Over winter the gated pipe always walks apart. Creating a crack we must take care of, come spring
There! Pulled together.
We need to set the uptake pipe, and we are good to go. Water should start flowing in this field very soon.
Fika (n.) {fee-ka} Swedish. A moment to slow down and appreciate the good things in life.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
I wonder if the earth is really Eden. I can’t imagine a more perfect beautiful, wonderful place than Earth.
From my world to your heart,
Linda
It’s that time of year when we haul dirt from the settling pond
One truckload at a time.
The wind was terrible in the afternoons
With little showers the first day
After 16 loads Terry said–“Done for now, we will get the rest later in the year.”
It wouldn’t have been too bad but for the wind.
Anyway,
Done for now.
YAY!
We go home to hot baths, a light supper, and to stop for a spell.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
(I don’t realize how old I am until I see my hands! Then I know 🙂 )
Mom says I’m the bestest of helpers!!
I help all the time
I sweep the floors
I help mop the floors
All the floors
And I watch the grandkids’ volleyball games with Mom and Dad.
I am a GOOD helper!
TLC Cai-Cai
Off we went down the next mile to load and haul dirt
When all that HUGE amount of trash came roaring down the canal, into our headgate and then onto the farm
The water washed away all the dirt along the cement ditch
We loaded and hauled dirt for two full days…
With several more days of loading and hauling to go.
Although the day was clear, the sky blue and the sun rippling between clouds; we had wind.
Look closely and you can see dirt dancing on the crisp bright air
Two full days, more days to go
Then water to set (which occurs several times a day)
The end of the day—finally.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
The heartbeat of a farm is
Water
You can ready the ground, plant the seeds, fertilize, manage the weeds
But without water, nothing will happen
Although, we do get rain, in our high mountain desert region the amount of rain we get only sinks in about the width of a shadow
So yesterday in the gentle morning sunlight
The siphon tubes were gathered across each and every ditch, laid along the side with the orange dams and the mental dams; water was started into the pastures at the Upper End, the old Apricot Tree, and the horses’ pastures.
The water gurgling and glittering making tiny splashing noises as it rushed in a small wind to give life to seeds and a drink to thirsty little plants.
Thankfully, but late evening my computer was back in working shape.
Yesterday turned out to be a very good day!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
For Terry and I — those types of conversations occur constantly…every day and in every way, as we walk solidly up on the land
We see it at the Upper End when the lush grass starts to green up like emeralds, and the air is suffused with the freshness of Spring
We see the Uncompaghre Plateau brighten in the air as lovely as crystals shimmering in the sun
We feel the touch of God’s hand brushing our checks softly in the growing dusk
The wind sometimes lifts us to heights of wonder, complete with fear and trembling (on our part)
Then, when the cloud streaked sky is shredded with the last of the golden sun’s glow, we know, beyond the Shadow of a Doubt we are more than blessed.
From our world to your heart,
Linda
It’s snowing here…giant fluffy flakes of winter’s snow. They say we could have as much as 3 inches. 😦 The only good thing, about it being snow, is it isn’t as wet as rain. To work in rain is the pits. At least with the snow you only freeze to death. The mud comes later.
You can’t see the snow here, because it hadn’t started yet, but it is there….waiting in the clouds
Lurking, ready to begin. You can see the snow falling in the canyons…if there were no snow the canyons would be crisp and clear to your eye, it’s misty..either rain or snow. Today it is snow.
My hands are froze. Since I set the tubes and help walk the water {Terry does all the back breaking digging and he helps walk the water} I sometimes have to get my hands in the water. That’s why I can’t wear gloves, even plastic gloves won’t work, I’ve tried them. What I need to do is get good enough I don’t have to stop, bin over and place the tube in the water, grab the end of the tube (to form a suction) in the water, then quickly set the tube in the row. Terry and MIsty can do it, but not I.
Oh, well, it ’tis what it ’tis.
I have my seeds started for the year. I hope to plant out by Mother’s Day. (who knows with this year)
Tomatoes, water melon, flowers and other goodies, happily sprouting away.
Happy Winter, er, Spring…whatever 🙂 I wish all of you peace and so much love,
Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 