July 16, 2013

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Dayphoto

I have about 4 pair of Hummingbirds

at my feeders now, plus two pair of the Bullock Orioles/

My photos are STILL not very good, but I’m working on them.

Part of the problem is how shy the Bullock’s are —

the hummers are getting better about having me around.

I can work in the flowers right under the feeders with them flying all around…

the second I get my camera…………………sigh.

Then I saw a RUFUS humming bird…he and his mate were have a great time mixed in with all the other hummers…

I was extremely excited to see and actually get a photo of the little bird.

Have a good one everyone…we are off to haul firewood today. Seems strange to think of firewood in July, but we must if we are going to stay warm this summer. We will haul seven Dodge truck loads minimum before we have enough…last year the winter went on way too long and really needed 9 truck loads. So one day a week for the next seven (possibly nine) weeks we will be hauling wood!

Have a good one everyone!

Linda

July 15, 2013

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Dayphoto

This a photo of the Black Bear road into to Telluride–

Since Telluride was in a box canyon all roads in and out of Telluride were (by necessity) very sharp and steep. We traveled over Imogene Pass from Ouray to Telluride, but there are many more passes in an around this old, old mining area leading to other well-known (now days) tourist areas — Silverton, Ridgeway, Ophir, Telluride, Ouray, Lake City…I think you get the idea.

These roads (although now jeep roads) were the first roads into the gold and silver mining towns. They are startling beautiful and terrifying all at once.

The name Telluride derives from “tellurium,” a sulfur compound that is sometimes found around gold deposits or even in the gold itself . Experts differ on whether the Telluride area mines contain the compound. But, reportedly the name arose in 1887 after a large piece of telluride ore was found in the San Miguel River near the site. You will still hear the tale that the name came from “to-hell-you-ride,” a phrase that described the difficulties traveling to the area.

The butterflies and bumble bees were many, here is one that I wasn’t sure of the name, maybe someone out there does

To answer a question about how the Quacking Aspen got it’s name (from our trip to Paonia) and good friend of mine (Rene Atchley) told me the following story:

The Aspen quake because the Indian Gods commanded all creation stand still in the Nature Gods presence. Because the Aspen didn’t so the Indian God punished them by making them quake for life.

I liked this story so wanted to pass it on to you!

Monday is here …. back to a very busy week!

Have a good one-

Linda

Right On Time

Posted on July 14, 2013 by Dayphoto

The rains have come…

Lovely quick down-pours that spark lightening and thunder (to the dismay of Fuzzy).

Our mornings start with clouds filling the sky and not much heat. But by noon we are suffering from the humidity and the oppressive clouds. Big thunderheads start to boil up either over the Plateau or the San Juan’s, sometimes they switch sides—one side starting first or the other side. Sometimes they come all at once to meet right over us.

Often times we can hear the storms squabbling on who gets to be first to swing into the surrounding mesa’s, knolls, knobs, hills, and valleys that make up the Montrose and Delta area.

They move by their own power flashing dramatic lightening from cloud to cloud, or in sheets, giving us the dramatic electrical show complete with a cloud to earth strike now an then.

I love these storms and can stand outside and watch them as they move toward us, then stop on top of us staying a short while, moving on to give their leaf cleaning rains and soaking moisture to soil.

Of course it is time to cut the alfalfa. We need to cut ours but will wait until sometime next week. The rain sometimes misses us, but it isn’t good to risk the gamble. Although, the hay will HAVE to be cut soon…if we wait too long the protein content will vanish as food value for the animals and go into to making seeds for the plant.

The other problem is the humidity which doesn’t allow the alfalfa turn to hay…it just takes too long to dry.

So on one hand we are loving our tiny little monsoon month and on the other hand we are concerned about making high quality good hay!

It’s Sunday and lovely break from the week.

Have a good one everyone!

Linda

July 11, 2013

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Dayphoto

On our four-wheeler ride in the Paonia mountains

Terry

and

Cliff took roads that only those like them want to try…Kimberly and I stayed on the main trail!

We had rain…those few drops you see on the stones. Here we need rain, (after 2nd cutting of hay) and back East they can’t get the rain to end! A strange summer of weather.

A little robin dropped by last night while I was sitting outside at the end of the day.

A perfect ending to another really nice (and extremely hot) day!

Have a good one!

Linda

July 10, 2013

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Dayphoto

We picked up our friend, Sheryl Williams, by 8 in the morning and headed off to Ouray, Colorado.

Once there we started up the Million Dollar Highway turning off a short way above the Box Canyon turn off onto the road to to Imogene Pass.

We would go up this side of Imogene and come down into Telluride.

The weather was perfect!

