Endings—-March 19, 2014

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Dayphoto

The storm left last night….pushing itself up and over the mountains in the north and the north east…the setting sun cast lovely lights of pink as the rain or snow showers played across the foothills

Terry worked late plowing.

When it comes to the soil everything has to come together in a perfect dance….right now the soil is ideal for creating soft malleable soil. Time is of the essence….plow up the land, let it freeze then go back in with the roller, smash the plowed dirt, then run the disk over it so it’s all nice and soft, but also firm. Capable of holding water. Then mark out the furrows.

After which we will pre-irrigate…wait one week, then plant.

The irrigation water will start down our canal April 1st. The onion farmers have already asked for water and have received it this week.

Winter is ending. (Thankfully) We may have more snow and we will have more wind, but the ground is saying NOW. Now is the time to prepare for planting.

So for Now the ending of our last storm has happened. The soil is perfect for farming.

Today is cold, but clear with a hint of the true Spring yet to come.

Your friend,

Linda

Right on Time— March 18, 2014

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Dayphoto

We had a pretty amazing wind yesterday. Ripped the plastic off my chicken house pen, flung some of the lawn stuff here and there. The weather people said the wind would come up at noon and die down around nine in the evening. They were close…the wind came up about one o’clock and died sometime way after I went to be around ten.

Yesterday morning we had this

Yep!

There are always those who think they must burn….always.

That afternoon we had dust and smoke and wind, mixed with some clouds coming in from the west. You can still see some of the smoke drifting around in the hollow just below our mesa.

Sigh!

So far nothing on our farm burned and as far as I can tell no one around us lost anything. I did hear the firetrucks go out in the late afternoon. Thank Heaven for the Volunteer Firemen!

Poor old Fuzz-Dude about blew away. He also was a huge magnate for all the trash that was flying in the air.

It’s still blowing today. It also looks like storms are playing around in the mountains. Storms made up of rain.

Wind is so very important to help the plants bring the sap up from the roots that I work really hard with myself to not get too carried away with Not Liking the Wind. I even have been known to stand out in it and pretend I know what kite feels like. For today, we have a sap rising wind, a few very cold storms and a small cold front which leaves tonight sometime.

I hope you all have a good day….

Your Western Colorado Farm Friend,

Linda

Saint Patrick’s Day– March 17, 2014

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Dayphoto

Our morning dawned all pink and rosy with highlights of yellow which quickly disappeared into a thick veil of clouds. The weather guys are saying that a huge wind to come in by noon today and stay well past nine o’clock tonight. This huge wind is supposed to have gusts around 45-55 m.p.h. Bringing with it a cold front for tomorrow.

Now that the weather people have warned us…I’ll just bet the fire departments will be busy with those individuals that think a little wind can’t hurt if you burn your ditch….burn off your field…or burn your garden patch. Heck, a little wind will just help things move along nicely!

fire-22

We have entered the ‘fire season’ here. (that says it all—so I shall stop here and not continue, enough said, so speak.)

(The above photos are from the fire which was started several miles from us and ran through our place two years ago)

My foot is healing…still swollen and hard to walk on, but the redness is gone. Healing is progressing nicely. I thank all of you for your comments and concern for my health, it does mean a lot.

Today is traditionally my day (and maybe others) to plant English garden peas and Sweet flowering Peas. These plants love cooler weather, so putting the seeds in the ground now always make for nice eating later in the late spring/early summer. And lovely blooms for the early summer table. But I shall not be doing so this year.

Today is also the day for celebrating the Irish in us. And today everyone has a little Irish in them! 🙂 🙂

Sadly the Irish were the poorest of all immigrant groups that arrived in the United States in the nineteenth century (1800’s) , and many women especially suffered as a result of being abandoned or widowed. It’s nice we have moved a long way from those times!

My maiden name is Doyle…all my life I have heard that we were Irish. I have not found when my Doyle lineage arrived in America. I do have my Doyle family line to 1775 Ohio. So I guess I can take a little bit of Irish upon myself as the surname Doyle IS a true Irish name, sometime after the Danish Vikings landed. (Say with tongue in cheek 🙂 )

Therefore, I wish upon all of you a very Irish Day!

Your Friend,
Linda

Small Set-back– March 16, 2014

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Dayphoto

Terry has started rolling the plowed fields

What that means is he is smashing and breaking down the plowed clumps of sod into nice soft soil. He likes to wait until we have had several freezes on the plowed fields; softening the clods so they break down into lovely crumbles. You can see the crumbles here. He’s checking something (I don’t know what) as I was taking this photo.

