Well here's how it started.....a lifelong yearning to build a home with my own two hands, combined with a love of the desert (for both me and my wife) found us in the middle of the largest state park in the US; 650,000+ acres of sand , rock, snakes, lizards and coyotes.... 
After many years of camping, staying at friend's places, 4 wheeling, etc, we stumbled across a little piece of paradise, at least to us - you'd be surprised how many people just can't stand the desert, too hot , too cold, too barren, and waaay too quiet for many city folks, they say the quiet can hurt your ears :-)
So after acquiring the property (5 acres), Phase 1 was to get some sort of 'accommodations' which led us to a friends parent's 40 year old 1968, 18 ft travel trailer:

Just towing it in was a chore, me and a buddy spent a whole day hacking away at cactus and other desert flora, none of which were friendly or wanting to be removed at all.....but it turned out to be a cozy little place for us and our dog, Lola:

The wine is for me, not her :-)

to be continued