A Gift! Monday, July 28, 2014

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Dayphoto

Just before noon, around 11:30 that morning, our eldest daughter, Shannon and Jason came driving down our lane. They were bringing to us a very nice gift….

Heat for many, many cold winter days!

They had gotten up at the beginning of light, headed up the Uncompahgre Plateau (Un-come-pah-gray —accent on the pah) to 25 Mesa. There they filled their fire wood permit with wood just for us!

Terry and I were completely surprised. We knew they had filled two permits for their winter heat, never dreaming they purchased another permit to cut and haul to us wood. (Wood permits are for dead wood and beetle killed wood–they cost $25)

We had been working on getting set for the winter; they finished the work for us! (We try to have all our firewood cut and hauled by August…summer is always about preparing for winter, it seems.)

What a wonderful surprise! (It seems odd to being thinking of winter heat, when we are melting now. But come winter we will be every so grateful)

Your friend,

Linda

A Drop By–Sunday, July 27, 2014

Posted on July 27, 2014 by Dayphoto

The heat here has been exhausting. Part of the reason we are are so hot is the fact we have corn fields all around us…all but the five acres of pinto beans right in front of the house.

Since the humidity is high for us, it seems hotter than normal. I know nothing like those of you who live where there is high humidity all the time. (July and part of August is the monsoon time for the high mountain deserts of the Rocky Mountain mountain range).

Anyway, since the humidity is high, with afternoon thunder and lightening storms complete with rain and living in a much higher humid environment A CORN FIELD we are ‘feeling the heat’!

The corn fields effectively block any slight breezes or tiny winds that flow over the top of the Uncompahgre (Un-come-pah-gray–accent on the `pah) Plateau and onto the surrounding mesa’s including ours–California Mesa.

Corn fields by nature ARE hot and humid! Therefore, we are like tall green corn plants maturing in the July sun. Even the swamp cooler doesn’t help; it produces even more humidity.

Yesterday was a ‘sore trial’ as my beloved maternal Grandmother used to say! Being a child I never really understood that saying…but as a Grandmother myself, having lived many days and then some; I do.

(Anymore my Grandmother’s words seem to sing to me in the breezes, to ride with me over the dirt roads as I help change water, or we rest on the patio in the evening. I hear her spirit moving through my own words and in encounters of weeds and plants in the gardens, which we both love.)

The little grandchildren arrive off and on through the days, staying a short while then getting on their bikes to peddle home creating their own breezes as the fly through the fields between houses. I’m sure they don’t understand the term ‘sore trial’. 🙂

Still it is only the humidity that is hard to manage. Everything else is going nicely.

Last week Terry’s brother ‘dropped by’ on his way back to his home in Gilbert, Arizona. Terry enjoyed their couple of hours visit — after a quick ride in the corvette, Roger was back on the road. He had miles and miles to go from here to Utah, then New Mexico, and on into Arizona.

All the hay is in and stacked and some has already been sold. Terry has started water on the very dry alfalfa field as we begin again preparing for the third cutting.

Today we rest…no hard jobs. Just those things that must be done.

Your friend on a farm in Western Colorado,

Linda

A Good Fence—Thursday, July 24, 2014

Posted on July 24, 2014 by Dayphoto

Teresa from A Run *A* Round Ranch in Texas, always hosts a “Good Fences and Gates” Thursday. I have found this most challenging — the looking at my everyday world with new eyes to ‘see’ fences and gates.

It’s surprising how mundane we are with our ‘seeing’. If we have always seen it–such as the fences and gates on your own farm or the neighbors farm you never really notice them after the first true look. From that point on you glance…your brain says-‘Yes, it’s still there’–you go on. Never really looking or assess what is right there in front of you.

Having enjoyed Teresa blog for some time (she is a sanctuary for birds, I do believe) I decided to pick up her challenge to find interesting fences and gates where ever I might be in my world.

The word is CHALLENGE! WHEW!!

I have been rather amazed at all the fences I see and think—nah, just an ordinary fence.

But WAIT!!! Is it really? Sometimes the fence or gate IS ordinary, but what it in compases isn’t. Therefore, I have grown to really like this blog challenge —I offer it up to you to join Teresa and see if you can find a fence or a gate or something interesting within the fence or gate to share with the world.

Monday we went to Paonia, Colorado to visit the Solar Institute’s solar training farm. They had a cool bench…yes, I know this isn’t a fence or a gate—but it still was rather neat.

But they, also, had an most unusual fence….made of bamboo stakes! Now just how different is that!?

