As they approached the age of 50, Bill and Kathy Turgeon knew they were missing something in their lives, but didn't know what. Amazingly, the answer was hanging on their living room wall: A painting depicting a rural homestead in a blaze of fall colors. Painted by Kathy years before the couple ever met, the picture inspired them to buy a piece of land, leave their jobs, move north, and pursue their common dream of a life close to the land. This book chronicles their search for a place in the country and their many, often humorous, adventures in building a homestead. Prospective homesteaders will find not only an engaging story about this couple, but also valuable insights on how to build a homestead, move toward greater self-reliance, and achieve simple, debt-free living. In the end, this is a story about how this empty-nest couple, vaguely dissatisfied with their safe, comfortable lives, broke away, took some risks, and realized what Kathy's painting had been telling them all along for so many years: The land will help you discover your true selves; let go and live!