Just over it

Sitting here on September 1, 2026, more than frustrated with the entire inch of rain we'd had all monsoon season, the dead garden from June, the heat that won't let up, and one more year where we've had less than 3" of rain as the 'Ber months begin. I'm over it and ready to move on.

I didn't start 2026 with the plan to move — we'd actually decided to stay in this house and just keep an RV in the mountains. But the March heat wave, the dead garden, and the struggling bee hives — I lost my temper. The heat honestly didn't help. It's time. After 23 years in the same house, the same county, the same jobs, it's just time for something different.

I thought a lot about Texas — we even went and spent a week there, but they have their own problems, and the population is huge, just as massive as the state. I even contemplated Alaska, but the winter darkness kept me from taking that seriously — besides, it was a hard no for my husband.

I want a life that's different from what most people want, anyway — I want to bring that Hedge Nurse feeling to life. I want to live in the forest, with mountains, elk, and deer, where it's quiet most of the year. We still have seasons, and most importantly, we have a very short summer.

Yes, my gardening and homesteading will be a much different version from the desert gardening I'm used to. But the greenhouse and raised beds will go with us. The chickens, quail, and peafowl will get brand new homes too — maybe we'll even surprise everyone and finally get the goats I've been wanting for a while. I should be able to garden more than I can here — well, maybe not a lot more, but definitely more successfully.

I've lived in Graham County for 23 years, and it's time to say goodbye to the desert floor and hello to 8,000' in elevation and a brand new game. We've got the plan and the land — now it's just the time and finances to fully transition to a much different Arizona climate.

The shop and house are already being planned. The shop's set to go up in 2027, and the house will follow — either late 2027 or spring 2028, depending on what the winter decides to do. Everyone keeps teasing us about El Niño this year, but let's be honest, that's just a really confident guess with a name attached to it.

Are you ready to follow us on this journey? Would you like to help support our adventure and enjoy some of those very unique items I'm always posting about? Now's your chance — make sure you sign up for the Hearth as we create a brand new way of life and adventure into the slow pace of mountain living.