Delta’s Model Block Guest Article by Jim Wetzel Museum Curator—February 24, 2014

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Dayphoto

DELTA’S MODEL BLOCK

Researched by Jim Wetzel

The model block in Delta consists of an entire city block bounded by Fourth and Fifth Streets and Grand and Howard Streets. The block was developed by the Stockham brothers and Millard Fairlamb beginning about April 1907. With 32 city lots in the block, the original plan was to build 16 single family homes, mostly identical. At some point, the plan was altered, and only 13 identical houses were built, all one-story, along with another four two-story houses at each of the four corners. However, only three of the two-story houses were built, and two of them were on Fourth Street, with the third at the Grand Ave / Fifth Street corner. Only ten of the thirteen one-story homes were identical – or nearly so. In the ensuing 100 years or so, modifications have been made to most of them, so that it is difficult to see the “similarities” of their original construction. In the center of the alley running north-south through the center of the block was a fountain. It was the only alley in Delta that was named – called Fountain Street.

A sidewalk surrounding the block used to contain a section describing the origin of the project. Placed at the alley entrance on Fourth Street, it read: THIS BLOCK WAS PLANNED & BUILT BY W.B. STOCKHAM, A.H. STOCKHAM, & MILLARD FAIRLAMB.

Because of the proximity to the alley, the concrete “sign” was deteriorating due to traffic damage, so about twelve years ago, the City of Delta Historic Preservation Board arranged with two archaeologists to “excavate” the section of concrete, and to encase it in a wooden box made for the specimen, and place it in the museum courtyard. The trained archaeologists were then asked to examine the dirt under this section of sidewalk for any historic treasures which might have been left there. Nothing was found.

The cost of the entire project was estimated at about $40,000. The project included “complete drainage,” a “complete sewer system,” and a cement sidewalk around the entire block. Prior to this, there was a board sidewalk which followed Fourth and Fifth Streets. Each house was to have hot and cold water, bath, toilets, electric lights, a furnace, all painted and of up-to-date architecture. No barns or chicken coops were permitted on the premises.

Today, there are garages and other assorted out-buildings behind most of the houses. Perhaps there are chicken coops, as well. Though there is some semblance of order to the Model Block, landscaping alone makes each property unique. Two of the homes are on the City of Delta Historic Register.

The Model Block was Delta’s first major subdivision, though it never was referred to as such. One hundred and seven years ago, it was a project ahead of it’s time. Perhaps longevity was one of the design parameters.

The Model Block signature sidewalk which is now in the museum courtyard.

(Notice that the D is stamped backward 🙂 —Linda )

Something Wicked This Way Comes—February 19, 2014

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Dayphoto

While out checking the cows and calves, which we do daily, Terry and ran over onto the cactus hill to see what we could see. We like this rocky point on the farm….every time we are up there we talk about maybe building a house on this hill. Although, it won’t be a typical house, but an house built into the hillside with southwest facing windows to capture the sunlight and the wonderful sunsets.

(Now to be honest you and I both know that Terry and I will never do this, but it’s fun to sit on the point and dream)

Leaving that point we headed over to the cattail area…Red-Winged Black birds were BACK! They wonderful songs filling the air. Traveling forward onto the grass pasture (next to the equipment area) three coyotes ran past us lickety-split. (Another of my Momma’s terms 🙂 )

This is blurry as they are running full speed. You can see the cattails in the forefront of the photo.

I detest these creatures.

We have lost calves to them. The sneaky pack of killers. They also kill cats! And small dogs!

Sometimes you have a cow that wants to be by herself to calve. The coyotes wait and watch, then when the calf starts to come out, they surround the cow, grab the calf, dragging it off and eating it–or eating parts of it leaving the poor helpless Mom in a frenzy.

Most cows will stay within the herd to calf, the other cows form a watch allowing the birth process to proceed as normal. IF a predator, coyote, wild dogs, or others try to capture the calf, the cows will stomp the coyote/predator to death, if they can. Most of the time the coyotes/predators know they will loose so they slink off.

They are heading into an area we call Deadman’s Land–the reason is it’s hard to get water there so nothing really grows well.

The other thing coyotes wait for is the sloppy-I really don’t want to be bothered by a child-Mother. Yes you have those Mom’s in the animal world, just like you do in the human world.

These Mom’s park their baby somewhere, anywhere, saying: you just stay there and don’t move—all cows put their babies in a safe spot (Usually with a cow babysitter) so the Mom’s can go graze. The “I really can’t be bothered with a kid” cow just parks her calf any old place and trots off to jolly it up with a group of her friends.

The coyotes wait, watch, make sure Mom isn’t paying any attention, slink in and have lunch/breakfast, dinner/snack.

