Cedaredge, Colorado

 Ever since my Mother died in 2011, Maryanne and I planned on returning to the Ranch to complete the sorting of her many possessions.  We made several trips but never managed to finish the job.  Mother (and Dad) saved EVERYTHING! Bob and Maryanne sold the Ranch several years ago.  Finally, this year, we made plans to go and finish that sorting.  Sadly, Maryanne could not make the trip.  But family members soon volunteered to accompany Layne and me.  Granddaughter Rayne and hub Dominic were the first.  Then Chris and Jessica wanted to come, and daughter-in-law Dorothy.  As it turned out Dorothy couldn't come, but the rest did, along with Peyton (C&J's daughter).  That's thanks to online school!  It turned out to be an amazing trip.

We began by driving to Lisbon Valley, near Moab, where my Mother grew up.  My nephew, Brent, met us there.  He is addicted to the beautiful sights of the West and has treked through many places, including several trips to Lisbon Valley and surrounding area.  He met us in Moab and led us out into the solitary country that is Lisbon Valley.  Just about the only interested parties out there are the mining companies.  In fact, Brent told us that the family Homestead is now owned by one of them.  

We spent Sunday afternoon there with Brent, Rayne and Dominic.  It felt more overgrown with brush but otherwise the same as the last time we were there.  We first came upon the early cabin, where my Grandparents Knox settled in the beginning.  Layne is on the outside, I'm in the doorway.

As the Knox family expanded, a bigger home was needed, so Grandfather Knox turned the larger smoke house into a home.  It had two rooms; the kitchen and living space and a bedroom.  The children slept in the main living space.  No electricity or running water was to be had.  Yet my Grandmother called this place her piece of heaven and the happiest time of her life.  Here is what is left of the larger home.

Sometimes when I look at this place I can almost see my Mother and her two brothers as little kids, playng among the rocks and desert trees.  No one has lived here since they left a hundred years ago.  Here are Rayne and Dominic, standing in the corral that is still party fenced in.

Here's Rayne, overlooking the Homestead and below, a view of the area.

This place is full of ghosts.  One of the most haunting sights are the grave sites, where my Grandfather and son Larry are buried.  They both died with in a short time of each other, and with that, the magic of the Homestead ended.  Life was a struggle after that and the family moved away, to Cedaredge, Colorado.

Here are the graves, and Brent, mending the fence that visitors have stretched out climbing into the grave sites. 

Brent led up on a trail up above the Homestead, where the views were lovely.  But the road was rough.

Sunday evening we hugged Brent goodbye and drove to Cedaredge, where we met up with Chris and Jessica, and Peyton.  We stayed in a small cabin, cozy but comfortable and our Colorado adventure began.  We used Monday and Tuesday to sort and, with the help of the family with us, we got it all sorted!  In two days!  I was so impressed.  We used the next two days to make dump runs and get the unwanted good stuff to thrift and antique stores.  Then we divided what was left, making sure that we got all that Maryanne wanted set aside.  Some of the work crew:  Layne and Jessica, in front of the garage.

The room is empty!  Jessica swept up, a task in itself.

While at the Ranch, my Aunt Frances and her new husband stopped by.  She was married to my Dad's half brother, Walt Engel.  He passed away over a year ago.  Frances met this very nice man and they are now honeymooners living in nearby Montrose.  Here are Frances and Dewayne Green.  She is 80, he is 85.

With such quick work of Mom's stuff, we had time to see the sights.  We visited all the family homes in the area, Dad's and great-grandparents Halfacre and Kiser.  Mom's little cottage on the Ranch was torn down by the new owners and replaced with a bigger, metal home.  It's very different, but lovely inside.  All of our direct Cedaredge family are now in the cemetery.  We visited there for a sweet moment or two.  Here I am at my parents' grave.

We visited Pioneer Town, a locally well known place where vintage buildings of the past have been gathered to re-create life in pioneer times.  Mom had much to do with accomplishing its creation.  It was closed while we were there, but we met up with a cousin, Jerry McHugh, who had keys and gave us access to the buildings.  So very nice of him!  Here are some views.  Peyton sits in front of the visitor's center on a bench dedicated to my Dad.

Here is main street, with family scattered throughout.

Near "The Cabins", where we were staying, is a eating place called Aspen Trials.  Beside it is this dandy picture taking opportunity.  Layne wasn't keen as you might tell.  The rest of us were quite enthusiastic.

Rayne is on the left, then Layne, Dominic and me.

The highlight of our touring was Grand Mesa.  It is the largest flat-topped mountain in the world we are told.  It sits above the Surface Creek Valley and Cedaredge.  We made a drive up there one afternoon, under the experienced direction of friends, Steve and Sharon Palmer.  Here they are in front of their cabin on the Mesa.

Grand Mesa, in my opinion, is at its loveliest in Fall.  The Aspens are full of color.  Our drive up surrounded us with them.  

Sights from the top were breath-taking.  We took a long time taking it all in.  Here we are at the top.

Chris and Jessica

Rayne and Dominic

Jessica and Peyton

Dreamy view

I thought we may never return to Cedaredge, but the kids with us loved our time there and would like to return again.  So we may!

We returned home, via Salt Lake and a brief visit with Bob and Maryanne, grandson Chase and Morgan.  We arrived back home last Sunday night.  This Sunday grandson (son of Reed and Dorothy) gave his missionary farewell talk.  He was superb!  I'm not just saying that because he is my grandson; he spoke so well and offered some very thoughtful ideas.  Loved it.  Here he is with his folks, Reed and Dorothy, and with us.  He is assigned to Australia but will serve somewhere stateside until it opens up.