As of about 3pm Monday we were all together again–me, Emmi and the Cowboy. We signed paperwork for selling the North Ranch house last Tuesday and Michael left on Wednesday with a final truck/trailer load of stuff headed for Pearce. Emmi and I stayed in the North Ranch house until early Friday morning when the new owners took possession of the North Ranch house. The two of us then moved into Geri and Larry’s RV for the weekend so I could spend more time with friends Jane and Rich.
Leaving North Ranch was painful last night and this morning–we will miss our family of friends so incredibly much.
The Cowboy and I have been looking at property for several months–we made an offer on an 108 acre place off Gleeson Road between Tombstone and Elfrida. This property had an unfinished huge home. The outside of the house was finished–closed in but the interior was only stud walls. The property had a working well but no power–we would have had to have power brought in from about one half mile away. We went as far as due diligence with this property before changing our minds. The Cowboy had concerns with some structural issues and I had concerns with how far it was to the grocery store! Plus access to the home was 2.5 miles of sand/gravel road which could become impassible.
The Cowboy spent hours and hours and hours searching the internet for properties. In late January he had found several properties in the Elfrida/Pearce area, arranging to see these properties with a local realtor–Pam Sproul. After two days of viewing properties we went back to Pam’s office and made an offer on a house/land we can see from the place we eventually purchased. That offer wasn’t accepted.
Back at North Ranch, the Cowboy started searching again. For some reason I started searching too and it’s actually my fault we ended up buying what I have jokingly referred to as “the dump.” We bought this place sight unseen–three acres with a well, power and septic. A house and guest house built in the early 1970’s with major damage from leaking roofs. The property according to neighbors has been vacant for 10 years. The asking price was so little as to make us comfortable buying it sight unseen. Plus Pam Sproul thought the place had potential!
The property sits in the valley between the Dragoon Mountains and the Chiricahua Mountains near the communities of Pearce and Sunsites. The views are incredible and the property comes with lots of peace and quiet. Plus a whole lot of work.
There is a well but it needs a new pump, new pipe, new pressure tank and a well driller who has time to provide all this stuff–he’s been here once and we are hoping he comes back soon!
The main house living room–minor ceiling damage, nasty carpet.
Not sure what this room was used for but to say it has major water damage is an understatement!
Main house kitchen which will be relocated.
Main house bathroom–needless to say the flooring, sink and that green bathtub are leaving!
So–that’s a sneak peek at our major project. We are excited and looking forward to getting started. The motorhome is serving as our dwelling and the cargo trailer provides some storage. There are rooms in the guest house which are also usable for storage. Let the work begin!
We are both so gratified at the response and encouragement we received for the new blog–thank you all so much!!
Restoration Cowboy Style 
Oh my gosh, Jenna! That would scare me to death! It will be a journey to follow. Of course you will post with lots of pictures. Looking forward to watching all that work from my comfy chair 🙂
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I may be wishing for a comfy chair as we work! We have both promised each other to take lots of days off!
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I have been looking at the atlas. Where will you do your shopping? Pearce seems to be deep in the country in a rather high terrain. Will it not be cool in the winter?
I am fascinated with your adventure. 🙂
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Vera–yes, Pearce is 4400 feet elevation. There is limited grocery shopping here in Pearce. The nearest Safeway or Wal Mart is about 30 miles away. Tucson is about 70 miles. Our temps have been about the same as Congress–maybe a few degrees cooler.
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I can’t wait to see the finished product! The two of you have such neat visions and it takes two to make the dream become a reality. Whew..makes me sweat just thinking about the work.
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We too are very excited and anxious to get started–and yes, it’s going to be lots of work!
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You and Mike are amazing – good luck with all the work ahead of you. Anxious to watch the ongoing progress.
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Thanks for the supporting words and thanks for following along!
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I am sure you and the Cowboy will have the place in tip top shape in no time:) Looks and sounds like a beautiful piece of property! Good luck with the remods!
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Thanks for the encouragement–this one may take a while!
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Appears the Cowboy is going to be happy for quite some time. I see nothing time, patience, and lots of work, can’t overcome….
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Coming from a carpenter I find that encouraging Jerry!
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How interesting!!! Looks like A LOT of work!!!
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I hadn’t thought of calling it “interesting” Vickie!! :)))))
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I can see you folks living here from where your Montana heaven is..I didn’t get you living in North Ranch..Too close to everyone else…I’m sure you will make it into a swell place!
We all will be watching the transformation, best to you..
Upriverdavid
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Thanks for the happy thoughts David–we are very glad to be out in the peace and quiet world again–no trains, no high speed traffic, just quiet!
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It is going to be great once you touch it with your magic. But you are very brave people..
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The Cowboy is the brave one Carol! I just go along for the ride!
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Looks a bit like our former Congress house when we first saw it but like us you have a vision, know the potential and are accepting of the exciting challenge ahead.
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Thanks for stopping by today Al and Kelly and for giving us a thumbs up!
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Good job you both like a challenge….I can’t wait to see what you have in store for the place. Great looking property.
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Thanks Janet–our views are spectacular and one of the main reasons we thought this place had potential!
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Looks like you have your work cut out for you! I noticed that it has the same cheap light fixtures as what is in my front hallway and the kitchen cabinets look like the same ones that were in this house when we moved in. I would imagine the Cowboy will be in his element getting it all repaired and fixed up.
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Oh, Linda–there’s lots of “cheap” stuff in this one! The Cowboy is most anxious to get started!
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Love following along on your adventures, never a dull moment. Good luck on the renos!
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Love hearing that others enjoy our adventures–thanks for following along!
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You should contact the TV program that film people as they restore old properties. You may even get some $$ from them.
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Hmmmmmmm!
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It might be worth a try. Go for it. On the other hand it would shatter your peace and quiet some.
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So exciting to start the demo with the dream in mind – and wonderful views to enjoy while making it all come true – you’re going to have a ball! Maybe the mystery room wants a vaulted ceiling 🙂 Have fun!
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We are both very anxious to get started–still waiting on the well guy.
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You definitely have a unique challenge, one that “a little paint” won’t cover. Your cheering section (bloggees) are going to enjoy the in-progress photos.
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We are so glad to have a “cheering section!” And no, Emjay, paint isn’t going to help this one!
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That’s a nice area for those of us that enjoy a more rural lifestyle. I used to own two 5 acre parcels of undeveloped land near Sunsites. I’d park the RV there and hike through the Dragoon mountains. There was a dirt/gravel road from Sunsites through the mountains toward Tombstone area, Middlemarch Rd. In good weather it was passable without 4 wheel drive.
If the existing well needs completely rebuilt, you might ask for pricing on a new well. Drilling a new shaft might be cheaper than removing & replacing the existing, depending on the depth.
Plan & prepare for some winter nights to be below freezing. I’m now on 80 acres of high desert land outside Deming, around the same elevation. Normal winter nights are mid 30’s to mid 40’s, but an occasional cold front can dip into the 10’s or 20’s. As long as the sun comes out, the days are plenty warm and the overnight low temp only lasts a few hours just before dawn. But if a storm front keeps the daytime temps low, then exposed water pipes can need some freeze protection overnight.
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Welcome to our blog Jim–we’ve all ready had some cold nights, frost last night and 20 degrees last week while the Cowboy was here by himself. But it does warm up so nicely in the daytime–love that sunshine!
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