A Mini-Heat Wave

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Dayphoto

The last two days we are having a mini-heatwave. Which I am very much enjoying. It won’t last. Saturday a windy snow storm is suppose to blow into our area. Then the temps are suppose to plunge back down, but I’ll take whatever we can get!

Because of the slightly warmer temperatures (sure beat the minus stuff we were having) and the longer daylight hours the dogs and I like to go for evening walks.

Its sort of a struggle for Fuzzy, but he won’t hear of us leaving him behind, so we just walk slower. 🙂

Boomer is a goof….he runs everywhere, up there, back there, over there, he doesn’t care, just so he can run.

Since a pack of feral dogs attacked and killed all my hens, I don’t mind these little hawks (falcon?) hanging around. This one sits on this branch every evening when I’m out walking. Searching for that daring mouse, I suppose.

Since it’s late (after five in the evening) the geese are starting to land in the corn field. I had to try my hand at photographing them…I’m not very good.

The air is thick with their honks. It’s really cool. They are one thing I miss when spring comes.

The only other real news is the sheep across the road from us have arrived

I always enjoy seeing them hit the fields. They never stay in one place always traveling here and there and everywhere.

This girl was just pointed in the right direction by the sheep dog. I didn’t get his photo as he was just tooooo busy to pause for me to click the camera.

There are a lot sheep here, when you consider they are covering 160 acres!

Here is the last of the car photos I’m going to share. I guess you have an idea of the type of car Terry likes. 🙂 🙂

Well, I’m off to enjoy the last of the afternoon sun and mini-warmth! No wind, no clouds, now snow. YAY!

Linda

Stickers

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Dayphoto

(Cockleburs)

Years and years ago we were in charge of keeping the canal bank free of over-growth. So we did… we planted grass, watered it up, waited for it to get a goodly size and put the cows out to graze on it. Magic occurred….the sides were free of grass, weeds didn’t take over and every spring we went out and burned off the trash. We were happy, the cows were happy and the ditch riders were happy.

Then the ditch company discovered the joys of weed spray. They were so excited and happy…. they could spray out the grass along their many miles, and miles of canal and ditch banks.

(Yellow Thistle)

So spray they did!

They were right! No more grass! Not a sprig anywhere…but in its place came

Sti ckers!

And other noxious weeds. Beats me.

Linda

Wordless Wednesday

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Dayphoto

The Days are Growing Longer

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Dayphoto

Daylight is growing longer, on both ends of the day, which is reason for joy on my part.

It’s still cold here. Dropping to 13* or so at night and warming up to 28*-29* in the daytime (what do I expect it IS still January). Randomly it warms up enough to melt some and then freezes again…I know IT IS still January.

But the days really are growing longer so that ignites hope in my heart. I find sitting inside (at work) HARD….renewal is not far off now. I counted the weeks until we start farming (7), of course that means if the weather cooperates, but even THAT gives me hope.

Here is another car, Terry really liked. Who knew that Willys also made a car…or did they?

Linda

Back From the Car Show

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Dayphoto

Well, no outrageously expensive car drove down our driveway late, late Saturday night, which is just what I expected. But lots of photos of ideas, and a tee shirt did come back.

Friday night I had the cow waterer break, but that was my only real ~~problem~~ adventure.

( I think he forgot to smile…this is like the truck he is building)

The dogs and I walked the place Saturday. It was cold and the wind was blowing, but they found lots of news out there.

All the fences looked good. The snow is mostly gone. We are still cold dropping to 18* at night, but nothing like others are experiencing.

We have sun today…and that ALWAYS makes me feel good.

Linda

Good Morning Mr. Moon!

Posted on January 21, 2011 by Dayphoto

The moon was amazingly wonderful yesterday morning as I headed up to Paonia

The sun was just coming up casting pink and purple light on the blue shadows of the plateau.

I just have to share it with you.

My Orange Jasmine is just starting to bloom, which is lots of fun for me. Three jasmines to help me through the winter blahs.

So far my ‘car guy’ hasn’t purchased any cars yet. But when we talk he is very excited about the ones he has seen— says he has ‘lots of ideas’ for when he gets home.

