Visual Gifts — April 28, 2014

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Dayphoto

Today our youngest daughter turns 37….it just seems like yesterday she was a tiny tot.

We are still very cold…I mean very cold! Although, it’s sunny and bright (which helps) the wind is terrible and very cold. It’s like being in January all over again. If the weather people are right, by Sunday we will be in the 80s…I can handle that! 🙂

A rainbow did appear as the sun came out from behind the clouds! I love seeing rainbows.

Anyway, while we were up at the upper end we saw another wonder of nature….

Desert Evening Primroses were everywhere….the moisture and the weather must be just right for these to pop into bloom. It’s been several years since we’ve seen them!

Although we are terribly cold…I’m now down to raiding my scrap heap for wood —(I refuse to open up the wood that is being seasoned for next winter) ….the earth and the skies have given us gifts untold!

Lucky us And you!

From a cold windy land a cherry Good Morning!

Linda

Trailing Cows April 22, 2014

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Dayphoto

Spring is the time all the cows are removed off the farming land, onto ground that isn’t being put into production. To the DELIGHT of Fuzzy and Boomer (for sure Fuzzy) we see many of the different herds being shifted from here to there.

The cows will stay on this new section of land until the summer pastures open up—sometime the first of June. By opening up I mean all the snow is melted and the BLM has given word that the ground is stable enough to support hooves. 🙂

Not all the cattle head to BLM ground, some head to their owners very own summer ranches. Ranchers are very good caretakers of their spring and summer pastures. The cattle are usually moved to what is called the “Spring Pastures” first.

This is the first ground that dries enough to support hooves…these Spring Pastures are owned by the ranchers….remember the word is OWNED! The cows are trailed up the roads and then onto the new lush green food, where they will graze and their calves will grow stronger. As the early spring moves into early summer the cows will then be trailed up to the SUMMER place—where ever that maybe for the rancher.

Our head gate is on another farmer’s land…when we started the water, for the first time the first year, the heifer’s had not be moved to the corrals and then onto the spring pastures.

They always ran over to see what we were up too… if you could understand cow language you just know they were say’n: ‘What ya doing?’ Just like any curious little kid!

Off now to get some stuff done. The day is going by fast and here I sit chatting away to you!

Your friend,

Linda

Happy Easter Everyone!!! April 20, 2014

Posted on April 20, 2014 by Dayphoto

Wishing you joy and love from now and forever!

Your friend,

Linda

Good Fences—April 17, 2014

Posted on April 17, 2014 by Dayphoto

A blog friend from Texas… Run*A*Round Ranch Report … has started a Thursday “Good Fences” series. Everyone is asked to participate, if they would like. I decided ‘I would like’… so here is my fence for Thursday We had a very cold, nasty, rain and sleet filled storm one day last week. While Terry and I were out on the canal bank we both happened to look up and see this really cool site! So for Thursday’s Good Fences I give you a typical fence on our property and the first rainbow of the season! Life is good, isn’t it?

For stunning fences and gates head on over to The Good Fences feature of The Run *A* Round Ranch Report.

You friend,

Linda

A Long Slog —April 16, 2014

Posted on April 16, 2014 by Dayphoto

Finally, I’m back! I hope! Fingers and toes crossed!!!

They had to take my computer back to a completely clean slate…reload everything…I do mean everything—then Carbonite had to down load the rest. (I am so thankful I have Carbonite…THANKFUL!!! That download took THREE DAYS!

Okay, lesson learned from the Carbonite experience…I must get an external hard drive and put all my photos on it. The forever download was because of the pictures. More than once I almost panicked and its fore sure I cried (just a little bit).

Anyway, I’m back. Lots happened in those 2 and half weeks—the water came, we had a nasty freeze, we got all the way in, and we started the water on the farm only to have to turn it off again.

I’ll get you all caught up soon. I will also be able to get caught up with all of you again. Since the apricots are now all frozen I’ll still leave you with a lovely evening photo of the memory of their blooms!

It’s good to be back! See you on your site soon!

Your friend,

Linda

Starting Over April 12, 2014

Posted on April 12, 2014 by Dayphoto

A blank computer…that is where things are now. Back to square one. What a sadness!

My computer lady reloaded all my operating software, accept my printer and my camera…I will have to do so myself.

