Day Two — Tile Line Repair and Replacement —- Monday, March 9, 2020

Posted on March 9, 2020 by Dayphoto

Day Two started with finding where the tile line crossed under the fence and into the yard

When the Tile Line was first laid (many, many, many years ago) there was a marker placed near the fence line…..that is where the backhoe started digging.

Bingo! Right on!

Then it was time for the boring machine. Water was pumped through the drill pipes causing the old tile to be reamed out—all dirt, roots, broken tiles, and tree roots cut and moved out the way

It was fascinating to watch and to feel it move way deep underground. (You can see the puddle of water, which was left as the first drill pipe headed into the tile line.

We chose the boring machine route, to save digging up the lawn, thereby saving all the old trees, bushes, and the fences.

The Orange marks are showing the way the boring machine is moving. Pretty cool.

It took lots of time, in a slow and steady fashion, but THERE IT IS! It came through perfectly

Then it was time to move into the goat pen to create a new straight ditch

We had to have him dig out the old waste ditch and create a new straight ditch for the new pipe we were going to be installing.

Now back to the tile line and the boring head. The smaller reaming head had to be changed for the

Larger reaming head, with larger holes for jetting the water and the capability to pull the new pipe through.

Remember the old tile line pipe was crumbled and broken requiring this very necessary and expensive repair and replacement.

Here is a closer look at the smaller head

The worker changing out the smaller head to the larger head.

Once the heads were changed it was time to pull the larger head BACK through the smaller hole to make the tunnel large enough for the pipe to go through.

Slowly, slowly it was pulled back all the way under the lawn, clear to the beginning.

Then it was sent back through, cleaning and clearing the way, so the pipe would slide through easily.

Well, wouldn’t you know? There was an old culvert being used as part of the tile line somewhere under the lawn or the road. Out it came with all the metal twisted upon the head.

By this time it was late afternoon and everyone was tired. The idea of removing that old culvert, getting the new pipe ready, and starting the pull was going to wait until tomorrow.

Stay tuned for the really interesting next day…the PIPE!

See you tomorrow!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Our Last Week in a Series of Photos —- Sunday, March 8, 2020

Posted on March 8, 2020 by Dayphoto

We live in an area where the water table can cause havoc in a farm field. So years and years and years ago, when our part of the world was just getting settled (from 1882 onwards)…the need for water and for good farm good was vital. (it still is)

As the population expanded the requirement for good land and water increased. I have read diaries of men who helped create and build the canals on California Mesa and Ash Mesa which confirms the horrendous amount of work it took to bring water to our high mountain desert landscape.

After getting water here they realized they now had to put tile lines under the farm ground to get the water to ‘move’ on out and back into the canals.

These very creative people used thick clay tiles to create the drain lines which move the water from under the ground back into canals.

We are not sure, but we think the tile lines on our place were put in around 1890 or 1900. Gradually over-time, the clay tiles collapse and must be replaced.

So THAT is what we have been doing for six full days. Replacing the tile line in one of our fields. The water, which comes out of this tile line, feeds into a ditch that flows to all the farms in an area called Saw Mill Mesa.

This very expensive operation helps not only us but those on-down-the-line. 🙂

Now you have a wee lesson on water, the maintenance of the water and what we were doing this past week.

Tomorrow I will continue. I hope I don’t bore you. I found this whole process fascinating, interesting and VERY labor-intensive. All through the process, I kept thinking about those marvelous men of years gone-by which did this all by hand.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

The Adventures of Mindy on Friday— Can You Find the Kitty? Friday, March 6, 2020

Posted on March 6, 2020 by Dayphoto

I can hide Very, VERY, VERY well.

See if you can find me.

Look closely.

Look closer!

YES!

There I am!

Mindy the hidden Kitty cat!

Finishing Old Projects — Thursday, March 5, 2020

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Dayphoto

Connie from FarSide started a cleaning a project this winter, which sparked a cleaning project for me

Connie was sorting, cleaning, and going through all the stuff she had collected over the years.

I decided that it was a good idea!

So Off I went to start cleaning the upstairs.

Hmmm…I thought to myself. Here is this whole tote of quilt squares I haven’t ever done anything with.

So —- to make a long story short…I didn’t get the upstairs cleaned, sorted or anything because I became stuck with finishing the quilt squares.

I know why I have never really quilted. It is a tad hard (for me, anyway).

So here is my latest. A baby quilt. All hand-quilted with soft shiny blanket-binding. I find I really like the satiny blanket binding.

Two more quilts to go. Then I will have the box of quilt squares cleaned, sorted, and finally made up.

TWO!

And it’s spring. So we will see how long it takes me to get these two quilts done. 🙂

As for cleaning and sorting the upstairs. I guess that project—- I will start AGAIN next winter. 🙂

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Time Tumbling Forward Stretching Each of Us Toward the Future—Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Posted on March 4, 2020 by Dayphoto

Sometimes my mind likes to race toward the future…not that I LIKE to race toward the future,

But my mind sure does.

And it (my mind) seems to leap and tear around mercilessly

At night when I’m supposed to be sleeping.

