Tired

Posted on September 8, 2013 by Dayphoto

Today is Sunday…Thankfully a day of rest. We always try to take this day off, of course there are some things that just don’t rest–like changing the irrigation water. But for the most part we ‘MADE IT THROUGH THE WEEK!’

The last load of pinto beans went to

The Beanery at 7:15 in the morning.

Terry went over and helped Nick unload our truck at 1:00 in the afternoon. The truck is now all cleaned up and put away until we start the corn harvest –sometime after the middle of October on, depending on how the corn dries down.

The little girls spent the day with us so they helped me do my job in the hay field.

I had a load with the old dog, the crippled dog and the two girls 🙂 but they enjoyed themselves. Linkin (I call her Nee-Nee) helped me straighten and pick up bales.

(Tallen is waving at Grandpa coming into the field for a load)

It was her first time, but she is old enough now — our kids started around 9 years of age so I figured she could too.

The tractor broke down on the first load of hay heading into the haystack 😦 but by that time is was supper time and Misty was back home. (Kelly and Bladen went to Bladen’s soccer game in Leadville and were spending the night in Gunnison with a college friend of Kelly’s last night.0 So Misty stayed and helped us. She is feeling better again, thankfully.

While Misty and Terry brought the broken tractor to the shed, the girls and I finished up the dishes. The last load of hay came in just as dark was settling down on the land. They wanted to help irrigate so off we all went to the old alfalfa field to start the water … IN the Dark!

While up there I lost Fuzzy. The poor old thing just has the hardest time keeping up with everyone. He wanted off the four-wheeler to walk with the girls so I put him down.

While following them he must have stopped to sniff around for a spell and they walked on. He didn’t come back and didn’t come back and didn’t come back. Fuzzy can’t hear or see very well so I was getting very concerned. Finally I took the four-wheeler and drove into the upper end, which is by the hay field…turned on the lights and drove around looking for him. I was almost to start panicking when I saw his white paws trying to get to me.

He and I were VERY happy to see each other that is for certain and sure!

By the time all of this was over and we sat on the back patio for a spell just to wind down it was past 10 o’clock when we finally went into the house and the little family went home.

We are supposed to have a couple of rainy days starting today sometime so getting all the crops in and covered feels very nice.

Have a restful Sunday everyone, Terry and I are sure going to try.

Linda

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Dayphoto

We started the pinto bean harvest –which reminds me, Terry raises Bill Zee pinto beans. Pinto beans have many different types of beans just like apples have different varieties.

Everything was going really good

Until around Three in the afternoon

When the auger broke. A belt.

The hopper had to be unloaded by hand.

This is the sunshine on Grand Mesa

What a day..

That evening I went up to fork the ends on the hay and to fluff the rows. (While Terry changed the water).

I must say I enjoyed myself very much, I even saw a tiny (almost) rainbow.

The hay is ready to bale. I’m not sure if Terry will bale today or tomorrow morning, but he will have to soon. Plus keep on combining.

Lots of work hitting us right now, but when we are done we can take a break until the corn is ready.

Exhausted but happy,

Linda

Wednesday September 4, 2013

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Dayphoto

Sort of in a rush…we begin combining in an hour.

So far the rains are staying away…

if everything holds together we hope to be done by this week end.

Your harried friend, Linda

Monday, September 2, 2013

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Dayphoto

Although today is technically a holiday here, Terry and I will be doing what the day calls for—Laboring. 🙂

My little hummers are becoming less and less at the feeders, although I see many of the little juveniles feeding on the flowers throughout my yard.

The honey bees are having a great time at the honey bar…I do feel a little concerned they are not out gathering pollen but hanging out at these feeders. I hope it doesn’t cause a problem at the hive later on this winter. 😦 😦

If I don’t feed them they want to swarm the Hummingbird feeders so I guess it is six of one thing or 1/2 a dozen of another. Sure is perplexing.

I caught this little moth having a great time in the petunias…yes, I am one of those that adores petunias. I love their colors and the heavy rich scent that fills the air.

The rains are being really nice and staying away. But they are still here and moving all around us. I loved seeing the sunset on the rain chuts last night.

Well, off to do the many things for the day. Terry will be cutting the old hay field, then he has to remove all the bean pulling equipment, and move the bean combine up to the shop to get it ready for the harvest (hopefully by Friday).

As for myself I have the lawn, the hedge, the many, many weeds to take care of and canning, plus all the other chores that keep a house and yard going.

Best wishes for a perfect Labor Day,

Linda

Saturday the Last Day of August 2013

Posted on August 31, 2013 by Dayphoto

Terry pulled half the pinto beans yesterday before the dew left and the pods became too dry. Pintos have to be pulled early so the dew will keep the bean pods from cracking open and spilling the pinto beans out onto the ground. Once the beans are spilled there is no way to pick them back up.

Today he has been out there since full light. He hopes to get the other half of the field done before the heat hits.