I have Carbonite (THANK HEAVENS!!!) With the help of Christopher (who works for Carbonite) the download of all my documents—farm stuff…everything you can imagine I am getting closer to getting back online.

At this point the Carbonite download site says everything will be back an in place in three more days. (Yes, I have lots of ‘life’ on the computer).

So by Tuesday…I hope… everything will be a go ahead.

Thank you for still dropping by and checking in on me. It’s been a huge long stressful time.

Linda

The Start of April is a Cold Start–April 2, 2014

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Dayphoto

So far our start into April is a tad chilly. Very cold bully winds, with rain, sleet, snow showers; if I have to guess the apricots are pretty much gone for another year. We may get a few, only time will tell.

The sun had a hard time shining through the cloud cover this morning. This looks more like a Halloween photo than an early morning photo in April. 🙂

The water has not made it to us yet. That does not mean that it isn’t on it’s way, just that it isn’t here yet. Since our irrigation water comes from Blue Mesa Reservoir in Gunnison (two hours away by car) or out of the Ridgeway Dam (1 1/2 hours away by car) it takes a long time for it to get to us. We are close to the end, just a few more farms below us then our irrigation water flows into the Gunnison River.

We are very close to being ready to start irrigation. If you want to see a post about starting the water here is an old post.

I leave you now, with a lovely photo of the apricot blooms as the sun was setting last night.

Linda

April Fool’s Day—-Winter is still here — April 1, 2014

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Dayphoto

Today the wind is blowing and the rain is trying to fall and it’s cold again!

But it can’t last…it just can’t last! The earth is shifting the day is growing longer (our day length is 12 hours and 37 minutes long) and the skies are getting blues. But for today the weather is playing a rather cold nasty joke on us.

Terry has been making ditches, finishing up the rolling. Even though the wind is nasty and cold he will start leveling the fields. The fields don’t wait…well actually the soil doesn’t wait.

I’ve been cleaning the yard, I only have two big areas left. And then I need to rewash all the windows again. I’m also spring cleaning the house. Lots to do right now.

We got word that the irrigation water will be here by the end of the week or Monday of next week. We are almost ready. After they turn the water down it takes our canal a full week before it fills. Any day now.

Off to get some stuff done!

Your friend on a very windy farm,

Linda

No One Likes a Bully —March 31, 2014

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Dayphoto

We had a huge bully wind yesterday….55 m.p.h. gusts that picked up everything and flung it here and there and everywhere.

All of Utah came with it!

No, not really, but the sky was brown.

Along with the dirt and wind came ‘almost’ rain. Just enough to coat my very clean and sparkling windows.

I haven’t really gone to check the apricot trees, I guess I know what I will find.

This morning the sky is Spring time blue, the sun is shining, the air calm, with a few puffy clouds around Paonia. It will stay that way until this evening when another wind will blow in. The weather people say we will be like this for a week. Then more settled weather will arrive with 70* temps. YIPPEE!!

Off now to rewash the windows to let the sunshine into the house!

Your farm friend

Linda

A Little Update — March 30, 2014

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Dayphoto

Since I’ve had lots of emails asking how my foot is doing (which I THANK YOU for asking 🙂 ) I thought I would show you.

It is ever so much better. (Yes, I have an old ladies foot, because I am an old lady 🙂 )

The bottom is healed, and only hurts if I stand on the ball of my foot or try to tippy-toes to reach something. Strangely the worst part has been the top of my foot. See that little bump? That is where the nail stopped…not going clear through which is nice.

Everyday it is better and really only slowed me down the first four days. I had to use a cane for two of those days…what a slow process that is-waling with a cane!

Still I would NOT recommend anyone going through this.

Now onto ‘funner’ things.

The apricot trees are blooming and alive with the sound of Honey Bees!

Beautiful!

I like to stand under the tree and smell the blossoms and hear the bees singing their thankfulness.

I have no idea if we will have any apricots this year. They usually get frozen or a mean bully wind comes up and trashes the blooms. When I grew up in an orchard (my grandparent’s house and my parent’s house were in the middle of the orchards) both my beloved Grandfather and my wonderful Dad said apricots were really hard to grow here and get a crop. It seemed like every nine years, or so, you could get a crop—the reason is they bloom so early. They are the FIRST of the fruit trees to bloom, therefore subject to destroying wind and killing freezes.

Still they are a gift to a winter weary bee and a human’s soul!