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Linda
Crazy for the Country
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Author Archives: Dayphoto
The Big Storm Moves In—Cold Weather Settles In Until Monday Morning
The sky is cloudy and we are cold here today. Terry is turning off the water until we warm up. When he called the ditch rider to let him know the ditch rider said almost everyone, but the onion guys have turned off their water. (This makes more work for the ditch rider — the canals get too full and then run over, that is why the farmers are suppose to call so the canals can be regulated.)
We have one field of field corn planted, two more to go. It’s good we only have the one, if the seed rots in that one, Terry will plant it to pinto beans. It would be best if the seed doesn’t rot, but this cold wet weather is just so iffy.
The 80 mph wind we just had knocked down three huge limbs
from our 90 year old cottonwood tree.
The 80 mph wind we just had knocked down three huge limb. We were very lucky it didn’t hit the house or the chicken house.
The lilac’s and the sweet cherries froze last night. It was 29* when I got up this morning. All I have left in my yard (fruit tree-wise) are the apples. Guess we will see if another killing freeze will get those also.
I do believe I sound rather bummed, sorry. I’ll try to perk these posting up from now on.
Linda
Evening on the Ditch Bank
Another storm is blowing in
The wind is terrible 35-60 m.p.h., making trash in the ditches next to impossible to keep out.
The trash collects and starts to dam up the rows. After starting about 22 tubes, we then walk the water through each row, making sure all the trash is removed.
Just before going in at twilight we check the tubes and trash cleaners one more time.
A strong cold front is supposed to hit here this evening with temperatures plunging into the high 40’s and low 50’s.
Another worry is that the alfalfa will freeze. A mature stand is fairly sturdy, but too much cold weather can harm it.
We’ve Started Planting Corn
The weather is sort of holding. It’s been warm enough the last two days we haven’t had to run the wood stove.
We have been having lots of wind so the combination (warm days and wind) has the corn ground ready for seed.
Another storm is to blow in tonight with temperatures dropping into the low 50’s.
My prune trees will probably get frozen, but at least I have lovely blossoms.
And we’ve been cold enough the daffodils have continued to bloom for a long, long time.
There really is good things mixed in with the hard stuff, if you just pay attention.
Linda
Waiting for Warmer Weather
I’m waiting for the snow to leave the point on Grand Mesa, once that happens it is the signal we can begin to plant warm weather crops (tomatoes and such).
Before this last storm blew itself in, this is what the point looked like.
Today this is what we see.
There was ice on the running irrigation water this morning. We had to fire up the woodstove again yesterday.
Winter, winter, go away, come again some other day.
I hope all of you are enjoying really nice weather where ever you are.
Have a nice weekend!
Linda
The Pears are Blooming
The pears are blooming, but night temperatures dropped to 31* so of course they froze.
The large orchards in our area smudged or ran wind towers, but small orchards more than likely lost thier crops.
First the apricots and now the pears. Cherries and prunes and apples will be blooming soon.
The snow hit the hills and the mountains around us, which I am very thankful for. We had a really wonderful (but very cold) rain during the night. It was delightful to wake up to a clean and fresh world this morning.
More rain and snow predicted until Friday, which means more freezing temperatures.
Linda
Pivot Systems in Our Neck of the High Desert
Pivot Systems in our neck of the high desert are used very, very little. They show-up if a farmer has a flat field which he cannot get to slope. Blue Mesa Reservoir still provides the water to irrigate with (no underground lake in our area), so settling ponds have to be excavated. These settling ponds filter out the mud from the water, then a pump, pumps the water into the pivot system.
What you are looking at is one year’s worth of excavated soil from the settling pond.
Since Terry needed about four truck loads to fix some holes around our place, our neighbor said to come on over and get some of his ‘extra dirt’.
We gladly did.
After we got back, Bladen wanted to help clean out the truck so it was ready for the harvest season.
Linkin wanted to sit on the tractor, so we put Tallen up there with her. Tallen did not like it. But it helped having big sister in the seat with her.
The grandchildren are not allowed to ride on any of our tractors that do not have cabs…it’s just too dangerous. But they can sit up on the seat if we are with them.
Another storm is supposed to come in today, with snow by the week-end! I hope it goes around us and stays in the hills!
Linda
Leveling
The secret to a smooth, slightly sloped (graded) field is the use of the leveler. It’s important to make sure the water will run down-hill, that there are no flat spots for the water to collect and pool and no giant humps for the water to try to run up over.
After leveling, Terry marks the field out and starts the water. We now have water in both alfalfa fields, the soon to be a corn field, and this one which will raise corn. The bean field is just ripped, rolled and marked. It’s nice to not have to work very hard on one crop. Saves time, fuel, therefore Money!!!
Linda
Irrigation Begins
Getting the ground ready is all about tractor work, getting the soil ready to accept seeds is about irrigation.
Terry marks and creases at the same time, which saves on time and fuel.
Then we have to check all the pipes, making sure all the gates are in place and working
The wind has been rather wild this fall, winter and spring filling even the main artery headgate with trash
So the first order of business, after fixing gates and cleaning the ditches
Once everything is clean here, then boards are set to force flow into our main headgate
Water must flow downhill, so just because we are irrigating one field, all the ditches have to be cleaned and ready to go.
Terry makes it look simple here, but a dam must be placed to hold back the water plus each tube has to have the end dug out so the tube lays flat in the row
Success!
Once started the water is never turned off until harvest.
We irrigate and then let the ground dry out until it is at moist stage, then the seeds are planted. Depending on the weather, should be around two weeks from now.
Have a nice weekend!
Linda
Spring Work Has Begun
Life on a Colorado Farm 
