The rains have come…
Lovely quick down-pours that spark lightening and thunder (to the dismay of Fuzzy).
Our mornings start with clouds filling the sky and not much heat. But by noon we are suffering from the humidity and the oppressive clouds. Big thunderheads start to boil up either over the Plateau or the San Juan’s, sometimes they switch sides—one side starting first or the other side. Sometimes they come all at once to meet right over us.
Often times we can hear the storms squabbling on who gets to be first to swing into the surrounding mesa’s, knolls, knobs, hills, and valleys that make up the Montrose and Delta area.
They move by their own power flashing dramatic lightening from cloud to cloud, or in sheets, giving us the dramatic electrical show complete with a cloud to earth strike now an then.
I love these storms and can stand outside and watch them as they move toward us, then stop on top of us staying a short while, moving on to give their leaf cleaning rains and soaking moisture to soil.
Of course it is time to cut the alfalfa. We need to cut ours but will wait until sometime next week. The rain sometimes misses us, but it isn’t good to risk the gamble. Although, the hay will HAVE to be cut soon…if we wait too long the protein content will vanish as food value for the animals and go into to making seeds for the plant.
The other problem is the humidity which doesn’t allow the alfalfa turn to hay…it just takes too long to dry.
So on one hand we are loving our tiny little monsoon month and on the other hand we are concerned about making high quality good hay!
It’s Sunday and lovely break from the week.
Have a good one everyone!
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 
such a hard balance to strike! i’m excited since we’re expecting good rains and cooler temps here in texas for the next few days!!!
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How dramatic are your storms. We never get storms in the summer months, but I don’t miss the humidity that goes along with them.
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So glad you’re getting rain! I love the storms we have here too. The cloud to ground lightning is a bit worrisome but so far we’ve had enough rain with the storms to reduce the fire danger.
Fuzzy, The Gus says the best place during those storms is in the bathtub!
Hope you get enough of a break for the hay!
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Yea. for the rains. They always do come. 🙂 Love the thunder storms. Have a good day. 🙂
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Oh that bloody hay, it is such a trial.. my fields is growing again nicely and now I have to worry that the man will get here at a good time to cut it.. sigh.. ah well.. hope you get a week of dry soon.. c
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Hi Linda, Just yesterday we were up in RMNP camping; one of the things we told the grandchildren that the Lord provided the rain & storm for the farmers growing our food, even if we didn’t like the flooding of our campsite. I will pass your info along to them. I heard it rained more in 30 min. in Denver than it did for the entire month so far.
Blessings to you today.
Noreen
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I really like your description of the approaching storms. You’re a wonderful writer.
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It is so interesting to read about your weather patterns Linda – they are so different from ours.
The only time we came to Colorado (May) it was very hot and very dry. Interesting also to read about your dilemmas on when to cut the alfalfa and hay – these things are the same for the farmers around the world aren’t they?
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Thankful that you’ve got your rain…but understand your hay “dilemma” all too well. Making hay is always a gamble! We have some laying right now…hoping to bale it dry tomorrow.
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I remember when I was a little girl… We lived between the mountain ranges in Virginia. In the summer, I could sit on the side porch (which was covered) –and hear the thunder in the distance as the storm approached…It would bounce back and forth between the mountains –and was fun to hear… Oh the memories…. Love it!
Glad you are getting some rain –but hope it stops soon so that you can cut the alfalfa…. You are SO dependent on the weather, aren’t you???? SO–I’m sure it’s a constant battle!!!!
Hope you have a great day.
Hugs,
Betsy
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Rain! I am glad you are getting some nice storms. I could feel the storm just reading your description.
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Glad to hear you got your rain. Hope the harvest goes well!
Thanks and have a good one yourself! 🙂
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I’m curious as to why July is a rainy time for you. I guess it has something to do with winds and air masses?
Having no experience with alfalfa It’s surprising that it has to be cut at a very precise time.
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Glad you are getting some rains, Linda. We are forecasted to get some over the next several days.
I had a front come through a bit ago and it dropped the temperatures 30 degrees!!! Lovely, cool winds right now and overcast skies.
Hope the weather will break for you to get the haying done. Nice pictures of your rain!
Blessings!
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I just love your pictures and explanations of storms as they move in and move out. Really love your blog! It’s a definite favorite! Keep up the great work! Hope we get some of your rain here in Wisconsin soon!
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’tis green in Colorado! he he he he he
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What a juggling act farming is – but I love your description of the weather and the storms- good luck with the juggling !!!
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Timing is everything! I hope you hit it just right. The afternoon storms are familiar to me from summer/early fall visits …and my dil is an avid hiker and she always gets up very early so that she’s down from the mountain before time for the storms.
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We were up in the San Juans last week and got to experience the first monsoon, it was so wonderful! then when we returned home on Saturday our own monsoon had started. Yay for the monsoons 🙂
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Hope you receive the perfect amount of sun and rain.
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