The Best Birthday Gift I Ever Received — 5 Years Ago Today
Five years ago today I got the best birthday gift I’ve ever had.
A puppy.
We named him **Dreugan**.
He was small, clumsy, and full of opinions from the very beginning — and I’m pretty sure he believed he owned me within the first 10 minutes.
Fast-forward to now and he still does.
Dreugan has:
* escaped more times than I can count
* broken my finger
* dragged me across a road
* accidentally bitten me during play
* and worried me half to death on several occasions
And yet… he is still my boy.
My shadow.
My alarm system.
My protector.
Out here living off-grid, animals aren’t just pets. They become part of your daily survival, your routine, and honestly your emotional grounding. He watches everything, notices everything, and somehow always knows before I do when something isn’t right.
He may be chaos on four legs — but he’s loyal chaos.
Looking back at the “then” pictures and comparing them to now, it’s hard to believe how fast five years went by. Puppies grow up, but the bond doesn’t change.
If anything… it gets stronger.
Take a look at how far Dreugan has come.
Music featured: **Advocatus Diaboli**
Learn more about our campground and life in the desert:
👉 http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
Explore the music of Advocatus Diaboli and the Grim Leafer Band:
👉 http://www.advocatusdiaboliandthegrimleaferband.com
Happy birthday to my best boy.
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#DogBirthday
#BestBoy
#OffGridLife
#DesertLiving
#DogStory
Tag: off grid lifestyle blog
Living Off-Grid in the Desert 🌵 | Why We Host a University Weather Tower at Ka-Hoon Campground
Living Off-Grid in the Desert: Why We Host a Weather Tower 🌵⚡
Out here in the New Mexico desert, weather isn’t just small talk—it’s survival. When you live off-grid at Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center, knowing when storms are rolling in or how strong the winds will get can make the difference between a calm night and a dangerous one.
That’s why we were more than happy when the University of New Mexico approached us about installing a **weather tower** on our property. Reliable local weather information has always been scarce on the mesa, so hosting this tower has been a huge step forward for our community.
### Why the Weather Tower Matters
The tower collects real-time data on temperature, wind, rainfall, and more. This isn’t just useful for us—it’s open for everyone! Whether you’re another off-grid homesteader, a camper planning a weekend with us, or just someone curious about desert conditions, the tower makes accurate weather data accessible to all.
### How to Access the Data
If you’d like to see the weather conditions here in real time, you can check the tower’s reports online. It’s listed under **Abeytas** on the New Mexico State University site.
👉https://weather.nmsu.edu/ziamet/station/scvegu/
### Life Off-Grid and Community Connection
Living off-grid means adapting, respecting the land, and finding new ways to stay connected. Hosting this weather tower is just one more way we’re blending independence with community support. It helps us stay safe, plan events at the campground, and share the desert lifestyle with friends near and far.
At Ka-Hoon Campground, we’re not just living in the desert—we’re building something unique. From music with **Advocatus Diaboli and the Grim Leafer Band** 🎶 to special events, camping experiences, and now live weather updates, every part of life here connects back to community and creativity.
Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center 