April 23, 2013

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Dayphoto

A very cold winter wind is here!

The lovely spring day we had yesterday is just a distant memory now. A tease of warmth and loveliness.

The wind turned cold last night, waking us up to freeze warnings until tomorrow morning sometime.

The fireplace feels good!

Still the work must go on.

We got word that we just might be able to have 55% water, instead of the 50% so Terry made the decision to go ahead and plant pinto beans. This will put 70% of our farm into production. ( I was hoping for alfalfa, but pintos don’t take as much water and their growing season is much shorter.)

We’ve started the water in the established alfalfa field — another field that has an earth ditch and siphon tubes. This morning when changing the tubes…moving the water on down the field … there was ice along the rows.

Alfalfa at this stage of it’s life can handle some freezing, but newly planted and just starting to pop up alfalfa would be killed.

Today Terry has finished leveling the pinto bean field (putting a slight grade on the land so the water will run ‘down’ the rows and on out to the waste ditch), and started marking out the rows.

(Terry is marking out the bean ground, even as I type)

As soon as we are through the alfalfa field we will start water on the pinto bean field.

I sure hope this last nasty/cold winter wind/storm is the last of winter’s hurrah! It’s been so cold the snow hasn’t even started to melt in the mountains…which is a blessing and a curse wrapped up as one.

Well, enough of this whine at least it must be snowing somewhere, its just that cold. And snow means water and water means less worry about drought and less drought is good for everyone.

Stay warm, my friends! At some point winter really will leave and spring will arrive! When it does—We all will be ready!

Linda

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Dayphoto

Finally we are warming up!

Yesterday, Terry and I went to Grand Junction to so some shopping…Sam’s Club, Whole Foods, Michael’s, Hobby Lobby…all the places I save up for so we can do it in one day.

Terry goes to Home Depot, Sears, Western Implement, Sutherland’s ..it’s a busy big day when we make the trip.

Last night was just lovely

And today even better…we plan on getting rid of all the trash today, changing water (always) and getting a few things done that are restful, not huge.

I hope everyone has a peaceful Sunday,

Linda

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Dayphoto

Terry finished ripping the old pinto bean ground. Old pinto bean ground doesn’t have to disked, plowed, rolled, and leveled, it only has to be ripped and rolled and then marked.

(He is using the ripper here.)

Terry will finish rolling it today, then he (and I) will continue work on the transmission ditch. This our main ditch from the head gate to our whole farm —it is where we are laying pipe so the work load can shrink. Just like moving everything to your computer the upfront work is hard, but after that everything is a breeze.

Putting the main ditch in pipe, underground will help with the loss of water from evaporation the slew of weeds that love having an unlimited supply of water, and HIP HIP HOORAY keeping the trash out of the rest of the ditches.

Oh, there will still be some trash, because THE WIND DOTH BLOW IN OUR PART OF COLORADO, but it will shrink considerably!

We’ve been having storms playing along the edges of the Uncompahgre Plateau and over the canyons, sure makes for exciting sky photos!

Happy Spring Tuesday!

Linda

Monday, March 25, 2013

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Dayphoto

The cold front is still here, but gradually moving on. By this coming weekend we should have somewhat warmer weather.

Yesterday morning we were 2 above Zero, this morning we were 5 above Zero…just a little bit warmer, but I’ll take it.

The day will warm up better than yesterday, we should see warmth around 47* this afternoon. Gradually, gradually, we are heading back toward spring.

Just as Terry and I were going to head off to upper end our son-in-law showed up with half-a-load of firewood for us. What a cool gift!

The hope is this will last until May…which by that time (WE THINK) it will be warm enough spring is really here!

I can remember my Mother saying that anytime we have an early Easter (an Easter in March) the weather is always bad. That you can’t have winter end until Easter comes. Even if she isn’t right, so far this year is seems to be so.

Have a good Monday everyone!

Linda

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Dayphoto

Today I go to the museum. I have found that I am guarding my time jealously for my ‘volunteer job’ at the museum. It is something I enjoy that much. I should finish up the journals of Mr. Ash today and get to start on some other absorbing project.

Terry is now plowing. All spring work is right on time…we always start the second week in March. This year is normal.

We still don’t know the water situation, but everyone is getting ready anyway. Although, only 60% of the ground every farmer farms is only what is getting ready. (Did that make sense?)

If the water situation improves then everyone can plant more…we have until the middle of May to plant… until then we move forward with just the 60%.

The soil is turning good, just the right amount of moisture.

