Moving to Delta, Colorado—Sunday, September 4, 2016

Posted on September 4, 2016 by Dayphoto

Yesterday we helped our daughter and son-in-law, in Grand Junction, Colorado load up some of their stuff to move to Delta–home for Kimberly and back to Delta County, for Cliff.

Terry made this trailer years ago to haul bulls, cows, and pigs. It has also hauled furniture to Denver, back from Denver, to Grand Junction, and now back from Grand Junction.

(I must brag a little bit here—my man is sure talented! If he needs it, or wants it, he figures out a way to make it. 💕 💕 💕–how lucky I am!)

We were fortunate to move them in-between storms. We’ve been having lots and lots of thunder and rain storms. It sure has been nice for the yard. A welcome gift for the plants and for me!

The tomatoes and peppers are coming on strong now. It’s canning time! My pears are ripening in big, thick, warm blankets then it will be time to ‘put them up’.

We are still working on the firewood, although the pile is MUCH smaller. Maybe this week we will finish it. I sure hope so. I’m a tad wore out. We are taking off today and maybe Monday, maybe not Monday, we will see.

(Early morning sun)

I hope your Labor Day weekend is a good one!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Helping Each Other Out, (also Fences), Thursday, September 11, 2014

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Dayphoto

A long-time friend of Terry’s needed a part for a piece of equipment. This friend had been down to see if Terry had anything that Terry could part with and he could buy.

Later on we drove up to Paonia, Colorado, to see if the part worked out and well…just to have a short visit. Terry’s friend was right in the middle of cutting hay, but that didn’t stop the two from having a nice visit.

While they talked I hiked around. There is just something about a huge ranch that lends itself to the wonders of living. Terry’s friend and his sister own over 1,000 acres with several grazing permits on the hills surrounding his ranch.

He and his sister do all the farming, irrigation, ranching, and the taking care of their 223 head of cows and several bulls.

His father bought the ranch, taking care of it for 6 years then died. From that point on Terry’s friend and his sister have been the ones to move the ranch forward. Old fences speak volumes of the way things were; new fences tell the story of how things are presently!

Head on over to Teresa’s blog to see many more fences and gates from around the world. While you are there join in with some photos of fences or gates you have in your area!

Your friend on a Western Colorado farm

Linda

A Winter Storm- January 12, 2014

Posted on January 12, 2014 by Dayphoto

Terry, I, and Boomer went for a walk yesterday to check out the equipment Terry is wanting to take to the consignment sales coming up. (Fuzzy and Tommy stayed at the grain bins waiting for us.)

We were really surprised at how dry the ground is, although there are still patches of worn-out and tired snow

Mostly on the north side of things.

The four-wheeler road is a tad messy with melt so we all walked in the fields. The fields were actually dry.

Over at the equipment area he decided to take the bulldozer blade, the three-bottom plow, and a couple of more items. We looked at some stuff we have to load up and take to the metal salvage place.

We measure winter by the consignment sales, one in a week, one the first of February and one the first week of March. Once those are done it’s time for spring work.

That evening we could see the promise of snow clouds starting to blow in from Utah.

Although, this morning we woke-up to nothing–just thick cloudy skies, when I went out to do the morning chores

The wind started kicking up and the snow started falling

The sort of wind that takes your breath away.

It was also shoving and pushing and tugging snow along with it

By the time the dogs, myself, and Sam the Cat made it back inside we were wet and grateful for the warm fireplace.

Now, as I sit here, in my upstairs office, I can see that the storm is moving on toward Paonia and the Gunnison Mountain Range. Bringing life-giving water to the land.

Off to haul in some wood, now that I can see again.

Your friend,

Linda

July 11, 2013

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Dayphoto

On our four-wheeler ride in the Paonia mountains

Terry

and

Cliff took roads that only those like them want to try…Kimberly and I stayed on the main trail!

We had rain…those few drops you see on the stones. Here we need rain, (after 2nd cutting of hay) and back East they can’t get the rain to end! A strange summer of weather.

A little robin dropped by last night while I was sitting outside at the end of the day.

