Homestead memories...

The Homestead has meant so many things to us as a family. When we lived in Holbrook we spent a lot more time up there with the kids because it was only 1 ½ hrs away. I would take them up there and stay the week and Norm would come up on the weekend. It worked out so well and the kids loved it. Although it seemed like a quiet place with nothing to do when we arrived, the kids would bring it to life within minutes with their enthusiasm and love of the freedom of the outdoors and being at the Homestead. They would play in the woods, pick wild flowers, swing on the rope swing, do nature-based crafts, see wild life like deer and antelope and chipmunks and squirrels. Sometimes see blue jays and all kinds of birds that don’t live in the city. They would climb Sierra Trego, catch horny toads, carve their names on trees on the road to Greens Peak, go to the observatory at Greens Peak, climb down Greens Peak, go to Little Giant Springs, and always meet new cousins. It was always a treat when it had rained and there was a tiny stream running in the field between Grandpa’s cabin and the cultural hall. They would make tiny vessels of twigs to sail and race down the little trickle of water. Sometimes when Norm would come up on the weekend they would go fishing at Big Lake. About the time that Artie was born, we got a small motor home and would take it everywhere. It had a “insy” kitchen, a “teensy” bathroom, and would sleep the whole family. It was great to take on fishing trips to Big Lake. I would stay at the shore with the babies and watch them fish with binoculars off and on while I made breakfast for them. When it was ready, I would flash the lights and they would come in and eat. While I was cleaning up they would go back out and fish. I read and made crafts in the motor home and it felt so good knowing they were all having fun with their daddy. They always caught something it seems.

As the years went on and the kids got older, they have always enjoyed taking friends to the Homestead. Everyone they took loved it too. We had several “All Friends Day” and everyone would invite a couple of friends to come with us in the motor home. They would play in the pond and learn to swing on the rope swing. We’d pitch tents or build shelters and come back home after a couple of days of wearing everyone out on Greens Peak and all parts in between. Those were the best years...or so I thought until we had all these grandchildren and tripled the fun at the Homestead. It just thrills me to watch them and feel their love for this great place.

Grandpa [Art] Whiting wrote the letter included in this 'post'