HOMESTEAD WATER PITCHER

While we were at the Huntzinger Homestead for the family reunion, there were a lot of "treasures" that were found while we were looking for landmarks.  Family members got to take a piece of the found treasures home, which I thought was really fun.

Lach found this water pitcher and now it's our newest flower vase.
There are quite a few things I love about it, but I mostly love that it's been through the ringer.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE HUNTZINGER FAMILY REUNION

was going out to the family homestead.  We traipsed all over the place, finding landmarks referenced in photos and journaled memories.  Flooding over the years disintegrated the abandoned adobe home.  Flash floods to an unkept area changes things drastically.  We found the well, windmill, animal coral, and some fun treasures like a few pieces of silverware, broken pottery, gate pieces, etc...  It was so much fun.  Unfortunately, Eddie's grave couldn't be confirmed.  That would have been icing on the cake.

I loved meeting family members and being reunited with family I already knew.  Hearing stories with added information and clarification was invaluable and so fun.  Plans for the next family reunion are already in the works and I can't wait!

WE HAVE A FAMILY HOMESTEAD

in the middle of nowhere but it's not our family's anymore. We got land coordinates, a BLM map and drove out to it. It was posted private property and that they will prosecute, but we were so curious we kept on driving, and driving, and driving.
We came upon the owner of the property and after explaining to him why we were trespassing, he was super nice and didn't prosecute. He knew where on his property our relatives had homesteaded, told us what he knew about our family history and even drove us up there in his pickup, since last year the road had been washed out due to the 100 year flood.
The house was no longer standing, but we found remains of, what we are assuming is, where they kept the turkeys they raised.
We found metal debris of a wood burning stove, a bed frame turned into a gate, another type of frame and a pot.
This ash tree, we are assuming, my great-grandparents planted. It is completely out of place among the hillside desert landscape.

It was amazing being on this property and seeing the harsh land that my great-grandparents turned into a home.

On the way off the property, we found a rad Jiminy Cricket. This desert locust was the hugest thing I've ever seen.