This shows you the road up. To get to the top we will climb over 13,000 feet.

We took it slow, stopping and getting photos of wild flowers, and eating lunch along the way.

The assent was steep, to say the least

That patch of green was full of wild flowers of all types and COLUMBINES!!

Almost on the top we saw an area of even more Columbines….

Stunning!

When you stand on the top

You can look down into the area where Telluride exists, a sea of mountain tops

And over the side to Red Mountain where the Million Dollar pass and the Red Mountain Pass are.

The road down the other side into Telluride is

We took some friends with us once, who lived in New Jersey…they kissed the ground when we finally got down into Telluride. I think you can see why.

That is the road we had to keep going down to get to that tiny spot called Telluride.

Once in town we ate ice cream and headed back home.

This is a quick trip, but I hope you enjoyed yourself!

Linda

July 9, 2013

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Dayphoto

I loved the Quaking Aspen trees….my maternal grandfather and grandmother (Bill and Ruth Thomas) would take my brother and I camping and fishing – sometimes even for a weekend — on Grand Mesa. He loved the Quaking Aspen trees and would always say he wanted to buried in a pine box with a Quaking Aspen for a tombstone and wildflowers all over his grave.

I love those trees also, more than likely it was his love of the trees that gave me my love of them — grandparents give so many things to their grandchildren don’t they? And the things they give are never with strings attached.

Anyway, as soon as we get the water set we are off to Imogene Pass—this is a old, old pass between Ouray and Telluride (To Hell You Ride) for a little day of four-wheeling.

I will be taking you with us…so off I go now to get ready. The lunch is packed and so is the pick-up!

Linda

July 8, 2013

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Dayphoto

We went with our daughter, Kimberly and her husband, Cliff, to this lush wilderness close to Paonia, Colorado. I was really excited to get to go and to see this delightful opportunity!

The landscape was outstanding

Fields of wonders

With exuberant Quaking Aspen to shield them

As we rode deeper and higher into the mountains — masses and masses of other plants started showing up — in full bloom

Then we came upon forests of ferns some stood as high as my head…the sight was stunning!

Walking the last little while, we made it! To the top of the mountain and the dwelling

Over these rocks into that dark space below is the dwelling.

See that ledge, Cliff is looking at that tiny, itty-bitty, teeny little ledge that requires a person the crawl on hands and knees, then to slink around on your belly and toes to get around in the cave!

The drop is straight down and a very, very, very, long way down…not only do you have to crawl and slink into the cave with your head going over the ledge at different points, you are at least heading INTO another cave…coming back OUT is worse as your head is always OVER the ledge until you can get back into this side.

I couldn’t do it!

So I didn’t get to get a photo for you, my readers.

I am sorry!

I just don’t do height very well.

With feet firmly planted on the ground,

Linda

July 7, 2013

Posted on July 7, 2013 by Dayphoto

I have a pair of birds (of which type I do not know) who have made a delightful little nest in the lilac tree.

They used lots of different things to make the nest including pieces from one of the old tarps we have out by the grain bins. 🙂

I always have to smile when I walk by and look up.

They don’t…both Mom and Dad scream alarms and take off swooping and flying to hurry me on by.

Next week Terry should cut our second cutting of alfalfa… sometime around the 12th or so!

The summer is flying by. Only one more cutting of alfalfa here and then it will be fall.

I am hanging onto every day for I really dread WINTER!

Today is lovely so we are off to see some ancient Indian dwellings. I’ll have photos for you tomorrow (I hope)

Have a good one!

Linda

The Meaning of Dog Days and a Happy Fourth of July

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Dayphoto

To explain the meaning of the statement of the ‘Dog Days of Summer” — The Old Farmers Almanac lists the traditional period of the Dog Days as the 40 days beginning July 3rd and ending August 11th, coinciding with (at sunrise) the rising of the Dog Star, Sirius. The days are associated with very hot weather. Sirius is the “Dog Star” because it is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major (Large Dog). Sirius is also the brightest star in the night sky. I know so little about the stars but I learned this long, long ago from my maternal grandfather, William Hobson Thomas. He didn’t use the fancy terms naming the constellations, my curiosity lead me to find that out in high school, but he did tell my brother and I about the Dog star. I could probably do a Google search, but this will have to do.

Our corn is more than knee-high (by the Fourth of July) which is always a good sign. The weeds are growing rapidly also!

Thank-you everyone for the gentle comments about our story on the back page of the Delta County Independent. It was a lovely surprise when Pat Sunderland called and asked if she could do a feature about us.

Anyway, here is hoping that everyone has a great Fourth of July!

Sincerely,

Terry and Linda

Fuzzy and Boomer

Sam the cat and Monkey the cat who never goes outside