Little Darling | Life on a Colorado Farm

I know this is rather daffy, but I have certain fields on our farm that I just, well, LOVE! I enjoy the slope of the land, the color of the soil, how the water flows so rapidly without help…unlike the 1/2 mile field which is always lots and lots of work.

We are in one of those fields right now….complete with a dust devil.

It is middle’n in size, I call it the Middle Field. (it’s a 1/2 mile also, but different) Terry doesn’t like it because it has lots of short rows, (hard for turning the tractor and equipment around in) places where there is gravel, (the water wants to sink instead of flow) and a shallow place he can never get level.

I don’t work with the land/soil like Terry…I work with Terry and the water.

Still there is just something about this field, maybe you can see it with me. Part of the enjoyment is the water is always heading west. Why that appeals I can’t tell you, but it does.

The other hay field has the same layout but not the same feel to it.

Ah, well, I can’t explain why I like this field so much, I just do.

The setting sun was just perfect to show up the Black Canyon of the Gunnison…I hope you can see the canyon.

This was the route the early settlers took coming in to settle Delta…. they started in Gunnison and then drove their teams and wagons along the rim of the Black Canyon arriving in Peach Valley then across the waste land to the the fertile valley by the Gunnison River, now called Delta. (Not as easy as it sounds, but that is for another day.)

I must be off, Dear Friends, as I need to make a run to the gas station for gas for the 530 John Deere…this little darling of a tractor doesn’t use diesel fuel.

Your Friend,

Linda

(And of course, Fuzzy and Boomer)

Little Darling, it’s been a long, cold, lonely winter

Little Darling, it feels like years since it’s been clear.

Here comes the sun…

And I say, it’s all right! —George Harrison, The Beatles- Abbey Road, 1969

The alfalfa is looking good. First cutting should be in about 5 weeks.

While we were out there checking the water I got the bright idea of showing you what our gates look like.

They are horrible to open if the wire is too short/tight not too hard to open if you just sqeeze with all your might hard. (Boy, have I heard that line before. HA!)

Anyway ……

To open put your left arm around the big post and grab the little post with your hand, then lean your body against the little post and push the little post toward the big post and take your right hand and lift off the top wire. Be prepared to really push as the wires are very tight. Lift the little post out of the holding loop at the bottom of the big post, then walk straight out (so you do not twist and tangle the wires) and lay it down out of the way. (I’ve twisted and tangled a few in my lifetime and it’s a pain to undo.)

Drive through.

Pick up the gate, keep everything straight, do not let the barb wire tangle, walk back to the big post, put the bottom of the little post into the looped wire at the bottom of the big post. Now lean your body against the little post, pushing with all your might toward the big post. Grab the wire on the big post and slip it back onto the little post.

Good job. Well done.

Law of the land….if the gate is shut when you get there, you shut the gate when you go through.

Always!!!!

No exceptions!

EVER!

Since we have all these furlough days (and it looks like there may be more coming up) I always get a three day weekend. Three days in a row, at home, to do whatever a person may want to do, but one day a week less pay.

I can’t decide if I’m cursed or blessed. 🙂

Have a nice weekend!

Linda