The Weekend

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Dayphoto

We spent Saturday and Sunday in Grand Junction at the soccer tournament. The two oldest grandchildren were playing—of course we had to attend. 🙂

It was horrid cold, bitter, bone chilling wind, thunder storms and lightening which slowed the games down…..everyone has to leave the field until 30 minutes after the last lightening strike, and long. We couldn’t stay for the last games of the day because of getting home to change water.

Today is still cool, jacket wearing cool, but no freezes THANK HEAVENS!! Everything is up and growing to have a killing frost now would be…a disaster! (But we won’t even go there in our thoughts—tomorrow it starts to warm back up.)

I some photos of one of the males of the little hummers who are visiting the feeders

They aren’t the best photos,

but at least a start!

I hope everyone has a great Monday.

Linda

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Dayphoto

I have several hummingbirds this year…of course I’m having trouble getting photos of them, maybe I’ll make it.

So far we have regular visitors of the Black-chinned Hummers and the Ruby Throat two pairs of each. I’ve also seen an Rufous, and an Anna’s pair, they are not here regularly, or at least when I’m outside I haven’t seen them regularly.

The types which are in Colorado are:
Broad-tailed, Rufous, Black-chinned, Calliope, Blue-throated,Magnificent, Anna’s, Ruby-throated, Broad-billed, White-eared, Green Violet-ear.

I sure hope I can see some of the others, maybe not at my feeders but around.

Then to get a photo…a good photo…MY Goal for the year!

Have a restful Sunday everyone! We are off to watch grandchildren play soccer for the last time. Summer break starts soon for the grand kids!

Linda

What’s New?

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Dayphoto

Remember this post?

Well, now he is our bird…what a character he is.

Tommy had to come live with us, because he kept getting on the road. Shannon didn’t want ‘smashed Tom’.

He is the sweetest Tom…loves people, you can pick him and rock him to sleep (huge for a lap, but he does love it) and he will follow you around everywhere… strutting and showing off.

Tom, the Royal Palm Turkey!

Thanks for stopping by,

Linda

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Dayphoto

I’m still working in my yard. I have the sundial garden about weeded and planted, still have the rose bed to get too and one other huge area and I’m planted! That will be a huge relief…getting everything in the ground!

I have a nice supply of toads this year, I’ve found them in just about every place I been. They are my helpers!

Exhausted but pleased with the results,

Linda

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Dayphoto

The water at Blue Mesa Reservoir is horribly low….Terry says it is down about the size of the length of a football field. Blue Mesa Reservoir is also an extremely long reservoir—20 miles long.

Taylor Reservoir is still frozen over, but starting to thaw. It is low also, but nothing like this. Taylor Reservoir flows into the Blue Mesa Reservoir along with tributaries from other creeks and rivers.

Going back home (on the way up we went through Montrose to Gunnison then to Almont) we took ‘the long way home’ over the rim of the Black Canyon to Crawford, Hotchkiss, and then Delta.

The Black Canyon is the pathway of the Gunnison River, from which our irrigation and drinking water arrives to us.

We saw lots of deer, some elk, but the best was this Cub…wandering across the road.

He/she was heading to the other side, where Momma was probably waiting.

Having a little trip was really nice…broke up the work so we felt refreshed and able to get ‘back at it’; glad to do so!

Off now to work in the yard. I’m planting. I have cut my amount down considerably…two years ago I had 175 containers in 9 beds. Last year I cut down to 75 containers and nine beds. This year….I’m tired. I have 10 containers and the nine beds which at times still seems too much.

Anyway off to plant!

Linda

In-Between Irrigations

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Dayphoto

Last week we had rain…lovely, lush, wet, rain. Four days of rain. It soaked in 1/2 inch giving much needed life to everything.

Irrigation doesn’t stop just because of rain, mainly because the rain doesn’t really soak in far enough to do tons of good.

But in-between irrigating we had lots of things to do-

Terry was given a hot shave gift certificate for his birthday…off we went to Grand Junction for this first time experience
Our daughter and son-in-law lost Riley—that was very hard
I was a parent volunteer for our oldest granddaughter’s class field trip–which was a lot of fun. We rode on a bus and played and EVERYTHING
This same grandchild had a piano recital
We went to Gunnison and on up to Taylor Dam to see what the irrigation water is looking like–not good. Not good at all!

When I was chopping weeds along the edge of the fields one evening the sky turned amazingly orange as the storm clouds blew away. The color filled the whole sky and even surrounded Terry on the ditch bank and probably me at the end of the field.