I’m very ready for him to get home, seems like its been forever, although I know he is having fun.

Linda

Well That Didn’t Last Long

Posted on January 19, 2011 by Dayphoto

Just as I got the wood hauled in last night a nasty cold wind blew up

(Looking toward Grand Junction)

Bringing with it clouds and more snow.

(Looking at the Uncompahgre plateau and beyond that Utah)

So while Terry and a good friend of his are on thier way to Arizona to see Terry’s brother and go to a car show…

I’ll keep the farm from blowing away. 🙂

Linda

The January Thaw is Here!

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Dayphoto

Oh, Joy, Joy, Wonderful! Our temperatures have reached 41*! Finally the January thaw.

Boomer just plain delights in stirring up Sam

This was taken a couple of days ago, but Fuzzy loves sitting here in the sun.

Monkey never likes to go out so she can’t enjoy our January thaw.

As for me….I’m one happy camper!

Linda

The End of a Tree

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Dayphoto

We have/had a HUGE Chinese Elm tree that was getting WAY out of control and had developed many dead areas and areas of weeping and dripping.

Although, we have had it topped at least twice, and Terry’s Grandfather had it topped at least once that we know of, the tree had reached its end.

After talking to several tree services the company we had to finally hire wanted $4,000.00 to cut and clean up the tree.

It took two days to cut it down. (We even had sunshine on one of those days)

In order to get a good look at the size of the trunk we had the girls stand by the downed tree trunk

An enormous tree!

Since we have lots of help we decided to save the $2,200.00 it would have taken to clean up the tree. And save the wood for our own use.

We were stopped by the snow. But most of the branches and trunk were gone.

As soon as the snow melted enough the clean up crew arrived again

Until there were only two pieces of the trunk left

Terry hauled those off today

Now I have to figure out what to do with the stump and get use to having lots of hot, western sun.

Oh, and I need to either re-plant my very damaged hedge or build a fence or…..

Linda

62 and Grateful

Posted on January 14, 2011 by Dayphoto

Today I am 62 years old!

Well, not really until about 11:57 p.m.

So sometime around mid-night I’ll be 62. 3 minutes doesn’t give a person a lot of time to celebrate so we just go with the whole day. Only my Momma and Daddy had to wait until three minutes until mid-night after that we all started counting the whole day.

It was snowing as I drove into work this morning. At least it wasn’t -15* it was right up there with enough warmth the snow could come 21*. I’ll take it! Now if the sun would come out….oh, heck I need not complain. It is warmer.

When I was born and when I grew up things sure was a lot different. I truly did not see a television until I was in the third grade…it took my Dad awhile to save up to purchase one.

(Mice searching for food in the bean straw)

That was a ‘very good’ year for the coal furnace was put in and the warm morning heater taken out…toasty house all the time.

The year I was in the second grade, just about time for the holiday’s Daddy, also got Momma an electric range. She was more than delighted. I was excited because in the oven was a complete set of RED dishes. I still have a few pieces of those dishes. I think I loved those dishes more than she did.

(Boomer the beagle searching for mice in the bean straw)

Back then dishes came in all sorts of things….oat meal, dog food…you name it. For me, dishes in the oven were the ultimate.

Times were different then. It seemed that everybody worked including the kids. There were always more chores to be done than time in the day. It wasn’t just our family; it was the neighbors as well. (You were judged first and foremost by your work ethic and then your honesty. This was critical because if you were found wanting in either department, the extra jobs that might pay cash money for you or the kids, or possibly a quarter of beef or a hog would not be available.) Further, the cooperation with your neighbors was the only assurance that if you needed help, you would get help. Nobody in the farming communities could get by strictly on their own. A few tired. When they left, nobody missed them.

Times are unusual now…we have the world at our fingertips – through the internet, blogging, facebook, world news, and other means of ‘instant’ connection to peoples from around the globe. It’s harder to go help your neighbor or friend, but the sense of community is just as strong. Every time we connect a new pleasure or joy is created in the sea of everyday living.

Thank you everyone…I enjoy these days of technology and for being alive for 62 years.

Linda