Today is NICE! Lots of cloud cover, so far. I hope it stays just as cloud cover we still have bales of hay to haul in; the rain needs to stay in the foot hills and on the plateaus. We sweltered yesterday while hauling and raking and forking hay. Today will be MUCH better to work in.

Anyway…take a wander over to Teresa’s and join in with the rest of us — you will enjoy looking at the world with ‘different eyes’ I am positive!

Your friend,

Linda

A Gift of Rainbows — Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Image

Cheri from My Ranch Life sent me some photos of a stunning rainbow that occurred somewhere on their ranch in Washington.

Isn’t this just incredible? The colors of the whole photo are dramatic and lends excitement to the double rainbow.

I thank -you so much, Cheri for sharing with us this amazing and very colorful bit of drama in your sky!

Please remember if you have a rainbow or something else you would love to share with my readers, please send it to me. I will post it and give you credit. This has been so much fun seeing rainbows and sky photos from other parts of the world.

Terry is baling the last of the hay. Thankfully we are just about done with second cutting. The weather people say there is a 30% change of isolated thunderstorms this afternoon. The storms need to stay away a little bit longer. Once we get the bales hauled and stacked a nice shower or two would be good to reduce this heat we are having. It was 104* at 5 o’clock yesterday evening. Although, it did cool down around 10 o’clock so all is good.

Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,

Linda

Waiting for Hay—Tuesday, July 21, 2014

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Dayphoto

We have one field done.

Another to go.

The gentleman who called and said he wanted to come down on Friday (of last week) to check out the hay for purchase right in the field.

Never showed up. Hay doesn’t wait. It gets dry to one point and then starts to become crispy sticks…no hay anymore.

Some people just don’t do what they say they will do. Oh, well, life goes on and so do we. 🙂

So we had to go ahead and bale hay. We hauled one field last night. Then probably on Wednesday Terry will get the other field baled so we can haul that evening.

Busy, busy!

Your farm friend,

Linda

Late but at Least I Made it—Monday, July 21, 2014

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Dayphoto

We had to leave the house early today (although we always get up early —there is water to change and other things to get done). I didn’t have a chance to post my daily post.

We (Terry and I) had been invited to Paonia, Colorado, to see a large Solar Training Facility . We were to be there early. Since Paonia is an hour away from us we had to keep moving or be late.

It was a fascinating experience. There is so much to learn about Solar and all the different types of solar panels.

Now we are back…and I’m getting caught up with my day!

Your friend

Linda

Heat! But I’m not Complaining! —- Sunday, July 20, 2014

Posted on July 20, 2014 by Dayphoto

It’s warm here. We had 102* yesterday afternoon. The dogs and Terry languished melting into the house; laying around in the family room while the swamp cooler cooled them down.

I worked at keeping the yard watered then around four o’clock decided I would just have to wait and start all over again as soon as the temps dropped back down to 98* or so. The heat did pound right into me as I walked here and there moving hoses. It was hot enough walking made a person feel like they were moving in slow motion.

The day had started with huge promise of being hot and it kept it’s promise.

Moving through the growing corn to set water re-confirmed that we WERE in July. The biting bugs hovered and dug right in for a lush rich drink of blood as we moved from one spot to another.

Finally we hopped back onto the four-wheelers and drove through the almost to tassel (but not just yet) corn into the wildly green pasture at the very top of the farm…here the mosquitoes and biting gnats gave way to swarms of more hungry bugs…tiny horse flies, deer flies and giant horse flies, no-see-ums, you name it. But the air was cool and fresh in the pasture so it made the flies seem endurable.

Yesterday, was also Delta’s summer celebration –Deltarado Days. We only attended the Parade, the Car Show and the Tractor Pull (I sure you knew we would attend those last two…:) )

By evening and the last change of the irrigation water we had cooled down to a very nice 88*. The night cooled even further down with dew setting on around four this morning.

Terry is out baling hay right now. Although he won’t be out there very long because this day is heating up also.

Normally we don’t really work on Sunday…we treat it as a ‘day of rest’, but now and again somethings must be done…baling the hay when all things come together to create the bale is one of those things.

Thank each of you for your continued friendship across the miles. Having my internet back is sure nice!

