Caught Dumping Furniture in the Desert
While heading into town, we caught a couple of guys trying to dump some old furniture out in the desert. Living off-grid means respecting the land that gives us peace — and littering isn’t part of that! After a “friendly chat,” they picked it all back up. It’s moments like these that remind us why community and respect for nature matter. Here at Ka-Hoon Campground, we take pride in keeping our desert clean, peaceful, and full of life.
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#OffGridLife #KaHoonCampground #DesertLiving #SustainableLiving #CleanDesert
Tag: Rural life
Stroke Recovery Off-Grid: What No One Tells You About the Pain, Uncertainty, and Healing Process
Recovery, Reflection, and Real Life at Ka-Hoon Campground
We want to start by saying **thank you** for your patience and support. We haven’t been posting as much lately because life has been full—with doctor appointments, ongoing recovery, and tending to the daily flow of campers coming and going here at **Ka-Hoon Campground** (Plateau Hame de Colquhoun). Despite everything, we’re still here, still growing, and grateful for each step forward.
We’re currently in **full recovery mode** after a medical event that changed everything—a stroke. We had read about stroke recovery, seen others go through it, even feared it quietly… but nothing truly prepares you for the reality. Not just for the person recovering, but also for those who love and care for them.
Stroke recovery is uncertain and incredibly personal. You don’t get clear answers from doctors. There’s no magic scan or test that can tell you when—or if—you’ll be able to hold a squishy ball again or push the power button on a water pump. It takes **time, physical therapy, occupational therapy**, a lot of **rest**, and even more **determination**.
One of the unexpected challenges has been circulation issues in the affected arm. Swelling and pain are common when mobility is limited. We’ve learned how to perform **lymphatic massage**, and it’s made a noticeable difference. It’s humbling how something as small as brushing your hair or lifting a spoon becomes a monumental task.
Every day is about celebrating the small wins. And even in the midst of all this, we’ve been able to keep Ka-Hoon Campground running—welcoming guests, maintaining our off-grid homestead, and finding moments of peace under the wide New Mexico sky.
If you’re going through something similar—whether you’re a survivor, caregiver, or just someone who’s curious—we see you. This journey is tough, but not impossible.
Thank you for being part of our story. We hope to see you out here soon—whether for a night under the stars or just to breathe a little deeper and reconnect.
Stay kind, stay strong, and always take time to rest.
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
http://www.advocatusdiaboliandthegrimleaferband.com
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#KaHoonCampground, #DesertHealing, #StrokeRecoveryJourney, #OffGridLife, #CampNewMexico, #MindfulCamping, #RecoveryTakesTime, #NatureTherapy, #SupportAndHealing, #RVLife, #QuietTheMind, #AlternativeLiving, #HealingInNature, #OccupationalTherapy, #LifeAtKaHoon
When the Wind Fights Back: Brent’s Injury & the Off-Grid Challenge
**Dealing with Injury Off-Grid: A Tough Start to the Day**
Today looks like it might finally be a nice day, but our focus is on getting Brent to the doctor. We suspect he injured his rotator cuff when the wind caught the studio door while he was trying to close it. At first, he was dealing with the pain, but this week things took a turn for the worse—he lost feeling and grip in his fingers and hand, and now his arm is swollen.
We’ve tried everything: ice, heat, massages, Icy Hot, anti-inflammatories, and exercises we found online—nothing is helping. Brent isn’t one to rush to the doctor, but at this point, it’s become clear that a visit is necessary.
Living off-grid, we’re used to handling things ourselves, but sometimes, you have to know when it’s time to get professional help. Hopefully, we can get some answers and relief for him today.
Stay tuned for updates as we navigate another unexpected challenge in off-grid life.
#OffGridLiving, #InjuryRecovery, #RotatorCuffInjury, #RuralLife, #WindStorm, #StudioLife, #PainManagement, #Homesteading, #SelfSufficiency, #HealthcareChallenges, #LivingOffGrid, #HandInjury, #SwollenArm, #DoctorVisit, #ResilientLiving
How We Live Off-Grid in the Desert: Water, Showers, and Staying Warm Explained in 30 Seconds!
**Living Off-Grid: Answering Common Questions About Water, Showers, and Life in the Desert**
One of the most common questions we receive is, *”How do you get water?”* The answer is simple: we haul it. Typically, we fill up four 5-gallon water jugs at Twice the Ice in town. In the winter, this lasts us about four days; in the summer, we refill every other day, depending on usage and the season.