Old corn ground must be either burned off-then disked, then plowed, or grazed down/disked up/ and then plowed. We are NOT fans of burning….we believe in turning the plants over to improve the soil…manure is another great way improve soil (We are still of the old school 🙂 )

This weekend Mr. Davis will remove the cows. Then I will be cow-less again for another year.

So another day begins…our night got down to about 22* but today we are predicted to head up into the 60s.

Spring is finally here!

Linda

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Posted on March 10, 2013 by Dayphoto

The big nasty cold storm blew itself away last night and left us with a sunny (:)) day. The dogs went out as soon as the sun came up…they were ready.

Looking around I saw green

Everywhere

Little bits starting up

and the promise of tulips not far off!

JOY! JOY! JOY!

Linda

Monday, March 4, 2013

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Dayphoto

Not lots happening here. It’s rained off and on for two days…I should be able to go out and start to find green shoots of something coming up. The rain has pretty much melted off all the old snow, which is good. Now we have mud…one step closer to farm and yard work!

Once we get dry enough down here we will get out on the ground and start.

Yippee!

The talk is all about water, (I’m sure you are not surprised) but it is snowing in the mountains and now they (the Ditch Company people) are thinking…just thinking at this point…that WHEN they turn on the water they will start at 60% instead of 50%.

I always smile when I hear the men fretting and worrying, because I have a HUGE Secret…MAGIC THOUGHTS!

All of you in blog land are sending MAGIC THOUGHTS to our reservoirs in Gunnison County —Taylor Park Reservoir and Blue Mesa Reservoir.

Since all of you started with the MAGIC THOUGHTS we have gone from 50% to POSSIBLY 60% !!!

How very exciting. And the weather forecast shows more rain for us on Friday, which should mean SNOW IN THE HIGH COUNTRY!!!

Thank you all very much!

Linda

Monday, February 25, 2013

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Dayphoto

We are narrowing down February…the month is close to an end. Which suits me just fine…February is my hardest month to get through, even though I try really hard to liven up the month with bright colors to make up for the forever cold days.

This storm is going to be here today (30% chance of snow) and tomorrow (40% chance of snow) then leaving us with just 10% chance of snow. Usually that 10% is in the mountains…which is always good.

(The moon has a thin film of clouds over it, I was hoping the clouds would show up, but they just made the moon fuzzy.)

If every thing holds together the week end look like it will be warm and sunny! YIPPEE!

Linda

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Posted on February 24, 2013 by Dayphoto

We had another winter storm come in, complete with wind and drifting snow…I guess I really should expect it since IT IS FEBRUARY!

Some of the farmers, around here, started plowing…now they have a mess. Plowed up ground is like a huge sponge, then when it drys out (finally) it is just as hard and brittle as a dried out sponge.

Water is still an issue, although the snow pack should have grew some with the last several storms —- the last we heard snow pack was 77% of normal. Still a ways to go to normal, but much improved.

Usually the water is turned on the last week of March, but not this year — they will turn it on the third week in April and then at only 50% of your allotment. Of course, you still pay for the 100% you are entitled too. Our water bill is higher than our taxes, go figure.

As I am writing this the sun is starting to break through the clouds, always a good feeling.

I hope you enjoy your Sunday.

Linda

A Good Day–Old Dog

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Dayphoto

So far I’m having a good day. Thank-you each and every one of you for your wishes of wellness and for writing and giving me ideas on how to recover. Your comments and emails are very appreciated.

Yesterday was a good day… which is good, if I can have a good week, then I’ll know I have this licked.

Anyway, enough of me.

It was warmer yesterday, so the dogs and I went for a short walk. It was warm enough that as I sat on the point of a hill I could feel the sun warming my shoulders, which was heavenly.

On the way back I stopped at the old grainery. Terry wanted to tear this down, but I want to keep it. We have only two buildings left of the original farmstead (outside of our house); the tractor shed (build out of adobe dirt) and this old grainery.

This spring (soon, any day now) Terry is going to move it up from behind the barn and the haystacks and put it next to my gardens by the corrals. After that I’m not sure what I want to do with it — potting shed, play house, whatever I want.

Today is Tuesday, February, 5, 2013…the sunrises at 7:15 in the morning and is setting at 5:38 in the evening. A month ago on January 5th the sun was coming up at 7:31 and setting at 5:04. The days are growing longer -January 9 hours and 34 minutes and today- 10 hours and 23 minutes. More sunlight…which is a true joy to me.

I haven’t seen the old dog for some time now. I might drive around the farm neighborhood now that I’m feeling up to it, and see if I can see the dog in someone’s yard. If not… I wait, but I will also know that the possibility of the dog taking a path to the other side just might have occurred–one of those sad parts of life.

Once more thank you all for your kind thoughts,

Linda