Good Gates and Fences—-May 15, 2014

Posted on May 15, 2014 by Dayphoto

The Run*A*Round Ranch is hosting Good Fences and Gates on Thursday. I’m about to run out of really cool fences here, but I do have a couple more of cool gates. I’ll just show this one that I think is really cool on our place

It’s the oldest gate and fence on our place. Going way back before 1930. Our farm has always been in Terry’s family. Terry’s grandfather started a Dairy here (it was the first and only dairy in Delta for years. Our farm is five miles from the edge of town … to keep the smell and flies from bothering towns people.)

After his grandfather retired from the dairy, the farm then raised beef cows. We purchased the farm from the estate and continued having cows ….we milked a cow for us, raised spring’n heifers for other dairies, and in the last beef cattle. Now we are cowless, but our farm still is winter a home for beef cows.

So this fence and gate still does that same job it was created for many, many, years ago!

Head over to The Run*A*Round Ranch and check out all the fun and unusual fences and gates over there.

Your friend,

Linda

Third Grade Field Trip — May 14, 2014

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Dayphoto

The field trip was great fun!

Outside of the teacher and the bus driver I was the only other adult on the school bus, the other parent volunteers drove their cars to each site bringing the special needs students on the trip.

Children have untold energy! The bus was LOADED and full of excited talk and lots of smiling faces. I could feel myself smiling back the whole time.

This was my first time to visit Fort Uncompahgre.

You know me…history is my thing… so of course seeing and feeling this time period was a hoot. Made me wonder if I could live this lifestyle…YES!

Well, outside of the fact women were treated rather poorly back then—gambled away, sold off…worked hard…you know…not the best of life…I could do it. At least in my imagination! 🙂

Then on to Indian craft activities, lunch, then another bus ride to the library and the Sheriffs office.

Another cool place the Library– so full of knowledge! The librarians had several activities for the kids, which I found impressive.

Before we walked back to the school there was a nice play time for all the pent up energy.

While Grammy (all the kids called me Grammy 🙂 ) and the other volunteers rested.

Once more I was the only parent who walked back with the teacher. Over 50 children one teacher and one volunteer. What good children they were. No stragglers, no pushing or shoving, some concern from these little tykes that this very old Grammy would have a hard time walking all that way back and up that very steep hill.

But you know what, this Grammy didn’t have any trouble at all. In fact the four little girls that did struggle going up the hill were impressed that Linky’s Gramma could still walk so good. Their concern and surprise put a smile on my face and a song in my heart!

From a very old Grammy, who still feels very young,

Linda

Craig, Colorado — May 12, 2014

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Dayphoto

We made the three hour trip to Craig in rain turning to snow. Not just any snow…lots of snow. But the time we started home around 4:30 in the afternoon there were at least 5 inches on the ground and more coming down.

Yep. That is what I remember about Craig and Hayden (they can have up 8 months of winter) when my parents lived there. I never lived in Hayden, since my parents moved after Terry and I had Evan and had been married for 6 years. I’ve always lived here in Delta county. I grew up in Eckert; married at eighteen and lived right here on the farm for the rest of my life.

But my parents moved to Hayden and lived there for twenty years. How strange it is that my youngest child and her family are moving back to that area. (Lets hope it isn’t for twenty years, but if it is we will all adjust. 🙂 ).

Kelly took us for a tour of the high school (where he will be the Principal), then we toured the town, and we looked at some houses they were interested in. Terry and I were very impressed with the high school…there isn’t anything there that isn’t offered to the kids…and it’s right on campus….swimming, all the sports, tennis, golf, band, vocal music, you name it they have it. The rooms were light and airy and the school very nice and clean. I’m sure he is going to enjoy himself very much.

We came home in a horrible snow storm that turned into rain as we got closer to Grand Junction. Then we got here we have the pleasure of sleet. I had to start the fire back up. The last time I looked this morning it was 34* and it felt like 32*.

Farming has come to a stop. I’ve covered up some of my tender stuff, but I couldn’t cover them all…I just hope the can make it.

I had to bring in the hummingbird feeders but I put them out first light this morning. I have two set of Orioles and 8 pair of hummers. I’m sure they needed food after that long cold night.

I guess this stuff will leave out of here gradually over the week. I’m ready.

Tomorrow I’m taking the day off. I have been invited by Linky to be a parent guest on their field trip. Which means I have to be to school EARLY. I’m up early but I have to do many things before I can get gone…you know how that goes.

Anyway…the kids are moving to a nice community with a very good school district. I hope they can find the perfect house for them and Misty can get a teaching job. All will be well as those things take place.

A friend in Delta, Colorado

Linda

On a Visit —May 11, 2014

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Dayphoto

We have been invited to go with the kids to Craig, Colorado today.

We will leave just after irrigation is done! Shannon and Jasen will take care of our late morning and early afternoon irrigation sets. We will be back for the last irrigation of the day. Terry has the water in the short rows by our house so it’s easy to set and change! No running clear up to the back forty or swing around to the upper end or any of the middle fields. Easy Peasy.

The kids want to visit the town, look at some houses they are interested in, show Terry and I the schools, in general get a feel for their soon to be new area of living. Hook

Saturday the crocodiles tried to eat Captain Hook….of course, Peter Pan and Tinkle Bell saved him, but still…crocodiles are pretty intense when they are after you!

Have a nice Mother’s Day everyone!