I am always so appreciative of this great big beautiful world we live in, I’m sure you are too.

Enjoy your Monday everyone. See you back here on Tuesday.

Linda

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Dayphoto

Happy Mother’s Day Everyone!

I have had an extremely busy week, this past week. Please accept my apologies for not commenting on your blogs and for not answering your comments to me. I hope to be much more organized this coming week!

I hope your Sunday is just outstanding!

Your Friend,

Linda

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Dayphoto

It is still raining here. I’m still not complaining, just stating a fact. The weatherman says it will be in here until Sunday and then turn off hot.

Even though it is raining irrigation goes on. The water is set morning and evening. Although we have rain the rain has only soaked into — maybe 1/2 inch of soil —so we continue irrigation. I know it seems illogical but that is how it works. Seeds are planted 2-21/2 inches into the soil, they must be wet to sprout and then after that they must have water to the roots, which are even deeper than where the seed started.

So the irrigation continues rain or shine. The ditch banks are sure slick, I fell twice jumping over the cement ditch with a load of siphon tubes, nothing hurt but wet clothes and more mud. 🙂

Fuzzy was really funny when we went to get gas for the 530…we had a tire in the back we needed to take to dump which he delighted in sitting in.

Silly, cute dogie.

Today I am off for a treat! I am going with my oldest granddaughter on a second grade field trip to Pioneer Town in Cedaredge, Colorado. We will ride the bus together, tour the town together, then we eat lunch at the park and ride back to the school in Delta. Then I will get to take her out and we can have the rest of the afternoon together.

Rather cool, don’t you think?

Hope your Thursday is just as fun!

Linda

Wednesday, May 8, 2013 and a Cute Bit of History

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Dayphoto

Third day of rain…not complaining. We come in wearing mud for shoes.

It’s also cold. We had to start a fire again.

Now if it is just snowing in the mountains……………….

Stagecoach Travel Rules

If the stage teams run away or are pursued by Indian, stay in the coach and take your chances. Don’t jump out, for you will be either injured or scalped.

In cold weather abstain from liquor for you are subject to freezing quicker if under the influence than as though you were cold sober. But if you are drinking from a bottle, pass it around. It is the only polite thing to do. Be sure to procure all stimulants before leaving the station, for the ranch whisky is not nectar.

Don’t smoke a strong cigar or pipe on the stage, especially when women and children are present. If chewing tobacco, spit to the leeward side.

Don’t swear, snore or lop over on neighbors when sleeping. Let others share the buffalo robes provided in cold weather.

Don’t shoot firearms for pleasure while en-route, as it scares the horses.

While at stations, don’t lag at wash basins or privies. Don’t grease your hair with bear grease or buffalo tallow, as travel is very dusty.

Don’t discuss politics or religion. Don’t point out sites where robberies or Indian attacks have taken place.

Don’t imagine you are going on a picnic, for stage travel is inconvenient.

Linda

Tuesday, May 7, 2013 Fields I Love

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Dayphoto

I know this is rather daffy, but I have certain fields on our farm that I just, well, LOVE! I enjoy the slope of the land, the color of the soil, how the water flows so rapidly without help…unlike the 1/2 mile field which is always lots and lots of work.

We are in one of those fields right now….complete with a dust devil.

It is middle’n in size, I call it the Middle Field. (it’s a 1/2 mile also, but different) Terry doesn’t like it because it has lots of short rows, (hard for turning the tractor and equipment around in) places where there is gravel, (the water wants to sink instead of flow) and a shallow place he can never get level.

I don’t work with the land/soil like Terry…I work with Terry and the water.

Still there is just something about this field, maybe you can see it with me. Part of the enjoyment is the water is always heading west. Why that appeals I can’t tell you, but it does.

The other hay field has the same layout but not the same feel to it.

Ah, well, I can’t explain why I like this field so much, I just do.

The setting sun was just perfect to show up the Black Canyon of the Gunnison…I hope you can see the canyon.

This was the route the early settlers took coming in to settle Delta…. they started in Gunnison and then drove their teams and wagons along the rim of the Black Canyon arriving in Peach Valley then across the waste land to the the fertile valley by the Gunnison River, now called Delta. (Not as easy as it sounds, but that is for another day.)

I must be off, Dear Friends, as I need to make a run to the gas station for gas for the 530 John Deere…this little darling of a tractor doesn’t use diesel fuel.

Your Friend,

Linda