We are getting closer and closer to that season of wind.
Our wind…the wind that plays and frolics on our farm, or that mighty wind that wrecks the havoc of a huge giant, or that hot summer wind a remnant of a dragon’s breath all arrives to our mesa from the Uncompaghre Plateau (Un-come-pah-gray—accent on the pah).
The ancient Uncompaghre Plateau catches and gathers the wind from Utah, allowing the wind to caress and stimulate the vegetation in the forests and canyons which make up it’s amazingly weird geology. Once any storm-wind, snow, rain, or all three together, makes its way to Hay Stack Mountain, it will be upon us in about 15 to 20 minutes. If you are out on the ditch bank, or at the Upper End, or in the fields of the Back Forty…you know that whatever is at Hay Stack Mountain you are going to experience it soon.
Yesterday we had a wind…but it was a playful wind, whisking across the open fields in little gusty puffs. Reaching into the yard it took my trash in the wheel barrow and mischievously flung it a little further out so I had to go pick it back up and weight it down until I could get the load dumped.
It also was a chilly wind, but not so cold I had to wear a coat. The little compact air spot between the wind gusts was actually almost hot if you were working in it. So I worked with out coat, shivered when the gust came along, warmed up, then cooled down all afternoon.
I enjoyed myself immensely!
I’m one of those strange and rare people who actually enjoys the wind. (Although I do draw the line of pleasure with a wild and reckless wind). My poor Momma had a hard time with the wind…it made her nervous…fed upon her mind and rocked her peace. Like lightening and thunder does to some dogs, all children, and some adults.
I can remember as a child tying old black plastic, from last year’s ensilage pits, onto my wrists and ankles. Then standing in the wind, turning this way and that……………..I became a kite!
Wind season is almost here…yesterday was pleasant. I know there are Bully Winds out there just waiting to gather strength and soil from the neighboring states to descend upon us. Persistently sifting top soil here and there and everywhere.
I can wait—I’m not ready for those winds. But yesterday’s wind was a fun exuberant wind that I truly enjoyed!
Your friend,
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 
I’m with your mom…not a fan of the wind.
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I think our wind season is about over. Hope yours doesn’t come down here. 25-40 gets real old after a while.
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I also love to be out in the wind…not the destructive wind thou that rips up things, but the slight movement that makes us feel like we could fly.
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We’ve had wind nearly all winter and think it’s the reason this winter has been so terribly unbearable. Stay wrapped up! Wind will wreak havoc on your sinuses!
Rita
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I’m with your mother. It’s weather that makes me nervous and puts things where I didn’t leave them which annoys the control freak in me. But you do make it seem somewhat delightful.
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Can you identify the storms over Hay Stack Mountain by sight? I have a sister who is afraid of wind, too. I love it but it does make everything crackly and dry.
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I think you are a rarity in liking wind – i hate it, not least because of what it does to my hairstyle!
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i liked your ‘kite’ tale. 🙂 we get good strong winds here in march. i do okay with wind unless a storm is mixed into it.
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I’m with you, I like the wind. Gentle, breezy wind, not the kind you have too lean into!
Beautiful pictures!
Cheri
How’s the foot coming along?
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That second photo is wonderful! And sort of scary at the same time. We don’t get those big vistas here, so our weather arrives as a surprise package, although we do geeky things like watch the barometer and hygrometer (old sailing habits die hard), so we know toughly what to expect. It’s blowing a gale here now on the coast as a storm sweeps in. I’m always glad not to have to go out in it!
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I like wind too, but the ones we get here sometimes are too much for anyone. Cyclone season is almost over for the year, thank goodness. But I like a fresh breeze, a stiff breeze, a strong wind, a good blow and sometimes a nice howling gale. It cleans away the stale air, humidity, dust and heat. Although it shreds my banana tree it makes all my other plants and trees stronger. I used to live in a valley on top of a plateau. I could look out my kitchen window, and see a storm rolling over the top on the other side of the valley, and still have time to bring in the laundry and cover the lettuces!
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i love watching a good wind and/or rain storm — from safely inside tho. i spent too many years working in storms to enjoy them any other way. love watching them without having to wear that blasted yellow rain slicker
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I must admit I am not a fan of our “normal” 15-25 mph winds that we have almost every day from March through June. After a while it just wears on me as everything has to be tied down to keep from blowing away. A light breeze I do like, but not the higher winds. We can usually see storms moving in toward us from New Mexico and pay close attention when they get closer. We are in ‘tornado county’ over here.
Glad you enjoyed the wind…and I can just picture you doing your ‘kite thing’ as a little girl!!! 🙂
Be careful and don’t blow away! Blessings!
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I like wind if it is not cold. Here we get the big dust devils and sometimes they take the windrows of grass hay and lift them up In the air and put some on our deck and yard. The high desert is great for wind. Lots of open spaces.
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Wind this time of year is often full of dirt. Makes grit for the teeth and eyes. Don’t like it. Even worse is snow-dirt-wind–snirt. Leaves scum on cars and windows and clothes on the line. But playful wind that dries out the mud and tosses kites–I’m okay with that.
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I need to send my daughter to you! She’s been begging to fly a kite but it’s still too darn cold here!
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We are not a fan of the wind either, it triggers Far Guys TN pain..so a calm day is a great day! The dog can sense it..he doesn’t like wind either:)
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I love this post, so beautiful. I love most winds too. Here in Italy, they all have names. I think I blogged about it once…the names are very beautiful. There’s one wind that everyone complains about because it’s hot and gusty and gives them headaches…they call it the Scirocco. I was always amazed that people knew the winds so intimately. You are one of those people. Your connection to nature is beautiful to me.
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I love your tale of winds although I am in the same boat as your mother was….unsettles me a lot. Last year a freak wind came barreling out of the north and took down my autumn blaze maple my mother bought for me. Broke my heart but we trimmed it up and its still growing.
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I like wind too. A good strong wind leaves me wanting to be riding horseback before it to the ends of the earth, to fly before the wind. Never done it, always wanted to. Sometimes you can smell where that air was, hundreds a miles away. It’s only the damaging winds I don’t like.
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LOvely story about winds Linda… and amazing photos… will be replying to your message XXX
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Gorgeous skies!
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So interesting to read this post and the later one on the bully wind (at the same reading, because I am behind) . I really never drew such distinction between different kinds of wind. You describe them both so very beautifully. (I am not a fan of wind, but not as much of a hater as your mother was.)
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I’m learning so much about your world Linda. Wind is obviously part of it, and well known by you.
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