During summer, water usage increases due to higher temperatures and more outdoor activities. While we’ve hauled up to 300 gallons at a time before, it’s tough on our 1984 F250 truck. With its 7.0L diesel engine, the truck can handle the weight, but the wear and tear on suspension over rugged roads make it impractical. The cost of repairs would outweigh the convenience, especially since most of that water would go toward showers.
### Why Not Install a Well?
Drilling a well is far beyond our budget. Wells in this area are incredibly expensive due to the depth required. One neighbor drilled 1,000 feet, faced multiple priming issues, and spent a small fortune on the project.
### What About Water Catchment?
In theory, water catchment sounds great. In practice, living in the desert makes it less feasible. Rainfall here is sparse and unreliable. One of our neighbors installed a catchment system on their Earthship but eventually uninstalled and sold it because it wasn’t worth the effort.
Many in the area use cisterns to store hauled water, which is something we’ve considered. We currently have the capacity to store up to 1,000 gallons using IBC totes, which is sufficient for our needs for now.
### How Do We Handle Dishes?
We wash dishes much like anyone else: heating water on the stove, using dish soap, and scrubbing in the sink. Some people in off-grid setups use baking soda for “dry washing,” but that doesn’t feel effective to us. We’ve also tried products like Dawn’s dry wash soap, but it was expensive and didn’t leave the dishes feeling clean. We prefer the tried-and-true method of hot water and soap.
### Why Don’t We Show More of Ourselves in Videos?
While these posts and videos share insights into our life, we try to keep certain aspects of our personal lives private. Our content focuses on the campground, the desert lifestyle, and our experiences. We’ve tried featuring ourselves more, but honestly, we lead a simple life. Like everyone else, we have ups and downs—fighting, laughing, getting sick, and loving. We find the beauty of nature around us to be far more captivating than our day-to-day routines.
### How Do We Shower?
We’ve shared a video about where we shower, which is usually every other day. While some people stretch it to once a week, we find that even every other day is pushing it. As soon as we figure out a better way to haul water, we plan to complete our off-grid shower setup.
### Staying Warm in the Desert Winter
Another frequent question is, *”How do you stay warm?”* We use a large Buddy Heater connected to a 20lb propane tank. For safety reasons, we don’t run it while we sleep. Instead, we use it in the evenings before bed and for a few hours in the morning to cut the chill. At night, we stay cozy under blankets, with the added warmth of our dogs. We’ve also installed smoke and CO2 detectors for safety.
### Have More Questions?
We hope this blog answers some of the most common questions about living off-grid in the desert. If you’re curious about something else, feel free to leave a comment or send us a message. We’re always happy to share more about our unique lifestyle.
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#OffGridLiving, #DesertLife, #SustainableLiving, #SimpleLiving, #WaterConservation, #LivingOffGrid, #TinyHouseLiving, #NatureLovers, #SelfSufficient, #RuralLife, #EcoFriendlyLiving, #MinimalistLiving, #OffGridLifestyle, #SustainableChoices, #BackToBasics
Off-Grid Morning: Solar Power Challenges and Life with Vibria the Pup at KaHoon Campground
This morning, we woke up to find the solar power out, which was strange since we had a full day of sun yesterday. As I lay in bed, my mind raced with possible reasons. My first thought was that maybe we’d forgotten to turn off the PA after rehearsal with the animatronics. That thing pulls about 3,000 watts, and we’ve accidentally left it on a few times before. But I distinctly remembered us shutting it down, so that couldn’t be it. The next thought, which I dreaded, was that something might be wrong with the solar system itself.
Eventually, I gave in and got up, mostly because the dogs decided it was time. Vibria was already calling from her box, ready to start the day. After letting the dogs out, I usually throw in a bit of fetch, fill up their water, and inevitably annoy them by going inside to make coffee. But not today. Today, I was on a mission to figure out what happened with the solar.
It didn’t take long to crack the case. Somehow, the fridge had switched to using both electric and gas. That means it draws power from the batteries first before automatically switching to gas when the power runs out. To make things worse, the RV charging system had switched to boost mode, which draws extra power to charge the RV batteries faster. Running both the fridge and boost mode overnight drained the system. It’s fine during the day when the solar’s up and running, but overnight? Not so much.
