Sunday, December 1, 2013

Posted on December 1, 2013 by Dayphoto

Well, here we are! The last month of the year. The older I get the faster time goes…flying by, as they say.

Terry got both hydraulic pumps fixed on the 4010 –over $2,000.00 later and lots of his own man power the tractor is back to work. Sometime this week he will put the loader back on and be good to go with that tractor.

There is always something it seems. Our furnace in the house is now requiring repair. Whew! If and when we get through this repair cycle it will smooth sailing for a while. The nice thing about the furnace is it is just a back up…we heat with firewood, as you know. Still there are times (if we take off for a short trip or the wood burns too fast while we are in Grand Junction) that having the furnace click on if the temperatures in the house drop below 40 is a good thing. Frozen pipes are not a good thing!

A strong cold front is due in here —

(AN ARCTIC COLD FRONT WILL BRING BIG CHANGES TO THE WEATHER STARTING TUESDAY. STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL DEVELOP MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY AS THE COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE NORTHWEST. VALLEY SHOWERS MAY INITIALLY START AS RAIN BUT WILL QUICKLY TRANSITION TO SNOW AT ALL ELEVATIONS BY TUESDAY NIGHT. SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL IS POSSIBLE THROUGH WEDNESDAY FOR ALL THE MOUNTAINS OF EASTERN UTAH AND WESTERN COLORADO. THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL VALLEYS MAY ALSO SEE SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS. SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS COULD CONTINUE INTO THE WEEKEND. FRIGID AIR WILL POUR IN BEHIND THE FRONT. AFTERNOON HIGHS MAY NOT BREAK THE FREEZING MARK FROM THURSDAY INTO THE WEEKEND. MORNING LOWS COULD BE WELL BELOW ZERO IN THE MOUNTAINS AND NORTHERN VALLEYS.)

So having the furnace as a back-up would be nice. It’s not going to happen for sometime yet, but Terry does want it in place if and when we go to Nebraska for the combine motor.

It is lightly snowing right now. Anyway, all things come to an end-once we get through this break-down/fix-back-up period I’m sure we will be good to good for a long time.

Your friend that loves December,

Linda

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Posted on November 10, 2013 by Dayphoto

Occasionally, readers of my blog share with me outstanding photos. That is one of the delightful joys of blog-land—people sharing bits and pieces of their lives with each one of us.

The three following pictures are from Gary E. West (a local boy who grew up and moved to a big city in Texas).

He was back in the Ouray/Ridgeway part of our world in early October where he took these photos.

Owl Creek Pass

Another of Owl Creek Pass

And Sleeping Indian mountains

Although, winter has now settled down on that part of the world we can still see the brilliant colors

Thank you so much, Gary. And Thank you for letting me share them with all of my readers!

Your friend

Linda

P.S. I took French and college and can only remember tiny little bits of the language…you have to use it or loose it, as they say. I wanted to say in French– Ton amitié m’est très précieuse but I’m not sure if I spelled it right or am saying it correctly, I hope I am. For all of your friendship is important to me.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Dayphoto

We took a flying trip to Norfolk, Nebraska as Terry needed some combine parts and a bracket for the suitcase weights for one of the tractors. Since we were both ready for a short trip off we went.

The desert between us and Grand Junction is extremely green. ( You can see Wild Horse Mesa in the background — it is the last green bowl shaped mesa just before the blue sharp lines of Grand Mesa)

We have had and are still having lots and lots of rain. Very nice for making the world fresh and lovely.

We got to Grand Junction as morning was coming into full-light. This is a very quick photo of the Book-cliffs which surround Grand Junction on one side.

Glenwood Canyon was beautiful waking up to a day of full-speed-ahead traffic.

Driving through the Johnson side of the Eisenhower tunnel.

We live 5 hours from Denver. At this point we are about two hours away. This a horrible mess come ski-season. The traffic slows to a 30 m.p.h. or LESS crawl on Sunday afternoon as people try to come back from a weekend of skiing.

Taking the back roads and staying off the Inter State

This CAN BE a bleak trip, but we enjoy the farms and ranches.

It was sugar beet harvest

And soybean and

corn harvest.

All the way from Colorado to Norfolk.

We cheered and clapped and gave everyone two thumbs up for being able to get their crops in.

That night we stayed in Ogalla, Nebraska —

Getting up early the next morning we we found lots of salvage yards

along our route.

Just what we were looking for!

Continued tomorrow….

Your friend on a California Mesa Farm,

Linda

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Posted on October 6, 2013 by Dayphoto

“Last night, there came a frost, which has done great damage to my garden … it is sad that Nature will play such tricks on us poor mortals, inviting us with sunny smiles to confide in her, and then, when we are entirely within her power, striking us to the heart.” — Nathaniel Hawthorne

It happened!