Linda

Good Fences and Gates

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Dayphoto

The Run *A* Round Ranch hosts a Thursday “Good Fences and Gates” , which I have found is a lot of fun. If you would like to see The Run *A* Round Ranches cool fences swathed in Texas bluebonnets go here. While you are visiting click on the others sites to see even more fun fences…fences from around the world.

Then take some photos of your fences and gates, and the fences and gates around your community and join the fun.

For my contribution I give you

The Electric fence and the electric fence gate. We have lots and lots of these all over our farm. The twine is to warn you there is a strand of hot wire going across the road ….so STOP!

More than once I’ve seen a wagging dog tail get shocked. It only takes once! After that the tail is lowered way down to the ground as the dog cheerfully trots on to the next new smell or adventure.

Don’t forget….head over here to add your fences and gates to the list!

Your friend,

Linda

Want’a See? —- May 7, 2014

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Dayphoto

Want to see what Seventy burning candles look like on a cake? 🙂

(Blade said the heat was very hot on his face. 🙂 )

The grandchildren insisted we have seventy fully lit candles for Grandpa. It took a lot of fast starting of candles and a VERY slow walk for Bladen to bring the cake into for Grandpa to blow all of them out.

Linky thought she better bring a spray bottle of water, because she was just SURE Grandpa couldn’t blow ALL THOSE OUT AT ONCE!!!

But he Did!

Tally grabbed Grandpa and looked him in the eye and said, (very seriously) “I knew you could do it, Grandpa.” The faith of a child.

We have finally gotten all the corn ground wet and are watering the alfalfa for the second time this year. Next we will start on the pinto bean ground.

Terry should start marking it out either today or tomorrow.

After the ground is totally soaked, we wait a week for it to dry down, then Terry will got in plant. This is called wet planting.

There are two kinds of planting…dry and wet. In dry planting you get the ground ready and plant the seed, then you water the seed up. We like the wet planting, since the ground is already wet the seed starts to sprout immediately. Weeds are easier to manage, because the planter ‘weeds’ as the seeds are planted. We are in for ease. 🙂

The word from the Ditch Company is the reservoirs are completely ice free and rising quickly. (Except for Taylor Park) The water level at Blue Mesa Reservoir has risen 16 feet in the last few weeks and is expected to fill within 5 feet of the reservoir top! WHOO HOO!!

Although, we are not not drought stricken this year, we will continue, as we always have, to practice good water management. But not having to really worry about the water is —well—nice!

Thanks for stopping by. It’s always good to have a visit with friends.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Heartfelt Thanks—-May 6, 2014

Posted on May 6, 2014 by Dayphoto

My heart and soul is extremely humbled and ever so grateful for all the wonderful, kind, understand and encouraging thoughts over my last post.

Each of you have brought tears to my eyes because of your strength, love and understanding. Each of you have given me even more hope and determination to keep the strength and love of our families as the fore-front of these new far reaching lives!

You are truly my friend as I hope I am yours!

Linda

Away—–Going Away—May 5, 2014

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Dayphoto

Terry’s celebration was really nice…all our children and their mates and our three grandchildren came and ate and played games!

We also learned that the father of our Grandchildren has been selected to be the new principal at Craig, Colorado.

Craig is three hours away from us. Do I laugh with joy or cry with sadness?

Bladen will be in the Seventh Grade next year–a year of huge changes for him.

No more just running across the field (they are heading home in this photo)to see what we are doing, or to get a snack, or to catch a ride with Grandpa.

No more randomness.

We will work hard to keep them close….as time permits we will travel there to be with them. We will bring them home with us, if they want to come, and their new lives will let them.

It’s all too special to let slip away. It is also selfish of us to ask them to not go. We are very proud of Kelly, please understand that, it is the leaving that makes Terry and I sad.

Now our hope is that they will be able to return sometime in the future. I hope this isn’t being a selfish hope! We will work hard to leave it up to what is best for all of them.

Still…I do think you understand.

You also know that time has a way of making everything right. My Momma would always say—‘everything works out for the best–if you will let it.’

So we will let it.

When our son was born, my parents also moved up by Craig, Colorado—they moved to Hayden. Daddy had gotten a job with Colorado Ute (now called Tri-State). So it is, with a touch of irony, that my youngest daughter and our son-in-law, and grandchildren are moving back. Life really does have some odd little jogs and jags in it, doesn’t it?

(Don’t forget you might have to remind of this—that life always works out for the best.)

Sigh,

Linda

Seventy—May 4, 2014

Posted on May 4, 2014 by Dayphoto

On Friday, May 2nd, Terry turned 70! I hope I am as active and energetic and able to work as hard as my Dear Husband does everyday….still!

Today, I’m having our kids and their families over for a Sunday dinner celebration. We had to wait for everyone to be off work.

Happy Birthday, Hubby!

I found this cool little saying:

“Seventy is wormwood,

Seventy is gall

But its better to be seventy,

Than not

Alive at all.”–Phyllis McGinley

Your farming friends!

Terry and Linda

Good Fences and Gates — May 1, 2014

Posted on May 1, 2014 by Dayphoto

Happy First Day of May Everyone!!!!!

For my “Good Fences” post today I have the wonderful, exciting photo of this delightful, outstanding, just perfect for today’s post of a fence and a Rainbow…I just love Rainbows!

I give you our corral fence………….

Yippee! How lucky am I and how lucky are you! A Good Fence and a rainbow!

My white picket fence even looks blue in the evening light. Another cool thing!

For more wonderful fences head over here. Please join up…its really fun to see all the cool gates and fences from all over the place…yours will be just as appreciated as everyone else.

Your farming friend,

Linda