Flying Low — May 25, 2014

Posted on May 25, 2014 by Dayphoto

The other day Terry and I went for a small ride, just to break up the monotony. We headed up to Blue Mesa Reservoir and then on into Gunnison. While traveling into the town of Gunnison we happened to see this low flying flying machine heading right toward us

How cool is this!

And we were stopped at the stop light AND…

I had my camera out sitting right by me!

They flew along the side of the car close enough we could read the words on the side of the jet!

We rolled the windows down and enjoyed the whole sensation…power, speed and excitement all rolled into just the few minutes it took for the red light to change into a green for go!

The whole thing was pretty darn exciting.

After a quick lunch we drove home. The water in the Blue Mesa Reservoir is slowly rising it has a long ways to go until it reaches the normal spot on the sides but it so much better than last year.

Your Farm Friend,

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

The Storm That Wasn’t –February 6, 2014

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Dayphoto

I had everything buttoned down and latched tight, three loads of wood sitting under the carport where it would stay dry, and nothing happened.

I’m not complaining. I’m also glad to be ready than to not be ready.

It is snowing in the mountains, which is hand-clapping/jig-dancing good!

Terry talked to one of the water guys yesterday and he said there is enough snow at Taylor Reservoir to fill the reservoir when spring comes WITH 7 more feet besides. WONDERFUL!! The next trick is for Mother Nature to dump enough snow in the Gunnison area to help bring up the Blue Mesa Reservoir to decent levels.

(While we are talking about water I really hope and pray that California starts to get water! I read where there is huge talk about not allowing farmers to have water to farm this coming year–instead sending all the water to the metropolis areas. What a mess that is going to be…drinking water, but no food. The price of food will skyrocket, farmers will go out of business, and land will sit idle allowing the soil to blow away! I really hope that moisture comes soon for all of them!)

We are progressing here in the health department, the little goat is to have 8 shots, we are closing down on that number. She always enjoys coming to me because I have the graham crackers so giving the shot isn’t hard. The little hen’s head is looking somewhat better. Her eye is starting to de-puff. I saw a tiny crack of chicken eyeball looking at me as I applied her medicine today. I was very concerned that the eye had been pecked out, but NO! She still has her eye!

So slowly, slowly we are wending our way to health and toward spring. I’m into the count down for March-twenty-two days left in February. February always seems like a loooooooong month to me. Thank Heaven’s its a short month!

Your farming friend,

Linda

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Dayphoto

The water at Blue Mesa Reservoir is horribly low….Terry says it is down about the size of the length of a football field. Blue Mesa Reservoir is also an extremely long reservoir—20 miles long.

Taylor Reservoir is still frozen over, but starting to thaw. It is low also, but nothing like this. Taylor Reservoir flows into the Blue Mesa Reservoir along with tributaries from other creeks and rivers.

Going back home (on the way up we went through Montrose to Gunnison then to Almont) we took ‘the long way home’ over the rim of the Black Canyon to Crawford, Hotchkiss, and then Delta.

The Black Canyon is the pathway of the Gunnison River, from which our irrigation and drinking water arrives to us.

We saw lots of deer, some elk, but the best was this Cub…wandering across the road.

He/she was heading to the other side, where Momma was probably waiting.

Having a little trip was really nice…broke up the work so we felt refreshed and able to get ‘back at it’; glad to do so!

Off now to work in the yard. I’m planting. I have cut my amount down considerably…two years ago I had 175 containers in 9 beds. Last year I cut down to 75 containers and nine beds. This year….I’m tired. I have 10 containers and the nine beds which at times still seems too much.

Anyway off to plant!

Linda

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Posted on April 7, 2013 by Dayphoto

The water fights have begun…not with the farmers but the subdivision people and the ditch company. I am so thankful I am not a ditch rider (although, there was a time I would have enjoyed being a ditch rider.)

So many people don’t understand what ‘priority rights’ mean—nor do they want too. They also don’t understand that the water levels are way, way, way below normal in Taylor and Blue Mesa Reservoir. Drinking water and farm water comes first.

Sort of sad really.

The water is still three miles from us. It will be that way until sometime next week. There are so many canals, laterals, and ditches that have to be cleaned and flushed before the water gets to us — we are close to last on our mesa before the water heads into the river.

Since the water is not as close as we thought we have been able to slow down the pace some and get caught up. A nice little gift of time.

Terry is calling Monday to see when they think the water will get here. Once it’s here and the head gate is unlocked (and locked back at 50%) we will hit the ground running.