Life by the Dirt Road: Unexpected Joys and Challenges

Posted on by Ilze

When we first bought our house, we weren’t exactly thrilled about living next to a dirt road. The dust would roll in every time a car passed by—especially in the dry summer. But we loved the house and the land, so we decided to stick with it.

The dust is still an issue, but I hear sprinkling salt on the road can keep it under control. For now, it’s part of the package.

Autumn brings a whole new challenge: mud. I wouldn’t drive through it, but Janis, our expert driver, somehow gets our little Prius through the thickest of it—though I’m not sure the car appreciates it! We’ve even swapped the bottom to metal, so the mud and stones don’t wreck it. My opinion? A Prius and country living don’t mix, but that’s a story for another day.

What I never expected to love about this road are the views. We’re lucky enough to catch glimpses of horseback riders passing by, which is a nice, peaceful sight. It’s a bit far for them to come regularly, but this quiet road is perfect for horses to stretch their legs.

And as for what the horses leave behind… well, let’s just say it’s great for my flowers! 😄

So, while the dirt road has its quirks, it’s become part of what makes this place feel like home.

Ilze

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14 thoughts on “Life by the Dirt Road: Unexpected Joys and Challenges”

    1. Thank you! This view is taken from the living room window. My plan is to plant roses or peonies there someday to make it even more beautiful. For now, though, it’s just wild and free, full of natural charm and character. 🌿💚

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  2. You do have gorgeous views. We get a lot of dust here as well. I’m sure it’s because our backyard is a golf course and beyond it is desert and flood plain. The view is worth the extra dust to us.

    I wouldn’t recommend salt for your drive/road it’s really bad for the bottom of cars and the paint. My daughter and her husband drag theirs a couple times a year and lay fresh gravel every few years. It helps with the dust and keeps the road and driveway in good condition.

    We used salt on our sidewalk and side yard by our gate one year and it ate the cement! We don’t use it any more. We just shovel it.

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    1. I totally agree with you about the views being worth the dust! It’s a small price to pay for such beautiful surroundings.

      As for snow, you’re right—shoveling is the way to go. It might take a bit more effort, but at least it doesn’t damage the car or driveway like salt can. Plus, it’s a good workout! Thanks for the tip on fresh gravel; I’ll keep that in mind for the future.

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