Big clumps of hard dirt are hard to work with, those of you who garden understand, so getting the clumps into small loose dirt is the goal.

Everything is going well in the farming department.

My woodpile is getting smaller, chunks of old wood have been sawed into burnable lengths and the the longer stuff left until next fall when we start the wood stove back up again.

All of those things are moving along nicely. The small setback is myself. In cleaning up the woodpile I stepped on a 6″ nail, stabbing it about 1 1/2″ into my foot. (Feet really aren’t very tall, I found out as I pulled the stuck nail out of my shoe and foot). The wound bled very well (was sort of a mess) so I thought everything was good.

I continued working until late in the afternoon, came in washed up, decided to soak my foot in Epsom Salts to help the healing process along-which I did for about 20 minutes. And decided that I had better go to the hospital for a Tetanus Shot.

Our Doctor only works Monday through Thursday so I knew I would be directed to the hospital anyway. Gathering up my information, putting on some soft Crocs I hobbled out to the car and drove myself to the hospital 20 minutes away. Terry was still in the field but I told him I would fix supper when I got back. But for him to not worry as Emergency Rooms are actually a very slow process to get anything taken care of.

At the hospital I checked in, showed the nurse, she showed me into a small room, had me get up on the bed, looked at my foot again and went ……….hummmmmmmmmm. And left. Back she came with cleaning things and cleaned all around my foot and said the Doctor would be in shortly to check the area. I said okay, but all I really need is a tetanus shot as I can’t remember the last time I had one….way over 10 years ago, I think.

I settled back and opened my Kindle and started reading. I sure was glad I brought it along to help pass the time.

Enter the Doctor…we chat for a bit, he sits down and looks at my foot…I told him what happened, requested a shot, and yes, it hurts, top and bottom.

To make a long story short I had to have a small surgery to open the area back up, he dug around for a spell, cleaned out a part of my shoe and rust from the nail and some specks of dirt.

That was Friday, today is Sunday…many shots, pills and pain medication later my foot is still red and swollen. I am sure it is healing as I don’t have to use a cane to walk with today, which is a blessing. I had to go back yesterday for a check -up and re-clean the area. And I’m now able to wear my own shoe on my foot, instead of Terry’s, if I need to walk anywhere.

A small set back…I’m sure.

Your friend,

Linda

The Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer on Friday—Cats

Posted on March 14, 2014 by Dayphoto

Fuzzy and

I have been busy gathering the smells from around Mom’s old wood, woodpile.

Sam-Sammy-Sam has been also. Actually he has be stalking the old woodpile area; pacing here and there with that ‘I’m going to find you’ look in his eye.

Monkey (a nine-year-old, almost ALWAYS a house cat) was hanging out with us, as we were helping Mom sort the woodpile—Monkey got extremely nervous and hid –just waiting for Mom to head to house so she could beat Mom there and peel inside quickly.

The Little Buff Hen, who does NOT spend the night in the chicken house anymore, (because Mom only has ONE chicken and the chicken house is too lonely for a 6-year-old hen) acted like there was really nothing to worry about.

She said she was hanging out with Mom so she will always be safe. (You are safe, Little Hen, because Fuzzy and I are with you!)

Cluck, cluck, purr, yummy, lots of good bugs under the old wood, she cooed.

Since Fuzzy and I have been hanging out here lots; day and night, Mom got to wondering why, so she moved the night camera to find out—

“Oh”, said Mom. “I see we have more cats.”

“Two more cats. They must be wild/feral as I have never seen them in the daytime.” She mused.

“No wonder you have that look in your eye, Sammy-Sam. You need to be careful, Kitty, you aren’t a young cat anymore, you turned 13 this January.”

Harrumph! Sam growled as he turned tail and stalked over to the ditch bank. I can still hold my own! Hummm…

this grass is rather nice, I think I’ll just roll around here for a spell and scratch my back…those other cats only come at night, right now isn’t night. Besides, I usually spend most of my nights in the house next to fireplace…she doesn’t need to be such a worrywart.

“Ahhh, I see the fox is a regular little guest here. Good thing you are well protected at night little Buff Hen,” Mom said as she bent down a petted the little buff hen.

“You boys keep a sharp look out for the fox; they travel around day or night. Which, reminds me,” pondered Mom “I’m surprised we even have feral cats with the fox and the coyotes around.”

