We worked all day Monday on loading up the dirt from the
settling pond
The pond is a mile from our farm
From 8-5, no stops in-between.
Thankfully there was no wind, or rain, only sun.
From morning (5 a.m.) until dark (9:30 p.m.) we were on the go; irrigation the first and last thing of the day.
We’ll have another ‘haul dirt day’ later this summer. 🙂
Now onto something else.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
We spent all day Monday…from 9:00 in the morning until 6:00 in the evening (after irrigation and before irrigation)
Moving dirt.
You see our canal water is so full of dirt that settling ponds have to be dug; allowed to have the water flow into the pond, and the dirt to settle out, then the pond is dug out in the Spring.
Not to waste the dirt, or let it blow away in the ever-present wind
We load and haul the dirt to different spots on our farm. Putting the dirt back into the SOIL of the ground.
A long day sandwiched in between the other stuff.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
We spent yesterday hauling dirt from the settling pond a mile away, back onto our farm to use next winter.
The smell of dirt, filled our nostrils from start to finish 🙂
We had an audience
They LOVE watching FARM TV.
From 8 in the morning until the setting of the sun; back and forth we went.
Although the work was revitalizing, in a comforting sort of way…it was also very exhausting — lurking right there under the current level of necessary energy.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
We finished up hauling all the much-needed soil/dirt
Gradually, the new ditch bank and soon to be farm road started to take place
Blade work with the tractor and shovel work with … the SHOVELS!
Done!
And all the while—keeping the irrigation going. Terry is standing on the new road. Pretty nice!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
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
As I was growing up I used to have dreams of what I would do as an adult, I’m sure all children do.
My dreams were actually very simple
I wanted to live on a farm and be a farm wife and work every day with my husband
I have actually been very blessed and got to achieve my goal.
Yesterday, we started hauling dirt. You see the ditches sand-up and must be cleaned before the water comes in.
So that is what we did….10 dump loads of dirt. Done by two o’clock in the afternoon
Then it was time to get back to work on down-sizing my yard. I had good help. Mindy Cat LOVES to ride in the wheelbarrow
And….although, he thought it was really rather hot, Boomer followed me back and forth, to and fro until he laid down in the shade and slept.
By dark, we were all tired, but a good feeling of accomplishment was had by all!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
I’m slow today. Well, not slow for the day, but slow getting up here to post my blog. We are still working on the ditches and had a few things to do before Terry could take out the tractor.
(Sometimes I’m early, very early, because…well, I just can’t sleep at night. The stay awake and toss and turn thing so I get up and write a post to you.)
Terry is doing the tractor work, so I came in to visit a spell with you.
Once more we finished all the dirt for the rest of the year. 🙂 (Where have I heard that before 🙂 ) Terry went over and dumped the last load, while I drove the tractor home, and put the tractor way.
Then we worked on digging out the orange dams in the mud ditches. Always, always a huge job. We have two more to go, but stopped for spell. Now that we are ‘elderly’ we have to pace ourselves. Ten years ago the story would have been much different.
After supper (yes, we eat early…by 5:00–that is so we still have daylight to work in) we worked on winterizing the ditches.
We worked in a sky full of color and rainbows!
It was wonderful! I counted two rainbows, then a faint third one!
The end was right over our house! How marvelous is that!!!!?
The sky was stunning! Because the sun was sitting it turned the air/the clouds, the sky, and us—Pink!
It sure made our work go easier!
As we worked I started thinking how the year is slowly drifting into winter, but before the winter chill and frigid temperatures, the stunning beauty of fall blooms before our very eyes, the last of summer bursting forth in random elegance and grace, blessing our lives, if we just care to see.
As always your friend, on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Well, we got half of the dirt cleaned off of the settling pond! (all the edges must be cleaned off so the pond can be re-dug in the spring.)
The rest will wait until March or early April, just before the water is turned into the ditches on that field.
Boomer had a great time…but nothing compares to loading up and ‘escorting’ in and out hay customers! Well, maybe right up there with the Mail Lady—and SHE always has a dog cookie with Boomer’s name written on it!
A good couple of days work! Nothing broke down, everything went smooth as glass.
You can’t ask for more than that. 🙂
Your friend on a western Colorado farm.
Linda
We have finished with the pinto beans. Cleaned up the truck and the combines putting them to bed for…well, forever.
Today we start hauling dirt from the settling ponds..
Sometimes we haul the dirt in the spring, but this year Terry wants to do it in the fall.
He is very serious about renting out the place next year, so he wants to have the farm in ‘perfect’ order for the renter.
We use this dirt to build up areas that have either washed away or blown away. This soil is also spread out over the farm ground to fill in holes that have developed.
Off now! My wish for you is that your day is the best it can be!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
We got all the dirt loaded and dumped. It was an all day thing. It took us both. Seems these big jobs are requiring both of us anymore.
Thank you everyone, for the Magic thoughts, prayers and for crossing your fingers and toes—it all helped.
We have also got the sheet rock up in the kitchen, it just needs to have the seams sealed and for me to paint…then that job is done.
The extra room is taking shape, but it’s slow. I got all the bricks and motor and other things cleaned out of the coal room itself, Terry is now working on expanding the coal room into the extra small room. Once this is done we will move the hot water heater and the —soon to be purchased—furnace into their very own area. After that it will be wiring the room for electricity and putting up sheetrock and laying the floor then we are done.
We found out last night that Mom-Mom and both granddaughters are coming for the weekend. It seems that Tally is homesick also. Mom-mom said she was too, so they are all coming in this afternoon. What a fun time we will have. Although, Terry says he is going to have to stay steady on the room, because he WILL start farming on Monday.
That’s alright, Mom-Mom says she will help and the girls will be happy because there is the treehouse, and kittens, and other fun things to do. I’m sure we aren’t going to work ALL the time…even Grandpa adores snuggles and 4-wheeler rides and …you know, all those things that make life wonderful.
Thank you once more. Two huge jobs down and one to go!
Your friend,
Linda
