The simple, very simple, life......

Life takes twists and turns, especially when out on the endless roads of the American West. Beauty is lush as roads run alongside rushing rivers and meandering streams. Often it becomes desolate and lonely, scrub and sagebrush undulating for miles before halting at the foot of high, often ominous, mountain ranges.

Following an interesting visit to the Snake River Canyon, Twin Falls, Idaho, after looking toward the gorge from the Perrine Bridge (you may recall daredevil Evil Knievel attempted to jump across on a rocket powered motorcycle in 1974), we headed South again.

Now and then wildflowers helped color the dry Summer landscape.
We always pull over to read 'historic marker ahead' signs, being extremely interested in any depicting the emigrant trails which opened this nation to the West. We took this road because one map stated there was a 'ghost town' along the way.......unfortunately we never found it, so kept going in the heat of the late afternoon.

Whoa! Hold your horses!

It was another of those 'hard on the brakes and make a U-turn' moments!

She sat out there alone, forlorn. Perhaps part of that ghostly town years ago. Just a portion of a little home, now crumbling, but with cedar shakes clinging, vines clambering, and an almost, "welcome, come on in" from the open front door. The sagebrush had not yet encroached on the driveway, and we loved her simplicity.

Perhaps make an offer. A fixer-upper? A little vacation retreat? A chance for a 'bolt hole' as we English call such hideaways?

Don't you wish places such as this could tell their story, whisper in your ear, share the history of the place? There was not another building in sight until many miles down the road. No stores, no farms or ranches, and we were only passed by a few vehicles.

Of course we'll never know the story. The 'Under Contract' board is unlikely to ever be displayed. Who lived there? When? How did they make a living? Did children run through the sagebrush, dodging snakes, huge grasshoppers and unknown critters - the reason I hesitated walking up to the house?Goodbye, farewell................little house that was.

Set against the mountain backdrop and that amazing sky, I hoped that time had been kind to the family who lived there, carving a simple life from the Western land.