The thoughts dipping and spreading slowly, at first, then by three in the morning

Rushing here there and everywhere

Sliding around in the old head like oil spilling out of a tipped over can

Nighttime thoughts…sigh!

Everything always looks so much better in the morning.

For then you have understanding, there are no borders; wandering thoughts can’t survive…action takes the place of worry.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

Heading to the Mountains — Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Posted on March 3, 2020 by Dayphoto

Jason and Shilo, Shilo the Wonder Dog,

And all her puppies stopped by to say HI!

They were heading to the mountains for a day of training.

What a fun, brief little lighthearted moment to our day!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

That Lion Called March —- Monday, March 2, 2020

Posted on March 2, 2020 by Dayphoto

It snowed last night

Just like the sundog predicted

Although, this kind of snow

Doesn’t last long

Quickly melting

To leave

Mud in its wake!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Those Small Little Gifts —- Sunday, March 1, 2020

Posted on March 1, 2020 by Dayphoto

I was walking back from the smallest field, where Terry and I were working yesterday, when I came across a rock in the shape of a heart

O! THE JOY! A Heart Rock!

Then I noticed the rock next to the heart—-ah! I see! I thought. Once just an odd-shaped rock, now suddenly a different one..full of love.

Driving home Friday from the District Basketball tournament, just chilling there in the sky was a beautiful Sundog.

In three days—which is Monday we are to see a cool down to colder weather.

Ah, well! It ’tis March. I would rather have the Lion March at the first of the month, than the last of the month.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

Mindy and Boomer Have an Adventure Chapter Twelve Friday, February 28, 2020

Posted on February 28, 2020 by Dayphoto

Chapter Twelve

Well, it took some doing. First Freddy fox set up a Foxy Yell (go here to hear a fox yell) Then Freddy made a huge dash into the now empty of water canal. All this started the coyotes hollering (go here to hear the sound of coyotes hollering), which made Mindy claw her way onto my back.

The second I felt her claws latch onto my thigh then onto my back I took off running as fast as I could.

Now you must remember…I am NOT a young beagle anymore. I am actually an ancient beagle…just say’n.

Thus, being elderly I couldn’t run as fast as I would like and on top of me was a five-pound cat! Now this cat was NOT just sitting up there enjoying herself, she was digging her mouse-killing claws into my back as far in as she could dig. AND SHE WAS YELLING AT THE SAME TIME!

I tried to run and tell Mindy to hush up, but that was like pushing water upstream.

Finally, I fell down in a huge panting heap. I was totally exhausted… (older dogs have a tendency to gain weight, you do realize, don’t you?) So, Not only was I old, and exhausted my weight got to me. I thought I was having a heart attack I was so tuckered out.

Mindy screamed at me to get up, to keep running.

I just couldn’t go any further.

I was done.

I laid there on the soil panting and huffing when Freddy raced by covering me in dirt. He screeched to a stop, turned around, started walking back to Mindy and I. Mindy peeled out off my back and climbed straight up on some of Dad’s equipment I was resting by.

Just as Freddy got two feet from my face three coyotes arrived. Splitting up one went one way, the other went the other way and the third one just stood and stared at Freddy, Mindy and I.

Mindy screamed and scrambled way deep into the corn combine. I just laid there. The end had come. I was done for, there was no way I could run, besides there were three coyotes on three sides of me and a big combine behind me so…lets’ face it I was trapped.

It was over, I was pretty sure.

Suddenly Freddy started yelping his Foxy call; dashing toward one coyote; then the other.

“You just think you nasty creatures are going to get us—” Freddy taunted, swishing his big fluffy tail this way and that.

The main coyote growled, placed one paw in front of the other, slunk way down to his belly and started coming closer and closer.

When out of nowhere a nose-stinging, eye-burning green fog filled the air all around us—Freddy, Combine, ME and the three coyotes!

Everyone was rolling on the ground, digging at their eyes and noses whimpering. Freddy jumped up first, scampered through the three coyotes and was gone.

Then the three coyotes dashed into the deep darkness of the night yelping and hollering

I was so stunned with the green fug that I could not only not see, or smell anything I couldn’t even THINK what to do, or what had happened.

“Hi, Boomer!” Oreo greeted me. “Seems you were in a bit of mess, just a little second or so ago. I thought I might help you out.”

Oreo was laughing and chuckling almost rolling on the ground.

“OREO! You are a life-saver!” I put my paw on his tiny little paw and gave him a little paw hug.

“Yes, I think so.” Oreo modestly replied. “Well, off now, I have grubs and bugs to find to fill my tummy.”

I watched him walk off, turn around once he got out into the field and give me HIGH TAIL WAVE!

So, there you have it. Mindy crawled out the combine, not a whiff of green fug on her fur, the coyotes were gone. Freddy left. And we were not far from the house and our beds inside.

“Say”, Mindy told me as we walked toward the back door, “I like going on adventures with you, Boomer. Let’s do it again sometime.”

I gather up what strength I had left and I ran to the back door and bayed and bayed until Mom came; opened the door where we both dashed inside.