Yes, I know the coyotes are beautiful. I also know that the calves and the cows are beautiful. Yes, I know the coyotes need to eat. BUT NOT OUR ANIMALS!

NO….feeding them WILL NOT STOP THEM FROM HUNTING!

In fact, it will just teach them that you are a source of food and create horrible coyote behavior—. Just read this little article from Boulder…

Whew! I guess I have ranted and raved long enough. I will stop now and apologize for this huge post.

Linda

A Taste of Spring February 17, 2014

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Dayphoto

Yesterday was a most unusual day — the morning dawned it’s typical grey and cold self. A tiny ray of pink sunlight as the mighty sun rose over the Paonia Mountains then quickly disappeared behind thick heavy clouds. Although, the temperature said we weren’t freezing, just above, the air was very chilled.

Still Terry and I took the dogs and the four-wheelers out to check on the fences and see how many little calves have made their arrival. (So far there are four-no photos as of yet).

The ground was a tick bog of nasty, soft mud so we didn’t go out on-to the land, staying on the farm and ditch roads. Tracks across farming ground right now would make huge (AND I MEAN HUGE) ruts – plus pack the ground in the middle of the ruts.

Closer to lunch a soft gentle breeze sprung-up fresh from the snowbanks on the Uncompahgre (Un-come-pah-gray, accent on the “pah”), the breeze intensified as the hour wore on moving into kite flying strength, after that a true fast moving wind…someone told Terry that he heard it was moving at 28 m.p.h. I have no way of knowing; yet it did clear our skies of all the heavy, low-laying clouds!

By four o’clock in the afternoon we had glorious blue skies completely free of any clouds! Who could stay in the house with that to look upon?

Out we went, the dogs, Terry, and I to relish this delightful site.

It felt like SPRING! Just a hint of spring, but enough to know that the switch has occurred! Somewhere, at some poin,t the earth creaked and groaned and inched itself up and over just a tad to take off the edge of winter.

While we were about we saw hundreds and hundreds of Canada Geese, way, way up in the sky gathering and gathering and gathering….no v formed for some time. It was like the call had gone out…”IT IS TIME! Gather your self, your family, and all your belonging and head to the north! Warmth is coming back to the land! Come, Come–let us all go home!”

(I couldn’t get a photo of all of them, there were just too many)

We watched as they flew up from the earth then gathered together, honking and talking about who is to lead, then breaking into several V shapes–always going higher and higher until we couldn’t hear them anymore.

Then they became tiny dots winging their way home—home to the north—home!

I’m sure we still have some left here and the Sandhill Cranes waiting for another signal, but for now…those that left flung themselves up into the sky with joy knowing that along the way they will stop and rest once more waiting for the signal that spring is getting even closer at their breeding grounds way up North from us!

Then we noticed that just today the willows were showing sap running back into their grey limbs and the red-twig bushes were showing even more life, moving along we saw they green of the winter wheat and how the cattle were favoring those fields the most.

Yes, Spring is coming! For Sure! The land and the animals and the birds have announced the return of warmth and lessening of cold!

Your very happy friend,

Linda

See What I See? February 13, 2014

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Dayphoto

There is something out here

Every day I capture the day photos of Sam and Fuzzy

and Boomer

AHHHHHHHHH, Yes! I see what it is they are checking out—

A Busy little Fox!

Well, no chickens out there. The one little hen is in the house with us at night. And during the day the dogs are on the watch.

After the little hen gets well enough I will start to introduce her back to the flock. Then she will go back to Shannon’s (her real home) to live.

But for now…..

This is so not good. 😦

Your Farm Friend,

Linda

Mud Season (And I’m not Complaining) February 12, 2014

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Dayphoto

‘Needless to say’ ( favorite saying of my Momma’s) you don’t walk around in flip-flops, or regular shoes of any sort right now, you still walk with your boots on.

But instead of the crunch, and creak, and squeak of the snow your feet with the boots on them make a sort of plunk, and splash, and sucking sound.

BUT I’m NOT complaining! No matter what, after snow you must have mud. Every day that you have mud with sun and little wind is a day closer to DIRT! or SOIL! or just plain Ground!

The mud is bad enough the dogs don’t like to walk with me, which is okay. I walked without them. I wanted to see if the winter annual weeds were perking up–gathering juices to spring forth in all their weedy wonder.

Yep, the nasty Cheat Grass is greening up nicely. Cheat grass is really a mess…it has tiny little barbs that catch in the throats and coats of animals, on socks and pant legs, in general is just a mess. I really should go out and spray it with weed killer in the fall, but I never seem to get around too it. Fall is so extremely busy for us.

