There aren’t many things cooler to an 8 year old than buried treasure. Since his first day out on the property, our son has been on the hunt. Sure, he’ll pick up sticks…for a while. He’ll throw stuff in the fire…for a while. He’ll saw off dead branches, clip thorns, and dig roots but only for a while.

He prefers new and different. He likes exploring, he likes taking hikes to see new places, and he likes looking for treasure.

Windmill

Last year, while wandering around one particular area for the hundredth time, the guys spotted something new. Just the very ends of a couple windmill blades were sticking up out of the ground.

From that point on, our son was on a mission. He wanted that windmill wheel. We wanted to get some work done and clear more brush. He wanted to dig for treasure. I don’t blame him, and I can’t say I’m surprised by what followed. He did what any brilliant kid would do.

They made quick progress, but deeper and deeper they had to go.

It took 2-3 days of excavation work to get the full picture. We all thought it was part of a windmill wheel; we didn’t think it would be the entire thing.

A lot of tedious trowel work was involved; in fact, he actually has a trowel with his name on it. We still need to figure out how we’ll use this massive piece of buried treasure.

Rocks

Our son has always had a thing for rocks. He loves rocks and stones and gems. He shares this love of rocks with my mom. The two of them go rock hunting on the property together. They wander off, sometimes for hours, and they come back with pockets full of rocks and tales of their adventures.

The hunt for rocks quickly became quite a collection. We picked a large tree that’s easily recognizable and started to pile the treasured rocks at its base. We’ll eventually do a nice feature with them all.

We’ve also discovered several large boulders that we’ll leave in place, and we’re planning a couple dry creek beds and other rock-related projects. Stay tuned for that.

For our son, the work of excavating windmills and collecting rocks is far more enjoyable than the work of clearing brush; however, he might say the most fun isn’t any work at all…

Play

Taking the time for just fun is refreshing and so enjoyable. After a morning of labor, an afternoon of laughter often follows.

We usually try to get a good breakfast in the morning, pack lots of water and a few snacks for the day, and get lunch/dinner when we get back home. On occasion, though, we’ve been spoiled with campfire meals.

On other days, the Dutch oven mac and cheese and s’mores didn’t make it long enough to be photographed! There’s just something about the taste of a hot meal, cooked over the fire on a cold day and enjoyed with family after a hard day’s work; it really can’t be beat.

Play time can also involve physical activity. We have countless trees to climb and space to safely practice archery.

We hope the legacy of our property and the homestead we’re building together provides him with a lifetime of great memories and great opportunities.