Depending on the weather he will wait about a week then start combining the rows, gathering the beans into the hopper and then the truck and then off to the Beanery to be sacked and sold.

Rain clouds keep building every afternoon, which causes us a huge amount of tension. So far so good, the storms stay around us in the foothills and on the plateau, which is good.

Another thing that is good is we sometimes get a rainbow!

Feeding the bees seems to be working. I use a dollop of honey early in the day…by nightfall it’s all cleaned up.

Terry also said we are on the very last irrigation of the corn. Boy, has summer ever flown. Although, we will still irrigate the hay fields the work load of changing water is fast disappearing.

I’m not sure but I think most of the adult Hummingbirds have left, I still have lots of little ones feeding. I’m not having to fill the feeders as much so I’m thinking this is a sign the large majority of those delightful little birds have gone. I know the Bullock Orioles are gone since I haven’t seen any for two weeks now.

I’m off now to fork the bean ends back so we don’t lose any…those tiny little beans are what we’ve been working all summer to have. 🙂

Your friend,

Linda

The Way It Was –From the Past

Posted on August 29, 2013 by Dayphoto

From the Past

Compiled from Delta Newspapers by the Delta County Historical Society

251 Meeker Street, Delta, Colorado, 81416 (970) 874-8721

From the Delta County Independent

A horse belong to Edward Goddard took fright at a passing automobile on Delta’s Main street last Tuesday morning and raced around the corner of Main and Fifth with enough speed to cause everybody and everything to give undisputed right-of-way. The buggy trailing behind the Goddard horse went over and was considerably wrecked before the race was concluded.

Linda

Bee Food

Posted on August 28, 2013 by Dayphoto

The Rabbit Brush is blooming now. We usually see Rabbit Brush in bloom in September…but it’s here now.

I love the Rabbit Brush…I’m really not the only one that enjoys this bright lovely bush

The bees love it also

The pollen is perfect for storing and feasting upon.

Back home at the humming bird feeders….

I decided to just go ahead and give the bees their own feeders

Works perfectly!

Now we are all happy…the birds and the bees and ME!

Have a good one, Linda

August 27, 2013

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Dayphoto

We have been enjoying the rains. (Although, it does make for muddy ditch banks and irrigation roads.)

My hummingbird book says that around August 26th the hummingbirds start their migration to the south. The older hummingbirds leave first…then the juveniles.

The book also says to keep out your feeder until you haven’t seen a little hummer for at least two weeks, allowing the last little one traveling the farthest to have food along the way to the land of blooming nectar plants and tiny flying insects.

My other songbirds have already fled …I haven’t put out seed in the other feeds for over two weeks now. I’m sure the time is coming when I will be slammed with sparrows and starlings…I always try to feed them so they will stay out of the dog food. (I keep the dog food up, but the starlings will dive the dogs until they drive them off and then take over the dish)

With the rain we sometimes get rainbows…another nice gift of rain!

Have a great Tuesday, Linda

Monday, August 26, 2013

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Dayphoto

Our son-in-law, and our grandson are learning to play the bagpipes. Their instructor, and his wife, hail from Bonny Scotland (himself).

We were invited down to listen. Although, I wasn’t allowed to take a close-up photo —just yet. I was able to get this one as they were warming up.

Bladen is very excited to be learning WITH his Dad! They are way past the chanters, and now adding in the drones. So far there are two drones with the rest of everything to go. Maybe, by this time next year they will have a parade or two under their belts.

Mr. Barie said that there used to be a nice sized group in the three counties (Mesa, Delta, Montrose) that would get together every once in awhile, but he is the only one left… that he is aware of. Having a couple of McCormick’s join him in real Scottish music will be real nice.

When Kelly and Misty got married Misty used the McCormick traditional plaid as part of her wedding…once the little group gets comfortable playing it will be time to have kilts made in the proper plaid.

It rained here a nice gentle soaking rain all night starting around 7. It’s still cloudy with a promise of rain. The air is much cooler also. Really rain is nice when everything is not in the harvest stage.

My daily view

I love this double deep red hollyhock…I didn’t plant the seeds it just appeared this year.

Your friend, Linda

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Posted on August 25, 2013 by Dayphoto

We have arrived at the last week of August! I already miss Summer!

The corn is starting to dent…maybe (just maybe) only one more irrigation then the corn will be left to dry. Harvest should occur in October.

The snakes are starting to hole up for the winter…we are seeing fewer and fewer every day.

The Hummingbirds are still here, although I’m having a terrible time keeping the honey bees off the feeders.

This sugar water is like some sort of drug to them, even crawling clear in PAST the bee guard then drowning.

Any suggestions on how to stop the bees from eating at the feeders would be greatly appreciated.

A huge storm blew in late yesterday evening complete with flood watches and warning out for today and tomorrow, then in will gradually leave just in time for the third and last cutting of the old hay field and to pull the beans.

Magic thoughts for at least two weeks (possibly three) of warm drying weather would be greatly appreciated. 🙂 🙂 🙂