When I was 5 years old my parents built a cabin north of Washougal, Washington in Skamania county.  It took them three months to build a small cabin with two lofts.  During those three months we lived in tents, it was summer, and my mom cooked every meal over a campfire.  We moved from Albany, Oregon to get off of the grid I later found out.  Man did we get off the grid.  We were over 20 miles from town and almost 6.5 miles from the mailbox.  

My dad wanted to make his living as an artist and this was how he was able to start - no bills.  My mom was glad to live in the woods.  The self sufficient life was made for them.  My mom cooked on a wood cookstove for almost 20 years.  After 5 years my dad hooked up a pelton water wheel, a windmill and solar panels to create our own power. 

It took about 7 years to really get his career going as an artist.  It was the best move they could have made.  They dried foods, traded for goods and had numerous collectors become family friends over the years.  Visiting the cabin is still a topic for conversation with art collectors years later.

My dad's career is in full swing now after 31 years.  His talent and love of history has made this possible.  He now lives in a cabin in the northwest corner of Montana, between Noxon and Troy.  He is only 2 miles from pavement this time, but a mountain view is again what he has.

I wrote this for those of you who don't know that much about him.  If you would like a copy of our "newspaper" that has articles on him for almost 31 years from various newspapers and magazines please send $6 to:  Cameron Blagg III, PO Box 881, Albany, OR  97321.