A perfect ending to another really nice (and extremely hot) day!

Have a good one!

Linda

July 8, 2013

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Dayphoto

We went with our daughter, Kimberly and her husband, Cliff, to this lush wilderness close to Paonia, Colorado. I was really excited to get to go and to see this delightful opportunity!

The landscape was outstanding

Fields of wonders

With exuberant Quaking Aspen to shield them

As we rode deeper and higher into the mountains — masses and masses of other plants started showing up — in full bloom

Then we came upon forests of ferns some stood as high as my head…the sight was stunning!

Walking the last little while, we made it! To the top of the mountain and the dwelling

Over these rocks into that dark space below is the dwelling.

See that ledge, Cliff is looking at that tiny, itty-bitty, teeny little ledge that requires a person the crawl on hands and knees, then to slink around on your belly and toes to get around in the cave!

The drop is straight down and a very, very, very, long way down…not only do you have to crawl and slink into the cave with your head going over the ledge at different points, you are at least heading INTO another cave…coming back OUT is worse as your head is always OVER the ledge until you can get back into this side.

I couldn’t do it!

So I didn’t get to get a photo for you, my readers.

I am sorry!

I just don’t do height very well.

With feet firmly planted on the ground,

Linda

Our Tain Ride

Posted on June 23, 2009 by Dayphoto

I’ve had people asking questions about our train ride, so I thought I would answer this way.

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The train was a promotional train for Operation Lifesaver. Operation Lifesaver is an educational program taught on the train to eliminate collisions, deaths, and injuries at highway-rail intersections and on railroad rights-of-way.

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The ride is scheduled to take one hour to a destination and one hour back to the load-out zone. Tickets were free, but you had to hurry to get your name on the list, all four cars were packed with people. The train loaded and started up the track at 8:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m. (the one we rode), and 6:00 p.m. (this one went to Grand Junction.

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All but the 6:00 train was scheduled to go to Paonia, Colorado, which took one hour, all trains made it to Paonia, but the afternoon train. Because we have three large (huge, very big) coal mines just above Paonia in the Somerset area, the afternoon train had to make way for the coal trains. The coal trains have/had priority. So the afternoon trains just went to Hotchkiss and sat on the track until the coal train went by.

The passenger cars were all 1940 plush cars, one with a dome. Everyone wanted to sit in the dome, but no one got to. All four cars were completely full, 2 to a seat. On the evening train to Grand Junction, only people enough to fill the dome car rode. These people had ‘special tickets’. Next year I want a special ticket!

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I, personally, enjoyed the ride. The train’s top speed was 45 miles an hour, because of the huge grades they had to pull, sometimes slowing to 25 miles an hour. To get to Hotchkiss from Delta, by car is only 25 minutes.

I travel that road many times a week. But to be on the train, going through a different area than the highway was really special!

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I have always wanted to take a train ride and now I got too.

Friday Photo Meme

Posted on March 6, 2009 by Dayphoto

Karen from http://www.zemeks.blogspot.com/ asked me to do a photo meme.

So here goes.

snow-at-paonia

Part of my work, requires me to travel to Paonia, Colorado on a regular basis. Paonia is about an hour’s drive from here, and has one of the most beautiful scenery’s around.

paonia-mountains

About two weeks ago they had a lovely snow storm, that closed down the sounds and covered the trees with heavy, wet snow. The snow had melted by the time I left for Delta, but for a short while, we had Christmas again.

That is Lamborn Mesa.

I got the photos backward, but you get the idea! 🙂

I Stand All Amazed

Posted on December 10, 2008 by Dayphoto

Where we live I can walk right out of the corrals and take photos of some of the most beautiful mountain ranges in Colorado

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Grand Mesa, the largest flat top mountain in the world, to the north of us

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Green Mountain

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Ragged Mountains

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Paonia Mountains, with the Saddle Mountain in the foreground

gunnison-mountains

Gunnison Mountain Range

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San Juan Mountain Range

And to the west of us is the Uncompahgre Plateau, 25 Mesa, which I have shown you in other posts. There you go, north, east, south and west, around our little farm.