“UGH! Now this is one nasty cat, an ‘ol polecat, you need to stay far, far away from this cat all of you! That means you also, Little Buff Hen!”

You don’t have to worry about that Mom…Fuzzy and I just watch that skunk move through the yard, that’s one cat we do not want to tangle with ever again!

I agree, yelled Fuzzy as he tried to whap his tiny little bobbed tail in the air.

“Well, it’s starting to get evening and I’m getting tired. Let’s head back to the house and see what I can come up with for supper! Come on, Little Buff Hen. It’s your bedtime.”

Cats…I guess Mom knows now, Fuzzy…we have lots of cats!

Just as long as they don’t get near the house, Boomer, we don’t have to do anything about them!

That’s good, Fuzzy, real good!

Oh, look…Yummy canned dog food!

You are right, Boomer…I hate that dry as cardboard crunchy kibble stuff. I’m glad Mom has moved over to this nicer to chew (swallow, slurp, gulp) food!

Night Everyone!

Boomer

Another Good Day– March 13, 2014

Posted on March 13, 2014 by Dayphoto

Late winter, which is really Spring work for us, is going good.

Terry and I worked on the big canal right by our yard…we are terrified the ditch company will come along and burn our whole house down…they haven’t been very good about controlling the fires they start these last four or five years. So now we take care of everything even remotely close to our house, barns, corrals and haystack yards.

I don’t really understand the work ethic of many people anymore…my maternal grandfather always told my brother and I: work hard, do a good job, respect the other person, and never take away a man’s (or woman’s) dignity. My Daddy always said that the customer is always right, if you want to have a good business you take care of the people who purchase from you.

Somehow, somewhere those things have slid far, far away, from how people think of others and to be truthful–customer, member/users have no respect for the store, company or business anymore either.

It’s all a shame really.

But enough of that—-as we were working away we saw the little grandchildren get off the bus and start hiking home. Our grandson ran by our lane as fast as his twelve-year-old legs could carry him—the I pad was calling I’m sure. But the two little girls trudged down our lane to hang out with us as we worked. They even helped by spraying Grandpa with water. Of course, he had to spray them back…it was a jolly good time!

Gradually, we got done with that project. In the house we went to get snacks then Terry and I loaded the girls up on the four-wheelers and took them home—THE LONG WAY! They had huge smiles when they got off.

Back home Grandpa headed out to start plowing (yes we plow–our land requires the deep plowing to bury the shredding corn stalks so the earth worms can start to work on them. We do have some acreage we don’t plow, just rip and plant.)

I’m still working on my trash woodpile. I hope to get it thoroughly sorted today so chain saw can be applied. This summer we have to do a better job of not just dumping everything into one heap and actually sorting as we go. (I hope. One can dream, I suppose. 🙂 )

Your farm friend,

Linda

A Look at the Sky — March 12, 2014

Posted on March 12, 2014 by Dayphoto

I have noticed as the seasons change the colors of the sky change with them. Winter skies are colors that consist of pale blues, the shimmery lavenders, the twenty shades of pink

The colors scream of silence, hibernation, frost and snow and the deepest quiet of winter.

Now the sunsets with blaze with colors of yellow and orange

Mixed in shades of grey and black…hinting…just hinting… of the warmth and the heat of summer.

Even the sunrise is is pinker, more robust, mixed with yellow to lend a cast of orange

Then blazes forth the day!

Your Friend,

Linda

A Big Day — March 3 2014

Posted on March 11, 2014 by Dayphoto

Yesterday was a Big day!

First was the BIG culvert pipe that was removed at the end of the farm-very rusted and crumpled and wore-out, that is for sure.-

Then the second big thing was the new culvert pipe–

All shinny black and very new looking lowered into the waiting trench.

This took most of the day. This morning, at the crack of almost light, the little children and their Mom walked the 1/4 of mile to the mailbox at the end of our land. (Terry and I watched from the warmth of our living room 🙂 )

The pipe was still uncovered and a huge hole still in the road, but with much daring and great feats of jumping the two oldest (12 and 9) jumped into the open trough, onto the wonderful big shinny pipe, and scrambled up the the other side….I’m sure they went to school dirty but happy. Mom-mom and the little Kindergartner had to walk clear around the huge hole, walk across a smaller white pipe to get to the other side, then RUN—RUN–RUN to the waiting bus down by the mailboxes.

Then last evening the little kids and their Dad stopped by to say HI. Then they were on their way through the fields to their house…Tally (the youngest) wanted to see if she could beat them to her house by running across the fields. You know what? She DID!!

