rancho Sierra Vista dot net. This is the website and home for all things Rancho Sierra Vista. A ranch, farm, or whatever in Southwestern Colorado in the Cortez, Dolores area.

Rancho Sierra Vista is 80 acres where Jack and Alaine have settled after a long, long, long life of travel and moving their family and children everywhere AND in retirement have gone, slightly retarded in deciding to farm 80 acres.

Anyway, this is where they will post pictures, updates, information, and supposed progress on barns, cabins, hogons, and (cross fingers, pray really hard, and find a magical lamp that grants wishes) a house.

That’s it for now.

son John