Wild Lavender-Gray Sky—Thursday, April 12, 2018

Posted on April 12, 2018 by Dayphoto

Yesterday the snow-laden clouds blew away by noon.

The air warmed up, until we reached the temperature of 84* (28.88 c) by four o’clock in the afternoon.

The sky was warm and lovely, full of puffs of clouds, with gentle little puffs of wind whirling in the air.

Today we are experiencing huge high winds. 40-50 m.p.h. gusts …it’s supposed to be here until sometime tomorrow. Then we have a spell of cold weather (dropping to a high in the 50’s F 10 C), and the wind will be back—huge blasts of wind coming back again by Wednesday of next week.

The bad thing about wind like this, is it brings with it lots of trash. The Trash blows into the water and causes the siphon tubes to stop and the water to run over the banks.

But, you know what? Although, this time of year is hard….Terry and I love every second of it. (I think you know that already 🙂 )

Your friend on a western Colorado Farm,

Linda

An UnEase in the Air Today—Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Posted on April 11, 2018 by Dayphoto

Photo from the other day when we got some glorious rain!

The sky is full of threatening clouds today…and it feels cold. Cold enough, if I didn’t think better I would think it might snow.

Although….the weather people say we are going to warm up to 81* today. How odd.

Another photo from our brief rain—irrigating in rubber boots

There is a slight breeze, but the scents in the air are of damp and, well, snow. Along with the smell of water on the land, stirred soil, where I have been raking up last years trash on the flower beds, and the roaring canal running passed our farm.

The world is still turning toward spring, the days are growing longer and the nights much shorter.

Of which I rejoice!

This is Terry going out the other night in the rain to check the water, while I stayed inside all warm and dry. 🙂

Still…even if it does snow. It is still Spring and it will melt and soon the air and the ground and everything alive will burst forth into a wondrous settled time of soft spring days!

I am ready.

I am waiting.

I am excited!

For after Spring comes SUMMER!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

In Need of a Wee Break—-Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Posted on April 10, 2018 by Dayphoto

In need of a wee break, Terry and I decided to head up to Ouray and relax for a couple of hours in that marvelous hot spring pool.

We changed the water in the dazzling rays of early morning

Then headed up to where the snow still veiled the mountains, and wind ruffled freezing fingers into your hair.

Once in the water all the cares and worries died to a murmur, while others in the pool laughed softly among themselves.

The snow laid heavily on the amazing peaks…sometime reflecting into millions of diamonds. Once in awhile we could see rock climbers braving the face on the rugged cliffs, warmed by the afternoon sun.

Back home we came, just in time for sunset and the last change of water.

Rested…

And ready to continue our daily lives on a western Colorado farm,

Your friend,

Linda

Winter into Spring, We are Very Blessed — Monday, April 9, 2018

Posted on April 9, 2018 by Dayphoto

Winter’s overwhelming lack of smells are gone. Instead we have exciting fresh scents of varied EVERYTHING

Green things growing, water on parched soil, the smell of just fallen rain, mingled with whiffs of equines

Taking dust baths 🙂

(whatever Lady does TaAta thinks she must do also 🙂 )

The smell and feel of the air is crisp and soft and Fresh now— How lucky we are.

Later on in the slightly chilled evening,

Ta Ata came to Visit.

Spring…a time of joy on all the land,

From my heart to your world.

Linda

Quite Splendid and Terribly Rare for Us—–Sunday, April, 8, 2018

Posted on April 8, 2018 by Dayphoto

We got rain! Lots and lots of lovely rain.

Even the birds were singing the trees, as the rain whispered through the small buds on the branches.

And I…I was that good wife, who let Terry go out at nine o’clock of the evening, in the roar of the storm to change the water ONE last time. He graciously told me to stay inside, that it wouldn’t take him long.

He came in a drowned rat…but ever so excited about the depth of moisture in the soil.

The wind blew the clouds away around five o’clock this morning…leaving us with that perfect mix of fresh air, fresh sky, blessed plants and earth from RAIN!

From my world to your heart,

Linda

As Dawn Lightens the Sky and Evening Comes—-Thursday, April 5, 2018

Posted on April 5, 2018 by Dayphoto

We begin…”Why do we start so early?” Terry asks, although he knows the answer.

There is just so much to do. Even if we don’t have the care of animals, we do have the care of the land.

The leaves are beginning to unfurl ever so slowly on the trees….first the cottonwood pushes off the little yellow sticky covers, the blooms burst forth (along with the pollen) and finally…if one looks closely the little tips of leaves are starting to appear.

It’s cold again (actually still–we had a couple of really nice days, but not right now.)

Look at the trash coming out of the canal

Masses of stuff.

My yard is the same way…all the corn leaves flew into the yard over the winter making lovely covers on everything. Also making debris come spring, which I must now remove for the gently growing bulbs to spiral up into the spring air.

The little birds are all puffed up keeping warm….they, like us, are ready for warmer weather (although we are NOT having snow like some of you…my heart goes out to you waiting for melt and warmth!)

I am a person who believes in mysteries, in secrets of the Universe, and in the magic of the common daily existence

For you see, I see it each and every day, but ‘specially on that day when we start water on the land…then I can see and feel the heart of the earth beating, slow, incessant, humming —-pulsing—throbbing, throughout the day and into the night—all through the night and back into the day…

Reflecting into the sky, where it is manifested for all to see.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

That Wonderful Sound of Water—-Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Posted on April 4, 2018 by Dayphoto

The water came yesterday around three o’clock in the afternoon. I was just finishing up one of my flower beds when I walked past the canal and saw the back hoe and a large pile of moving brush, dust flying in the midst of water

The water had come!

Terry headed up to watch and I dropped everything and headed up the canal to get photos of this very exciting event

The backhoe grabbed huge chunks of weeds to keep from flooding the farms along the way

Gradually the back hoe started to get the water clearer

The arrival of water!

Gradually the water cleared

We gathered up our shovels, and headed out to start the water on the farm! Which meant, of course, we had to clean all our ditches from the trash coming down the canal and into our ditches

But oh my how it was worth all the work.
The New Year has Begun!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Winter Blowing Chilly Through the Land—-Tuesday, April, 3, 2018

Posted on April 3, 2018 by Dayphoto

Winter blew in over-night last night. It’s cold here today.

Our fine spring days washed out in a tide of a swift moving cold front

The wind is sharp enough I have started the wood stove again…

Still no water. We are getting far behind (but no water in this wind is actually a blessing–just saying 🙂 ) Some of the farmers are finishing up their second round of irrigation and starting on their third…we are still waiting. Maybe Thursday, now. Who knows.

Whatever it is we will just have to wait until it comes. There is no other way around it.

Anyway…

Today I will get some more things ready in the yard…AND… I have help! Terry is bored so he said he would help me!

Now THAT is a good thing!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

No Sense of Relief Yet—-Monday, April 2, 2018

Posted on April 2, 2018 by Dayphoto

We are still waiting….for the irrigation water to come.

Three times Terry called the Ditch People and asked for the water.

Three times they said the next day or the following day or for sure on Monday.

We are ready….more than ready. All the fields, which will be planted to corn, are disked, plowed, rolled, leveled, marked out…the ditches made (the ditch to carry the water to the field and the ditch to take the water to the next field), the alfalfa field is marked out and waiting, growing greener by the day—but it would grow in leaps and bounds after it gets water.