With a sigh of relief, I realized nothing was broken. Now, we’re just waiting for the sun to come up and recharge the solar. It’s a bit cloudy this morning, so it may take longer than usual, but it only takes about an hour or two of full sun to get the batteries back to normal.
Meanwhile, the dogs got their morning playtime, barked at a camper stopping by to say hello, and are now back to napping. Vibria’s curled up at my feet, and we’re just waiting on that coffee to percolate.
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#OffGridLiving #SolarPowerLife #RVLife #AnimatronicsShow #TinyHouseAdventures #PlateauHameDeColquhoun #KaHoonCampground #KaHoonVenue #SolarPowerIssues #DogLife #VibriaThePup #MorningRoutine #LifeInTheDesert #RuralLiving #SustainableLiving
Meet Vibria: Our Newest Adventure and Challenges with Free-Range Cattle!
Life with Vibria: Our New Puppy and Free-Range Cattle Adventures
It’s been three weeks since we brought Vibria home, and we think she’s around 11 weeks old now. While we don’t know her exact breed or how big she’ll get, we estimate she’ll grow to be around 10 to 15 lbs based on her current size. Vibria has a big personality and zero fear—she’s quite the confident little pup. Potty training her has been a bit more challenging than it was with Dreugan, but we’re adjusting. Having a small dog again has its learning curve!
Vibria is so tiny that she can easily slip through the fence in our yard, so we’ve set up her own little fenced area within the larger yard to give her a safe space to play and soak up the sun. When we’re outside supervising, she gets to run around in the bigger fenced-in areas and even outside them.
Life out here has its challenges, though—especially when it comes to the free-range cattle. They love to roam, and unfortunately, they have a habit of tearing up our solar lights and getting too close to the solar panels. To keep them away, we’ve set up motion detectors that trigger sounds and lights, but sometimes these deterrents aren’t as effective as we’d like. We could build a fence, but we love the wide-open views, so we usually just go out and herd them away ourselves when they get too close. While we enjoy watching the cattle, we could definitely do without the destruction. We tell them they’re welcome as long as they stay out of our areas—but they don’t seem to listen!
http://www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#PlateauHameDeColquhoun, #KaHoonCampgroundAndEventCenter, #KaHoonVenue, #VibriaAdventures, #FreeRangeCattle, #OffGridLife, #RVLiving, #TinyHomeLiving, #SolarPowerChallenges, #LivingWithDogs, #DesertLife, #OutdoorAdventures, #PetTraining, #WideOpenViews, #CattleHerding
Disrespect on Private Property: A Lesson in Why Respect Matters | Plateau Hame de Colquhoun
This past week has been tough for us with a lot of personal things happening. We don’t usually share much, but this has been particularly stressful, filled with drama and a lot of questioning.
One thing that keeps standing out is how much some people lack **respect**. A few days ago, a neighbor came over, and while we were outside, we saw a motorcyclist going down Powerline Rd, which is closed off and impassable. He reached the end, turned around, and instead of heading back the proper way, he cut right through our property, ignoring “No Trespassing” signs and us standing there.
When we shouted that he was on private property, he flipped us off and continued to the end of our driveway. He then turned back toward us, but when Brent and our neighbor started walking down the driveway, the motorcyclist finally turned and left.
Now, if he had simply stopped and said he was lost or thought it was a road, we would have gladly told him to go ahead. But he chose to be disrespectful, and for what? Respect really does go a long way, and I just don’t understand why it’s so hard for some people to show it.
Www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#RespectMatters, #CommunityFirst, #PrivateProperty, #NoTrespassing, #StandYourGround, #PositiveVibesOnly, #NeighborsMatter, #MotorcycleLife, #ChooseRespect, #WestMesaLiving, #PlateauHameDeColquhoun, #KaHoonCampground, #EventCenterLife, #RuralLife, #RespectGoesALongWay
Busy Labor Day weekend at Ka-Hoon Campground with community BBQ, camping, and lending a helping hand.
Hope everyone is having a great Labor Day weekend! We don’t have too much planned, but we’re excited to have a bunch of folks from the community over for a BBQ today.