I like this little plant…it has little purple flowers and is part of the mustard family. Since I like this plant I will never try to kill it, although, I don’t know what benefits it has except to make me smile. And I do, every time I see it.

While out and about a Murder of Crows flew around and around on the wind thermals, forming figure eights in the air, calling and calling for all to hear: Caw, Caw, Spring is near!

Back home I had three inch clumps of mud on my boots, the dogs just looked at me then rested their heads back down on their paws, as if saying: see that’s why WE didn’t want to go.

That’s okay, I told them! The walk did me good, it filled that slot that had grown thin in waiting, I now have Joy in my soul.

Your Happy Friend,

Linda

A Bluebird Day February 11, 2014

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Dayphoto

Yesterday was a very wet day. The clouds sat heavily upon the land, breaking forth in huge copious drops of rain that fell and fell and fell. Gradually all the snow turned to slush and then to mud. Since the ground is still frozen the water stayed on top…filling in where the snow used to be. Huge squishy puddles that would be fun to walk through if it were August instead of February.

All day the rain drops fell, plinking and plonking on the roofs of the house, the barn, and Terry’s work shops. Sheets of water pouring off the sides of the roofs melting any snow that had accumulated there over the winter.

Rain always makes one feel like it is warm outside; not this rain, this was winter’s rain. A very rare experience for us.

Then sometime in the late morning or early afternoon the rain stopped and a chill wind fresh from the snow on the Uncompahgre (Un-come-pah-gray—accent on the pah) shoved and pushed the remaining heavy clouds from us and swept them on toward Paonia. A blue sky appeared giving all of us, Terry, myself, the dogs and cats a huge desire to be outside.

Gathering the dogs up and loading them into the back of the pick-up we took off for a short ride…just to get out of the house. Up we went toward Pea Green, then into the out-reaches of Olathe, down in the valley of Monoken (Mo-no-ken) back to Delta, where I mailed a letter, then home.

Refreshed! Open to the thoughts of spring.

This morning a huge cloud had drifted down over-night from the Plateau covering our Mesa (California Mesa), blocking the bright and joyful sun rays for our view.

The little buff hen is gradually doing better. Every evening she comes in to sleep in her laundry basket nest, cooing and talking to us as we walk by going here and there. As the night closes in and I’m done washing the dishes I cover her little basket with towels shutting out the light and helping her stay warm.

When morning comes I take her back out to the hen house. She needs to stretch and fluff and eat and poop at will…in the house is not a good place for all of that.

But today, she took her little fluffy self out into the plastic covered chicken run and started digging and scratching. A first! I was delighted to see her busy searching for interesting things to eat. The soil is dry in there so she will be able to dust herself–a beauty bath is always refreshing.

While watching her two little bluebirds flew right by me and sat down on the wood pile. I was extremely grateful the dogs had stayed in the house. They stayed a short while (of course I didn’t have my camera with me) then lifted up their little wings, turning their blue backs to me and flew off toward the fence along the lane.

Spring is coming! I always know, once I see the bluebirds. Sometimes there are only a few hardy souls braving the cold, then we will see more and more. I hope I have my camera the next time I see them…to capture a bluebird’s photo is one of my photographing goals.

For now we live under a cloud, but not such a bad cloud, as we can see the sun surrounding us.

And the bluebirds are returning. How grand is that?

Linda

It’s Still Raining Here February 10, 2014

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Dayphoto

We went from days and days of this

to two days of rain and warmer weather, which produced this

But yesterday, we were on the Uncompaghre Plateau (Un-come-pah-gray) enjoying the snow.

We had a great time at Max’s place. He had his roads all packed down so we could sled and sled and sled.

Everyone went, Max, Terry, Misty and Kelly, all the little kids and even me!

Up and down most of the day we went. Then when the little one was getting tired and cranky and whiny we stopped and cooked hot dogs and marshmallows in Max’s fire pit.

Max and Grandpa even proved to the little ones, you are never to old to go down a hill fast

I must admit that when we got home, Terry and I took an hour long nap. We were a little tired. I called the grandchildren later and the only person who took a nap was their Dad.

Today is cloudy and overcast and raining; but later on in the week we are supposed to hit 59-60* with sun. Sun!!! Sun helps dry up all the rain. WHOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!

Your Friend,

Linda

Now There is a Sick Goat February 5, 2014

Posted on February 5, 2014 by Dayphoto

Now Misty has a sick goat, which means, now I have another patient. She’s a sweet old goat, but no matter how sweet she is she will not be coming into my house at night. 🙂 It’s okay as she has a really nice goat house and her sister/friend.

