In Need of a Wee Break—-Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Posted on April 10, 2018 by Dayphoto

In need of a wee break, Terry and I decided to head up to Ouray and relax for a couple of hours in that marvelous hot spring pool.

We changed the water in the dazzling rays of early morning

Then headed up to where the snow still veiled the mountains, and wind ruffled freezing fingers into your hair.

Once in the water all the cares and worries died to a murmur, while others in the pool laughed softly among themselves.

The snow laid heavily on the amazing peaks…sometime reflecting into millions of diamonds. Once in awhile we could see rock climbers braving the face on the rugged cliffs, warmed by the afternoon sun.

Back home we came, just in time for sunset and the last change of water.

Rested…

And ready to continue our daily lives on a western Colorado farm,

Your friend,

Linda

Winter into Spring, We are Very Blessed — Monday, April 9, 2018

Posted on April 9, 2018 by Dayphoto

Winter’s overwhelming lack of smells are gone. Instead we have exciting fresh scents of varied EVERYTHING

Green things growing, water on parched soil, the smell of just fallen rain, mingled with whiffs of equines

Taking dust baths 🙂

(whatever Lady does TaAta thinks she must do also 🙂 )

The smell and feel of the air is crisp and soft and Fresh now— How lucky we are.

Later on in the slightly chilled evening,

Ta Ata came to Visit.

Spring…a time of joy on all the land,

From my heart to your world.

Linda

Quite Splendid and Terribly Rare for Us—–Sunday, April, 8, 2018

Posted on April 8, 2018 by Dayphoto

We got rain! Lots and lots of lovely rain.

Even the birds were singing the trees, as the rain whispered through the small buds on the branches.

And I…I was that good wife, who let Terry go out at nine o’clock of the evening, in the roar of the storm to change the water ONE last time. He graciously told me to stay inside, that it wouldn’t take him long.

He came in a drowned rat…but ever so excited about the depth of moisture in the soil.

The wind blew the clouds away around five o’clock this morning…leaving us with that perfect mix of fresh air, fresh sky, blessed plants and earth from RAIN!

From my world to your heart,

Linda

As Dawn Lightens the Sky and Evening Comes—-Thursday, April 5, 2018

Posted on April 5, 2018 by Dayphoto

We begin…”Why do we start so early?” Terry asks, although he knows the answer.

There is just so much to do. Even if we don’t have the care of animals, we do have the care of the land.

The leaves are beginning to unfurl ever so slowly on the trees….first the cottonwood pushes off the little yellow sticky covers, the blooms burst forth (along with the pollen) and finally…if one looks closely the little tips of leaves are starting to appear.

It’s cold again (actually still–we had a couple of really nice days, but not right now.)

Look at the trash coming out of the canal

Masses of stuff.

My yard is the same way…all the corn leaves flew into the yard over the winter making lovely covers on everything. Also making debris come spring, which I must now remove for the gently growing bulbs to spiral up into the spring air.

The little birds are all puffed up keeping warm….they, like us, are ready for warmer weather (although we are NOT having snow like some of you…my heart goes out to you waiting for melt and warmth!)

I am a person who believes in mysteries, in secrets of the Universe, and in the magic of the common daily existence

For you see, I see it each and every day, but ‘specially on that day when we start water on the land…then I can see and feel the heart of the earth beating, slow, incessant, humming —-pulsing—throbbing, throughout the day and into the night—all through the night and back into the day…

Reflecting into the sky, where it is manifested for all to see.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

That Wonderful Sound of Water—-Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Posted on April 4, 2018 by Dayphoto

The water came yesterday around three o’clock in the afternoon. I was just finishing up one of my flower beds when I walked past the canal and saw the back hoe and a large pile of moving brush, dust flying in the midst of water

The water had come!

Terry headed up to watch and I dropped everything and headed up the canal to get photos of this very exciting event

The backhoe grabbed huge chunks of weeds to keep from flooding the farms along the way

Gradually the back hoe started to get the water clearer

The arrival of water!

Gradually the water cleared

We gathered up our shovels, and headed out to start the water on the farm! Which meant, of course, we had to clean all our ditches from the trash coming down the canal and into our ditches

But oh my how it was worth all the work.
The New Year has Begun!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Winter Blowing Chilly Through the Land—-Tuesday, April, 3, 2018

Posted on April 3, 2018 by Dayphoto

Winter blew in over-night last night. It’s cold here today.

Our fine spring days washed out in a tide of a swift moving cold front

The wind is sharp enough I have started the wood stove again…

Still no water. We are getting far behind (but no water in this wind is actually a blessing–just saying 🙂 ) Some of the farmers are finishing up their second round of irrigation and starting on their third…we are still waiting. Maybe Thursday, now. Who knows.

Whatever it is we will just have to wait until it comes. There is no other way around it.

Anyway…

Today I will get some more things ready in the yard…AND… I have help! Terry is bored so he said he would help me!

Now THAT is a good thing!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

No Sense of Relief Yet—-Monday, April 2, 2018

Posted on April 2, 2018 by Dayphoto

We are still waiting….for the irrigation water to come.

Three times Terry called the Ditch People and asked for the water.

Three times they said the next day or the following day or for sure on Monday.

We are ready….more than ready. All the fields, which will be planted to corn, are disked, plowed, rolled, leveled, marked out…the ditches made (the ditch to carry the water to the field and the ditch to take the water to the next field), the alfalfa field is marked out and waiting, growing greener by the day—but it would grow in leaps and bounds after it gets water.

We’ve cleaned all the ditches—and I’m working on my yard….we are ready.

Happy Easter! Happy Spring! — Sunday, April 1, 2018

Posted on April 1, 2018 by Dayphoto

Wishing all of you a Happy Easter. And a wonderful Spring!

From your friends on a western Colorado farm,

Terry and Linda
Boomer and Mindy Cat

Before the Water Comes —- Thursday, March 29, 2018

Posted on March 29, 2018 by Dayphoto

The water still isn’t here. It’s still five miles away….still.

Terry is anxious to get started. We dive up to Pea Green and check the head gate for the F N Canal (that’s the name of our Canal). The F N Canal takes off the Iron Stone Canal — a huge system of canals running all the way from Black Canyon of the Gunnison and the Uncompahgre River.

Not here yet.

So we have been doing some major clean up around the farm

Gathering more firewood from downed trees at the back of the land

I’ve been working in my yard…I hate to uncover too many flowerbeds until I can get water on them, but …. still…they do need to be uncovered before the spring bulbs get too big.

( I also work in my house, but that seems so boring. Although, I do want to start painting. I need to paint the inside of the house this year and go down to the other house and do some painting, that we (as land lords) are responsible for. But not just yet….maybe in April. We will see.)

The days are ever so much longer, allowing us much more time to get ‘stuff’ done.

In our elderly years we seem to tire out easier, although, it does seem we work just as hard as we did in our fifties—- 🙂

Oh, well…we are pretty much caught up now. Just waiting on the water so the Growing Season can start!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Friends, Although, Not Kin—-Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Posted on March 28, 2018 by Dayphoto

Lady has a new forever friend. She is a Quarter Horse and only four years old

Her Name is Adobe Skipun Te Ata—(how you say it is —-well, your guess is as good as mine…the kids call her T. I try and say Te at a.)

After a little tiny skirmish, where Lady kicked TeAta and TeAta turned around a whopped Lady…

They have become friends! TaAta is the boss and Lady is letting her. Lady let Romeo be the boss also. She is a follower….which is good. Two lead equines would Not be a good thing.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda