Fooled—Sunday, May 10, 2015

Posted on May 10, 2015 by Dayphoto

For a short time yesterday, I thought the rains and the clouds had gone away…to come back another day.

So I started to hang my clothes on the clothes line to dry….FOOLED! The rains came down and down and down—again!

This cold miserable weather even has the summer birds wondering why in the world did they come back so quickly–it feels like winter.

We even have the wood stove going again it’s so cold.

Although, I must admit, everything is greening up and looking lovely (if we don’t get a freeze) and the weeds are in heaven!

Today the renters move in! I am doing a Happy, Happy Dance. A joyous dance! YAY!

Your friend in a wet and soggy world,

Linda

We are Frozen Here—Thursday, April 16, 2015

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Dayphoto

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

Good Fences, Spring Farm Work, and Rain—Thursday, March 19, 2015

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Dayphoto

It rained off and on yesterday and then some into the night. The sun is out, our air is fresh and lovely, my lawn(s) are starting to green up, and I have lots of plants popping up in the flower beds! Life is good!

Terry plowed until it got too wet. So far there isn’t enough rain to cause our clay type of soil of harden into bricks.

Years ago we had a brick and tile making company that used our clay soil to make bricks. Today those bricks are much sought after as a collector item. That’s our type of soil…also our worry about rain.

Delta County Historical Society photo Delta Brick and Tile factory showing kilns, drying sheds and stacks of finished brick. This view is taken from a spot on California Mesa and shows Delta in the background.

You can read about it here: Delta Brick and Tile Factory

Anyway, so far so good.

Theresa from The Run*A*Round Ranch Report always hosts Thursday Good Fences and Gates. Sometimes I have neat fence, gate or gate opener to add to the fun postings on Thursday. Today I have one—–

This is a scratching post on our place. Terry put it up for the cows…a nice back scratch is always good!

Head on over to Teresa’s place and see her photos, then visit some of the other participants for a look at their cool fences and gates.

I hope each of you have a really nice day!

Your friend,

Linda

Dwellers of the Land—Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Dayphoto

“Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.” — Rachel Carson

Today Terry is plowing…he has the corn fields disked (twice, working until late in the night)— today he plows. We both were stumped whether or not to plow…the weather people say there is a 40% chance of rain moving into our area tomorrow.

Forty percent is a pretty good chance that we will get it right here! Plowed earth is like a sponge…after much pondering (the kind that keeps you up at night) he decided to go ahead and plow. I guess we will see if that was a good decision or not come Wednesday morning. 🙂

I worked on cleaning the house yesterday and then in my yard. My winter weary body is starting to get the hang of spring work, but it’s a slow process.

This afternoon Terry and I will work on the plumbing and wiring down at the other house. Gradually, gradually everything is starting to take shape down there.

We want to have the electricity finished and the hot water heater moved before the last week in March. The kids in Craig, Colorado, are coming for 10 days (Spring break) and want to stay in their old home. We are SO close to being done, we just have to make the time to finish it. I still have to paint one wall in the kitchen then that room is finished. (The the yard work down there starts, but I will think about that later.)

I saw a butterfly yesterday! It was a joy to see. Also, the honey bees were out and about, not to mention the nasty house flies. The house flies are still a little clingy and slow moving.

Spring is arriving! YAY!

Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,

Linda

In One Day’s Time—Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Dayphoto

Yesterday we woke-up to a yard looking like this, only without the shadows or the clip of blue sky.

By early morning it started raining and raining. For a short time a mist would hover over the land, then the clouds would open again.

By evening, when I went to get the nights firewood the lawn looked like this…my boots squished across the sodden expanse.

Later in the evening as I readied for bed I could see lightening flashing in the west. Could we have turned the corner from winter to spring thunder storms? Possibly, only time will tell.

Your friend,

Linda

A Grandpa Bunny Moment—Monday, March 2, 2015

Posted on March 2, 2015 by Dayphoto

It’s raining here…big sploshes of water. Then it turns into a fine mist, but still wet. Not satisfied with the mist the raindrops return.

Our snow is rapidly melting, becoming ragged and tattered. Mud is appearing, plus the food for the cows—no more nosing around in the snow to find fodder. It’s there, just waiting to be munched upon.

When I was bringing in the wood, for the woodstove yesterday a tiny break in the clouds offered up a patch of blue sky and enough sun to cast blue shadows on the lawn.

It was a Grandpa Bunny moment! Grandpa Bunny was my most favorite story in the Little Golden Books. (I have three copies,)

Grandpa Bunny teaches all the other bunnies how to decorate nature. Grandpa Bunny loves each and every season–one of my favorite parts is when Grandpa Bunny shows the little bunnies how to paint shadows on the snow.

Walking along with my load of wood I realized I saw a perfect Grandpa Bunny moment

As they say: “Priceless”.

Your Friend,

Linda

Confused Weather–Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Dayphoto

Look at this weather! Typical of summer, but not the middle of January!

And…it really isn’t all that cold—it’s 35* (I think that is 1.66 in celsius ???) right now. The ratty and tired snow is now gone and huge mud puddles in it’s place. There is no really working outside in this. (Although, I will still need to haul wood for the fireplace.)

Yesterday Terry and I did some maintenance jobs around the yard involving the chain saw, we were able to do them without moisture—snow or rain.

We still have a list of chores that needs to be done and soon…one of them is to put a new roof on the tilehouse, another is to finish hooking up the wood stove in one of the shops, and of course the fences all need to be walked and checked. The ditch company is very bad about just cutting the fence, if they want in …drives us bats. We have gates—sure they might have to walk a short distance to get to the gate (we leave them open during farming season) and then walk another short distance to get where ever it is they want to be. But no…they just cut the four strands of barbed wire – down the fences go and in they walk. Sure is disrespectful and (basically) lazy.

Anyway… (this is a summer rain photo with a Boomer nose on the side)

I will enjoy this sorta–like summer rain and do some baking. It will be nice to get caught back up on my house stuff.

Your friend,

Linda

The Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer—a Great Find

Posted on September 12, 2014 by Dayphoto

I’ve been helping Mom. I help Mom ALL the TIME!!! Sometimes I’m so close to Mom she trips over me… 😦 Not good! Mom doesn’t yell at me but she does say: “BOOMER!!! You have to stop being so close! You are going to get us both hurt”!

I just smile at her and wag my tail. I won’t get us both hurt! Shish! Mom is such a worry-wart.

Anyway we forked up all the loose hay the day before the big rain fell. It sure was hot that day. WHEW! I don’t know how Mom and Dad did it…I just had to ride on the back of the four-wheeler and the sun baked me into a huge Boomie Chip!

Then the rain came. Huge amounts of water fell from the sky. Fuzzy and I stayed inside with Mom, Dad, Sam and Monkey…to tell you the truth being inside while the rain chilled everything down and turned the soil into a giant bog hole was………………………..NICE!!!!

After the rain left then the house seem pant, pant, pant…HOT!

Anyway, back to what I found…yesterday the sky was beautiful – full of big soft fluffy clouds and lots of warm sunshine (although the nights are very chilly. I think Mom said it was 45* this morning. Fuzzy and I sleep inside when it’s cold so we weren’t cold…but I digress.)

So here we were up at the alfalfa field…it’s now and alfalfa field the hay field is gone since the hay bales are in the hay yard. 🙂

Okay, Mom, Dad and I were in the alfalfa field setting the water for the last time this year (maybe the last time—for sure the next to the last time). Fuzzy dididn’tant to come. Fuzzy really only likes riding in the back of the pick-up anymore. He says someone really needs to stay home and watch the place.

That’s okay with Mom and me, after giving Fuzzy lots of pets and lovings Mom and Dad and I headed up the alfalfa field.

I decided to check out the news in the field, Fuzzy is just like me and really enjoys the news. I looked around…Dad was carrying one of the big metal dams and walking down the ditch, Mom was bent over picking up the white syphon tubes and dunking them in the water and then setting the tubes down in the row…Good they are busy.

Tralalalallalal….sniff here and sniff there…hummmmm raccoons…four of them. Sniff, snuff….sniff…

SWOOSHH!

Oh, my heavens! WHAT WAS THAT!!!?

Quail! How neat is this….Oh, calm down Momma Quail I’m not going to do anything to your 8 little chicks! Tee Hee, laugh, giggle….Boy, are you cute!

Got ‘a go now!

Sniff, sniff, snuff!

WOW!!! NOW THIS IS COOL!!!!

“BOOMER!! BOOMER, what are you doing?”

Oh, heck! She would call me just as I found this stuff. Oh, darn…here she comes…do I dare….

“BOOMER!!! Don’t you DARE roll in that you hear me?”

Geez…Mom got here just as I was about to flop over…sigh.

“Yuck, Boomer! Don’t do that! Do you want another bath? Stop!”

Oh, okay…I won’t. But LOOK MOM it’s HUGE! We have a HUGE deer eating in the alfalfa field!

“Come on, Boom, let’s go. Maybe we will be lucky to see the buck that dropped this mess. The deer always come on the farm when hunting season starts.’

******************************************************************************************

Hey, Fuzz! I found some cute quail and a GIANT DEER POOP! The best part of starting the irrigation water was the GIANT POOP!!!

POOP! Lucky you Boomer. I know we have deer that live here year round, but finding GIANT poop means we have a GIANT DEER!

Yeah, Fuzzy…it was giant for deer poop! Next time I hope I can get a good roll in it so you can have really nice sniff!

I hope you do too, Boomer. My eyes and ears might not work well, and my legs are wobbly, but my nose is just fine!

I promise you this, Fuzzy, the next time I’ll bring you back some good poop smells!

You’re a good Buddy, Boomer a real good Buddy!

Ah, thanks, Fuzzy! You are welcome.

Boomer

Rain and a New Bow, September 10, 2014

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Dayphoto

The header is a photo of the sunrise after our amazing, extremely wet, rain storm.

Thankfully the storm is moving on today and warm dry weather is predicated for at least seven more days. The above photo is the rain socking us in; some places got as much as 3″ in an hour! Our canal is clear to the brim; swollen with water.

It’s for sure we are wet.

The hay is covered and safe, but the pinto beans are…in the mud!

What happens now? We wait until eveything dries back out. Then Terry will go in with the rod-weeder and lift the pinto beans up out of the mud and dirt and fluff up the rows again. Then we wait until they are dry. After that he should be able to combine.

Terry gave Linkin a new compound bow. She is just getting the feel of it here. Proper form is to have your hand close to your cheek and your other arm level with the hand next to your cheek.

She LOVES it! We had to go out first thing this morning (even in the mud) to give it another go at using it.

She and her Momma will leave later on today!

The visit was a nice treat,for this Grammy and Grandpa, in the middle of a very wet week.

Your friend,

Linda

Another Guest Post—Uncle Spike from Turkey — Monday, August 11, 2014

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Dayphoto

I’m doing a very short series of wonderful posts from blogger friends…today I would really like you to go visit Uncle Spike. You will never be disappointed. Over 1,000 people have signed up to read his blog and thousands of others stop by and visit.

Uncle Spike’s spot is a unique visit to Turkey and small acreage farming in the West Taurus Mountains. Green Lizard won a contest Uncle Spike had going on…her request was a blog post about Turkey and Rain on her blog.

Rain: My Turkish Delight is most unusual and outstanding. So much so I wanted to share it with all of my friends and readers.

Here is just one photo from that post and a small peak into his farming life.

Early fall is here. The leaves on the cottonwoods are starting to lighten up changing to yellow; later on they will be gold.

My yard is doing wonderfully. Although, as you can tell, I need to get busy and repaint the house. I hope to get that done after all the grandchildren leave.

We are very busy still….no real down time yet. Terry just about has the pinto bean combine repaired and ready to go. I’m putting up produce for winter feats. Since the kids are gone we now have the house you see beyond the cornfield, to keep track of. This afternoon I will go down and water the lawn, rake and mow the edges. No matter how busy spring, summer and fall are….I love every moment.