There isn’t much news to report, but we’re definitely enjoying the cooler days. Brent has been busy helping out around the community, which he loves doing. He recently helped a neighbor install a new breaker box and wire in some GFI plugs to support their dialysis machine. He also spent most of the day driving another neighbor, who doesn’t have a vehicle right now, to town for errands and groceries.
We’ve had a nice weekend with campers enjoying the cooler weather. Yesterday, we took some time to fix the solar lights that the cattle love to knock down.
Last night was Anne’s first real shift at Love’s, and she seemed to enjoy it. It was a bit tough on us, as we worried about her working the late shift. Thankfully, a few folks from our community stopped by the store to check on her and then reported back to us, which really helped ease our minds.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend, everyone!
Www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#PlateauHameDeColquhoun, #KaHoonCampgroundAndEventCenter, #LaborDayWeekend, #OffGridLiving, #CommunitySupport, #DesertLife, #CampgroundFun, #BBQParty, #HelpYourNeighbor, #RVers, #SolarLiving, #OutdoorAdventures, #DesertCamping, #WeekendVibes, #CommunityBonding
A Tranquil Saturday at Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center in Rural New Mexico
It’s a languid Saturday here in the heart of New Mexico, where the warmth of the day encourages us to find ways to stay cool. Amidst this tranquil setting, I thought I would share a delightful moment captured on camera: a rabbit hopping through our grounds and Dreugan, our faithful companion, displaying his charming antics with a touch of bravado.
In this serene desert landscape, life moves at a gentle pace. The simplicity of our surroundings allows us to appreciate the small joys and whimsical occurrences that make each day unique. The video we captured offers a glimpse into these moments, showcasing the natural beauty and quietude of our off-grid existence.
### The Allure of Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center
At Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center, we pride ourselves on providing a haven where guests can unwind and reconnect with nature. Our unique setting, free from the trappings of modern conveniences like electricity and internet, offers a sanctuary for those seeking solace and simplicity. Here, everyone is welcome, irrespective of their background or beliefs. We cherish the diversity of our visitors and strive to create an environment where no one feels like an outsider.
### Embracing Nature and Community
Our mission is two-fold: to support our simple way of life and to preserve the natural beauty of the Southern point of the West Mesa. By protecting this land from modern development, we aim to maintain its pristine condition for future generations to enjoy. We invite you to join us, whether it’s to camp under the vast New Mexico skies, participate in our events, or simply share in the tranquility of this unique desert oasis.
By revisiting the charm of rural life from a century ago, we hope to inspire a deeper appreciation for the natural world and the simple pleasures it offers.
Www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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#PlateauHameDeColquhoun #KaHoonCampground #KaHoonEventCenter #RuralLife #1920sLiving #OffGridLiving #DesertSanctuary #NatureConservation #SimpleLiving #NewMexico
Living Off-Grid in the Desert: Daily Routine & Full Moon Adventure
### A Lazy Day in the Desert: Staying Cool and Getting Work Done
Today is one of those lazy days in the desert. With the sun blazing, we decided to stay in and focus on some much-needed tasks. It’s the perfect opportunity to catch up on work while staying cool.
First on the agenda was updating our website. We created new events on Facebook, ensuring our community is in the loop about upcoming gatherings and activities. Handling paperwork and sending out emails followed, keeping everything organized and on track.
As the day progresses, we look forward to welcoming today’s campers. There’s something special about the anticipation of new arrivals, each bringing their own stories and energy to our off-grid haven. Tonight, we have a live rehearsal scheduled on Clapper, which promises to be a highlight.
And of course, we’re excited to take in tonight’s full moon. There’s nothing quite like the serene beauty of a full moon rising over the desert, casting a magical glow over the landscape. It’s a perfect way to end a productive day, reminding us of the unique beauty and tranquility of off-grid living.
Stay tuned for more updates and events. Until then, we hope you find your own moments of peace and productivity.
Visit our website for more information and join us for an unforgettable experience under the desert skies.
Www.plateauhamedecolquhoun.com
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Sure, here are 20 hashtags for your blog and social media posts:
#NomadLife #Camping #FullMoon #DesertCamping #NatureLovers #GreenLiving #OutdoorAdventures #RVLife #CommunityLiving #DesertSunsets #RemoteLiving #StarGazing #plateauhamedecolquhoun #KaHoonCampground #KaHoonEventCenter
Ka-Hoon Campground and Event Center 