Your farm friend,

Linda

I’m BACCCCCCCCCCCCCK!!!!! —Thursday, July 17, 2014

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Dayphoto

Yippee! I’m back! The Skybeam repair guy showed up yesterday, did some of this and some of that got out his ladder, climbed up on the roof….stood up there for some time with his laptop. Made a sort of ‘ho’ sound. Climbed back down, went back to the back of his truck, took a little tiny dish out of the back of his truck, climbed back up on the roof…changed the bigger dish this out for the tiny dish thing and BAM! I had the internet!

YAY!!!

In the meantime Terry got the rest of the alfalfa cut, laying it out in rows to dry. Now we wait as the green alfalfa turns into protein rich hay.

Depending on the weather five to six days. Then it will be time to bale and haul the hay. A man called and talked to Terry for some time about coming down and checking out the hay. He is interested in doing his own baling and, of course, will haul it away. In other words he will buy the field ‘as is’. Now that would be nice!

Since today is Good Fences and Gates day over at Teresa’s Place, I thought I would slip in our neighbor’s a mile away from us. pillar Here is how he fenced off his fields (he doesn’t farm, just owns a farm and rents all the land out).

And the gate to his house. (That isn’t his house, its the Gate House….his way back there!)

We did have a small cool down the last three days (just as the Sun Dogs said). We were in the 80’s—it was real nice. Today we are heading back into the low 90’s. 94-95* or so.

Anyway, it’s good to be back. I’m really far behind on comments and visiting everyone.

Your friend,

Linda

Quick! Before it Fades! —- Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Dayphoto

For some reason, just around this time of the day, I can get internet. It doesn’t last long but I can at least get on and post a new blog…and visit some of you. Then it is gone for the rest of the day. Stress, stress, stress.

There was a fire somewhere around Rattle Snake Gulch the other night. I always wonder what starts something like that. Always sad to see a fire somewhere.

This is a very blurry photo of a sweet corn field ….it won’t be long now…soon you will see either Mountain Fresh Sweet Corn or Olathe Sweet Sweet corn in your Kroger/Safeway/Wal-Mart grocery stores. They are advertising for pickers now.

Terry got part of the alfalfa field cut, but he still has at least three more hours to go. They are forecasting rain and thunder here this afternoon so he won’t be cutting today. Maybe tomorrow. Please continue with your crossed fingers. We would like to cut, dried and baled by a week from now!!!

The days are hot here and the humidity high. Drives Terry to distraction, since he much prefers Fall, Winter, and Spring. But I’m loving it.

The sun parted the clouds yesterday afternoon highlighting Hay Stack Mountain. Hay Stack Mountain is at the beginning of the Roubidoux Canyon, which is all part of the Uncompahgre Plateau and just below our mesa. You can See the brush descending down toward the flat lands when then drops right off into the canyon in this photo also.

Must hurry off here now…I think my time is just about up! Hoping everything is going well with all of you!

Your friend on a farm in Western Colorado,

Linda

The Internet and a Tiny Cool Down —-Monday, July 14, 2014

Posted on July 14, 2014 by Dayphoto

I had the internet for exactly ONE HOUR yesterday! Grrrr! At least I was able to post and let everyone know why I wasn’t visiting your blog or answering comments. This has been SO irritating. Of course, I kept checking off and on all day long until I got sick of doing so and just shut everything off. 😦

The towers are still not working correctly. The Skybeam individual told me there are 17 people on the same wave length (beam?) and every one is having the same issues as I am. He sounded rather ragged.

Right now I have service…at least I can (maybe) get my blog up and (maybe) get around to visit many of you. If not, please understand. I will be BACK!!! Just like MacArthur….snerk and chuckle.

We saw a sun dog yesterday…sun dogs occur anytime of the year, any place in the world, at any time. They announce that cool down (or much cooler weather) is about to occur.

I can just guess what and when it will happen….today or tomorrow because Terry is out cutting the alfalfa! We do NOT need a cool down for several days…a cool down in July (here in the high mountain desert) usually means rain is about to descend. Although I love a nice rain to cool down hot summer days…we just don’t need rained on alfalfa which is turning into hay! Please keep your fingers crossed that we don’t get rain on our soon to be hay!! PLEASE!!! Thank you!

I got the five acres of pinto beans weeded. I won’t be able to go out there anymore since the pinto beans are now shooting feelers. The feelers will reach and stretch until they meet each other causing the rows to grow shut. All weeding stops from that point on. There will be weeds, but at least I got it cleaned for this amount of time.

Once the rows grow shut the blooms will turn into little pods and the pods filled with beans. Gradually the beans will swell until they mature. Once they mature the water will be removed and the plant will dry up. After that we harvest. Probably sometime in late September.