Yesterday Terry started disking up the corn stalks. He worked until nine in the evening and has started the process again today.

We are not fond of large corn stalks creating little dams in the water furrows. Terry also like to have the rotting organic matter in our clay soil…lots of humus significantly influences the density of any soil and contributes to moisture and nutrient retention. We are always, always, always working to protect the land we farm.

That evening I notice a BIG storm playing over the Uncompahgre Plateau. (Un-come-pah-gray).

Today we have wind. Wind always signals Spring in our part of the world.

Your Western Colorado Farm Friend,

Linda

Returning of the Red-Wings March 10, 2014

Posted on March 10, 2014 by Dayphoto

When up and about, at the cattail area, we saw huge flocks of the returning of Red-Winged Blackbirds to their favorite nesting area on our farm. The red isn’t showing up right now, but as the weather get warmer and warmer we will be able to see the red stripe.

If you have never heard these delightful birds sing please go here.

We have small flocks now. but by the time the asparagus is popping out of the ground this area on our farm will be full of these little beauties.

The county has started digging up three large culverts that go under the road at the end of our farm today. It will take them four days, in the meantime the little grandchildren must walk down the end of our corn field to get to the bridge (Terry takes equipment into the fields on this bridge) so they can walk across the road and stand by the mailboxes.

In the way of all children everywhere they are seeing this as a great adventure…we should all be that way…not an obstacle but a new adventure.

Kelly and Misty will have to drive down the tractor road to the back of our farm, across the ‘super highway’ (grandchildren name) over to the dirt lane and into our yard to go to work for the next few days.

“COOL!” Our grandson the sixth grader responded, “Way Cool!”

Adventures are everywhere…hope you have at least one today!

Your farm friend,

Linda

Very Busy Saturday — March 9, 2014

Posted on March 9, 2014 by Dayphoto

All our days are seem to be very busy, but now that late winter is here it seems our days are getting much more active.

First thing in the morning we headed off to Loma—outside of Grand Junction to the last consignment sale of the winter (which we attend). It was stunningly packed with people and items to sell. Packed!

After waiting in line, for some time, Terry got a number and we headed off to see if there was something we just could NOT live without.

The place was packed with ‘stuff’, equipment and implements. We didn’t see anything we just Had to Have. After watching a few things sell we headed back home.

That afternoon it was time to start the creation of the water trough. There is a ditch which leaves our neighbors farm onto our farm…once water touches your farm that water is now yours and your responsibility–unless it is in the canal. (The water company has a right-of-way through all farms along the route from the reservoir to the river.)

In order to not have the irrigation water from our neighbor’s ditch wash away the good soil and create large crevasses and groves Terry has created a cement trough to a pipe. It was at the end of the pipe we were starting to get a huge mess.

Yesterday afternoon Terry and I cemented the end of the pipe and built a water trough that will protect the ground around the pipe.

I was in charge of mixing the cement (520 pounds of cement)

Terry was the cement artist.

We got done about dark. This doesn’t look like it took much work, but believe me it was.

Our oldest granddaughter and a little friend of hers walked over to see what we were doing and stayed for a time ‘helping’. Of course, when you are 9 helping means writing in the cement! 🙂 By the time we were ready for the ‘helping part’ they had wandered on home by way of the whole farm — counting baby calves and seeing if they just ‘might’ get to see one being born.

That evening Linky (our oldest granddaughter) and Tally (our youngest granddaughter) came back to spend the evening with Grammy and Grandpa…when asked if Linky and her BFF got to see a calf being born she had to reply no…BUT they did see a calf that had just been born and was getting all the yucky stuff off by the Mom. Her BFF was suitably excited about the whole process. I wonder what her parents thought…..

We took the little girls to eat at Wendy’s and then up to Uncle Evan’s so they could play with his two little dogs, two cats, one turtle and watch the fish swim in the aquarium. Then we stopped by Aunt Shannon’s to check out Tommy the Turkey and his new girl friend/wife, the hens, her three dogs and one cat. Then we headed home to watch cartoons.

Monday Terry starts more tractor work. The cows leave. -Mr. Davis and Theresa have already taken out the ones who still have to calve.- Monday they will remove all the mom’s and the new little ones, leaving us cowless until next February. I will work on the other stuff of getting a farm back up and in the production mode. I guess you could say we will begin in earnest on Monday.

Off now to do all the stuff that is hollering to me to get done!

Have a good one!

Your friend,

Linda