But every morning I go down to administer a shot to the soft furry old lady. She and her sister each get some yummy graham crackers before I give the shot, then lots of pets and rubs on the back bone where it gets itchy and is hard to scratch.

The hurt hen is doing better. She sleeps inside every night and then goes out to the hen house during the day.

When I get up at night to put wood in the fire I always stop and talk to her in her little laundry basket night nest. She coos and purrs at me in a sleepy in hen voice. Then I wish her a sweet goodnight and go on back to bed myself.

It’s a good thing I’m an early riser because she IS a chicken after all, and does love to get up early. Soon after breakfast I take her back to the hen house, turn on the red heat lamp so she can adjust to not being in the big house.

She is eating and drinking and healing very well. I must wait now until her pen feathers start to come back in, which will be a long ways out yet, before I can bring the little black hen over for company. Until then we will continue this new little routine.

We had lots of snow yesterday, colder temperatures last night, then tonight (by 5 o’clock) the weatherman says another snow storm will make it’s way in here and be here for a length of time.

The storm leaving our area was just beautiful. Most of our storms arrive from the west (southwest, west, or northwest) and head off toward the east or northeast area.

This is the storm as it pushes itself over Cedaredge and Grand Mesa heading to some other part of the county.

Well, I must be off now and go take care of the goat, haul in more firewood and in general just get busy!

Your farm friend,

Linda

I WON February 4, 2014

Posted on February 4, 2014 by Dayphoto

One thing you need to know is I NEVER ever win anything! That is one reason I never play the lottery or buy lottery tickets or even try to enter into sweepstakes. I just don’t win. So instead of throwing money away, or spending hours and hours trying to figure out how to win a sweepstakes I just don’t do it.

But...Lisa was having a contest over on her blog. (She is an outstanding weaver, and I’ve long admired her work.) I thought long and hard about it; then decided I was going to go for it.

And I WON!!

Aren’t these just the most beautiful dish/tea/hand towels you have ever seen? I am so excited to have won and now they are here!

Thank you so much, Lisa!

Your farm friend,

Linda

Ground Hog Day (without photos) February 2, 2014

Posted on February 2, 2014 by Dayphoto

The sun is shining here and it’s cold, cold, cold! Guess that means we will be having 6 more weeks of winter. (I’m not surprised, are you?)

On the news front–

No calves yet
We had a wee melt yesterday so that helps
I have a hurt chicken in the house

I would take a photo of this poor little hen, but you really don’t want to see. One of the other chickens (maybe all of the other chickens) ganged up oh her and ripped her comb off, bloodied her head and the side of her face and, possibly, damaged her eye.

I was out in the hen house when she came running to me and the big black hen ran just as fast and jumped right on her back and started pecking. I grabbed the black hen and got her off the little buff hen. Picked up the little buff hen and brought her to the house.

Inside I put her in the cat carrier, added water and food, but she just didn’t care. So I wrapped her in a towel and sat her on my lap. Gradually, gradually, I was able to get the blood all cleaned off and some water down her throat. It was a long haul.

She liked my lap. I talked to her, she talked back; little coo’s and chuckles of love. I wish I could understand hen. Off and on throughout the night I would check on her in her little cat carrier…”Are you okay, Little Hen?” I would whisper. “coo, coo, peep, chuckle”, she would reply back.

She is doing better today. We had a wee sit on my lap while I checked her over, petted her feathers and talked to her about how to take care of the pickle she is in. She and I decided that there is no way she can go back into the pen with the other girls. She thinks staying in the house would be just fine, although the cat carrier is rather uncomfortable. I could just let her out; she would enjoy the house.

Hummmm, I don’t think so, my fine little hen. I must do some sorting out there so you can go back and have lots of room to do things.

I called Shannon and asked her to come get the other hens, but to leave Tommy. This little hen will be able to stay with Tommy when I get all of the other sorted out. Tommy will be company and help with the body heat in the chicken house. We got down to 7* last night; I’m thinking another cold front must be moving in again.

On a brighter note I am going to take your advice and suggestions and writing a proper book about the dogs Everyday Life on the farm. It will be an eBook when I’m finished. I’ve talked to a knowledgeable lady who is willing to help me once I get everything in the proper format and length for publication.

Here is part of what she told me: The market for eBooks for children is rapidly evolving. As more and more school systems buy tablets for their children, more children have their own tablets and computers at a younger age, we think this is going to be the next huge market.”

I’m rather excited and a bit over-whelmed, but I’ve been working on this for sometime so I do have some ideas to begin with. I’m not sure if the Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer will be just for children or for everyone. I guess I will let them help me decided.

Anyway, I thank each and every one of your for your comments and private emails that have continued to encourage me to give this a go. Like one of you said, it never hurts to try.

Your friend,

Linda