Waiting for Warmer Weather

Posted on April 23, 2010 by Dayphoto

I’m waiting for the snow to leave the point on Grand Mesa, once that happens it is the signal we can begin to plant warm weather crops (tomatoes and such).

Before this last storm blew itself in, this is what the point looked like.

Today this is what we see.

There was ice on the running irrigation water this morning. We had to fire up the woodstove again yesterday.

Winter, winter, go away, come again some other day.

I hope all of you are enjoying really nice weather where ever you are.

Have a nice weekend!

Linda

The Pears are Blooming

Posted on April 22, 2010 by Dayphoto

The pears are blooming, but night temperatures dropped to 31* so of course they froze.

The large orchards in our area smudged or ran wind towers, but small orchards more than likely lost thier crops.

First the apricots and now the pears. Cherries and prunes and apples will be blooming soon.

The snow hit the hills and the mountains around us, which I am very thankful for. We had a really wonderful (but very cold) rain during the night. It was delightful to wake up to a clean and fresh world this morning.

More rain and snow predicted until Friday, which means more freezing temperatures.

Linda

Pivot Systems in Our Neck of the High Desert

Posted on April 21, 2010 by Dayphoto

Pivot Systems in our neck of the high desert are used very, very little. They show-up if a farmer has a flat field which he cannot get to slope. Blue Mesa Reservoir still provides the water to irrigate with (no underground lake in our area), so settling ponds have to be excavated. These settling ponds filter out the mud from the water, then a pump, pumps the water into the pivot system.

What you are looking at is one year’s worth of excavated soil from the settling pond.

Since Terry needed about four truck loads to fix some holes around our place, our neighbor said to come on over and get some of his ‘extra dirt’.

We gladly did.

After we got back, Bladen wanted to help clean out the truck so it was ready for the harvest season.

Linkin wanted to sit on the tractor, so we put Tallen up there with her. Tallen did not like it. But it helped having big sister in the seat with her.

The grandchildren are not allowed to ride on any of our tractors that do not have cabs…it’s just too dangerous. But they can sit up on the seat if we are with them.

Another storm is supposed to come in today, with snow by the week-end! I hope it goes around us and stays in the hills!

Linda

Leveling

Posted on April 20, 2010 by Dayphoto

The secret to a smooth, slightly sloped (graded) field is the use of the leveler. It’s important to make sure the water will run down-hill, that there are no flat spots for the water to collect and pool and no giant humps for the water to try to run up over.

After leveling, Terry marks the field out and starts the water. We now have water in both alfalfa fields, the soon to be a corn field, and this one which will raise corn. The bean field is just ripped, rolled and marked. It’s nice to not have to work very hard on one crop. Saves time, fuel, therefore Money!!!

Linda

Irrigation Begins

Posted on April 16, 2010 by Dayphoto

Getting the ground ready is all about tractor work, getting the soil ready to accept seeds is about irrigation.

Terry marks and creases at the same time, which saves on time and fuel.

Then we have to check all the pipes, making sure all the gates are in place and working

The wind has been rather wild this fall, winter and spring filling even the main artery headgate with trash

So the first order of business, after fixing gates and cleaning the ditches

Once everything is clean here, then boards are set to force flow into our main headgate

Water must flow downhill, so just because we are irrigating one field, all the ditches have to be cleaned and ready to go.

Terry makes it look simple here, but a dam must be placed to hold back the water plus each tube has to have the end dug out so the tube lays flat in the row

Success!

Once started the water is never turned off until harvest.

We irrigate and then let the ground dry out until it is at moist stage, then the seeds are planted. Depending on the weather, should be around two weeks from now.

Have a nice weekend!

Linda

Spring Work Has Begun

Posted on April 15, 2010 by Dayphoto

Honey Hen 2008-2010

Posted on April 14, 2010 by Dayphoto

Honey was a funny little hen. She loved to sit on my lap, work with me in the yard

And tell me stories about her life in the coop.

She let me dress her up for Christmas. I had a great time with this clever and talkative little bird.

Saturday, Honey came up missing. I looked everywhere, nothing could be found, not even a feather.

Spring is a hard time on those living things that are at the bottom of natures food chain, they are a quick meal for a predator of some sort.

Honey went to the rainbow bridge, probably by way of either the Momma fox that prowls our place day and night or a red-tailed hawk. She was out happily pecking and scratching in the old hay pile and then she was gone.

Honey will be missed, that is for sure.

Linda

Utah Flew into Our Part of Colorado Yesterday

Posted on April 13, 2010 by Dayphoto

45 m.p.h winds full of grit, sand, and dirt came in from Utah yesterday

Making work on the farm hard

And exhausting. Fuzzy still enjoyed the first set of water.

But Terry and I came in more than tired. Wind can be exhausting, then add in being hit with shards of sand, grit and dirt …

A new little calf joined our herd right has the worst of the storm started. He was a little upset as his rough windy arrival in the world.

Momma and baby are doing fine.

Cold here today, but the wind stopped. That is a gift in an of itself.

Linda

This Weekend

Posted on April 9, 2010 by Dayphoto

Another hole in the pocketbook is taking place as I write this; fertilizer is being applied to new corn ground and the alfalfa fields. That stuff just keeps on climbing and climbing in costs.

{{{{Shudder}}}}.

Next huge cost will be the seed, but I’ll think of that later.

For this weekend I’m going to mow the lawn…dig out some flower beds and wash windows.

All happy signs of spring!

Linda

The Water has Arrived!

Posted on April 8, 2010 by Dayphoto

Finally we are here! The first real sign of spring.

The Ditch Rider was telling us that there are more onions planted this year than previous years. Onion prices are high $60 for a 50 pound sack, so just like any gambler all most everyone (not us) is jumping on the Onion roulette wheel.

What always happens by the time harvest comes round for our area the price falls to normal levels $22.00 for a 100 pound sack, or even lower. But just like Deal or No Deal if you ‘hit the market just right’ you might have the big money in your suitcase.

Linda