One thing that contributes to this (from my understanding) is that in the East, more buildings were made with stone and brick, which lasts, but out West, the settlers used a lot of clapboard, which didn’t last well. So their original towns had to be repaired and rebuilt more often.
Also, as towns were abandoned, people would take any good lumber for new buildings. Lumber was expensive. Some of the abandoned mining towns were just deconstructed and moved to a new location. Some of them the clapboard and wood just disintegrated or was eaten by termites. Of course, some of the towns were abandoned with the furnishings intact like Bodie in northern California. It is interesting to see that early people insulated their homes with straw between 2 walls. No wonder the towns could burn so fast! Early history is fascinating. The same thing happened to early man stone buildings where the stones ended up in farm walls, and castles where many towns and buildings were constructed from scavenged cut stone. Not to mention the buildings scattered across Europe where early Roman building stones keep turning up and pavements under buildings that were built on top of ruined settlements. These are a surprise to the finders, but if you consider people have known the value of a good building site from time immemorial. "Location, location, location"! LOL Can't you just hear the fellow with the ruined stone hut telling the newcomer about the great view and proximity to water? "Just needs some TLC to make it a showplace". LOL
Got my check from the auction yesterday. I was a little worried because she said prices the week before were low - only $80/head. She did say my sheep and lambs were much nicer but still . . . .
Sheep and got prices have been low for the past month so I was worried. I got the best prices I have ever gotten this time for my sheep. Don't know what prices were per lb. since the auction sells by the head.
But very happy. That check will go into my farm account towards all the depressingly expensive things we need in the fencing department.
The dogs were up all night barking which meant that I was up most of the night checking for predators. Also need to encourage puppy Ozel that I hear her and am backing her up. The place across the gully is having some sort of TV/movie shoot and parked their crew vehicles and dressing rooms on the upper road. There were lights and people all night - not loud, but the dogs are not used to any lights or movement over there. Even the ewes in the creep were slightly freaked out about it - they were crowded into the barn, standing and facing the gully. Rika was not in with them, so I checked on them with a flashlight. The flashlight beam on the field upset the dogs even more! And Ozel is still learning what is normal here. She is a good little guardian and follows whichever dog around that is patrolling. Learning, learning, learning.
All grandkids are out of school now. DS1 is arranging for DGS1 and 2 to come over tomorrow or Thursday to help load all the junk metal for the metal yard. That will be a big job. He plans to use the truck and Datsun trailer. This is a little homemade trailer that Daddy (FIL) made out of his truck when the engine went bad. It is a Datsun truck bed with a tongue welded on. About 45 years old, BIL flipped it and broke the tail lights so we have to use the retro lights, and the body is a bit tweaked, but DH put new tires on it this year so we can use it. Not sure if we will bring it to Texas. DH might decide to put it on the flatbed, load it with stuff, and haul it back for use on the ranch.
DH had me go to Costco Business with him yesterday so I could see how it was different from the regular Costco. We saw a big chest freezer (6'+) that is rated for garage use so it has extra insulation. I have one in the milkshed which cost over $1000, and I had to wait for it during Covid. This one is available for $700, and we can pick it up now. I am seriously considering buying it. We can use to sort our frozen meat from DS2's and then bring it back to Texas with our frozen food in it with dry ice. Since it is rated for outside storage, once we run electric to the shed it can live there. For now it can join it's garage rated sibling in the milkshed, and we can bring home our 3 lambs and possibly half a steer. Andy said he wants at least half of the steer Kent found for us and possibly the whole thing based on price. Based on price DH may want half. I would just as soon wait for a steer in Texas since we currently have 3 full freezers, most of which is meat which we have to bring back.
DD2 and her husband are planning to move to Texas next year!
They are trying to get full custody of the older DGD and a "move order" allowing them to take her with them. Considering some of the things we have heard about the birth mother and her husband (since BM's parents who were the primary caregivers for BM moved a couple years ago) DD2 and DSIL2 would be the best situation for her. The stepfather used to take showers with her until she was 5 years old. I think he stopped when DSIL2 and DD2 complained to the judge. The mother does not respond to school requests for problem behavior conferences, and DD2 and DSIL2 are the ones who schedule all MD & DD appointments, etc., tke care of homework, etc. The BM and SF do other disturbing things too, such as telling Maysie to keep all interactions secret from DSIL2 and DD2. Worrying. If they cannot get a move away order, they say they will move anyway without Maysie but really want her with them. She wants to live with them full time (they have her 50% now) but at only 5- 6 years old the judge won't take her wishes into consideration yet. With DSIL working as a truck driver on big rigs he can work anywhere, and CA is getting too expensive for them. We will see how it plays out.
The rest of us > 
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