The cold has descended! Killing everything. Next week I will start digging my tropical plants and storing them for the winter. I have so many tubers of Cannas I really don’t know what I’m going to do with them, but I guess I will figure it out.

Most of everything I will leave as seed heads for the birds, it helps them and it helps my pocket book.

The trees and bushes should really start to color up now. It always takes a good hard freeze to start to see color on them.

In three weeks we hope to start the corn harvest.

We are moving marching forward to winter, a steady step-by-step now.

Taking one day at a time, your friend,

Linda

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Posted on September 29, 2013 by Dayphoto

The last Sunday in September…sometimes it seems like time really gets away from me.

Last Friday’s mail brought to me a wonderful surprise! Well, not just me, but a surprise for Terry and I…

Jan, from the Poodle and Dog Blog, sent Terry and I here hand-crafted Christmas stockings.

The workmanship is just outstanding! Terry was, also, impressed with the amount of detail in crafting each sock. If anyone is interested she has an Esty store where she has many more socks and many different colors and designs.

I humbly Thank You, Jan!

Linda

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Posted on September 15, 2013 by Dayphoto

More flash flooding is predicted for our part of Western Colorado.

Although, we are NOT getting what the Boulder, Colorado Springs, Longmont, and Greeley area are having. (They are in the Corridor of our State) Our hearts and prayers go out to everyone in those flood damaged areas. 😦

Our rain puddles are starting to grow slime

Even the trees are showing signs of moss

We are so wet it is hard to find a spot to walk without sinking up to your ankles.

An old-timer called this the ‘100-year rain’.

This morning we had some scattering of blue skies

Just seeing the blue made me happy.

Last night there was also a break in the clouds

The sunlight was outstanding! It caught the rim of Black Canyon. You can’t see the other mountains behind Black Canyon because the clouds have them covered.

The sunlight also produced a rainbow

Rainbows always make me think of hope.

According to the weather channel today is the last horrible day of torrential rain, then the slow moving storm will move on…which means it will move toward the east possibly hitting Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and/or parts of Texas, it just depends on the the jet stream. I sure hope you don’t get the floods, but lots of really nice ground soaking rain. 🙂

I hope your Sunday turns out well my friends,

Linda

Tired

Posted on September 8, 2013 by Dayphoto

Today is Sunday…Thankfully a day of rest. We always try to take this day off, of course there are some things that just don’t rest–like changing the irrigation water. But for the most part we ‘MADE IT THROUGH THE WEEK!’

The last load of pinto beans went to

The Beanery at 7:15 in the morning.

Terry went over and helped Nick unload our truck at 1:00 in the afternoon. The truck is now all cleaned up and put away until we start the corn harvest –sometime after the middle of October on, depending on how the corn dries down.

The little girls spent the day with us so they helped me do my job in the hay field.

I had a load with the old dog, the crippled dog and the two girls 🙂 but they enjoyed themselves. Linkin (I call her Nee-Nee) helped me straighten and pick up bales.

(Tallen is waving at Grandpa coming into the field for a load)

It was her first time, but she is old enough now — our kids started around 9 years of age so I figured she could too.

The tractor broke down on the first load of hay heading into the haystack 😦 but by that time is was supper time and Misty was back home. (Kelly and Bladen went to Bladen’s soccer game in Leadville and were spending the night in Gunnison with a college friend of Kelly’s last night.0 So Misty stayed and helped us. She is feeling better again, thankfully.

While Misty and Terry brought the broken tractor to the shed, the girls and I finished up the dishes. The last load of hay came in just as dark was settling down on the land. They wanted to help irrigate so off we all went to the old alfalfa field to start the water … IN the Dark!

While up there I lost Fuzzy. The poor old thing just has the hardest time keeping up with everyone. He wanted off the four-wheeler to walk with the girls so I put him down.

While following them he must have stopped to sniff around for a spell and they walked on. He didn’t come back and didn’t come back and didn’t come back. Fuzzy can’t hear or see very well so I was getting very concerned. Finally I took the four-wheeler and drove into the upper end, which is by the hay field…turned on the lights and drove around looking for him. I was almost to start panicking when I saw his white paws trying to get to me.

He and I were VERY happy to see each other that is for certain and sure!

By the time all of this was over and we sat on the back patio for a spell just to wind down it was past 10 o’clock when we finally went into the house and the little family went home.

We are supposed to have a couple of rainy days starting today sometime so getting all the crops in and covered feels very nice.

Have a restful Sunday everyone, Terry and I are sure going to try.

Linda

Saturday the Last Day of August 2013

Posted on August 31, 2013 by Dayphoto

Terry pulled half the pinto beans yesterday before the dew left and the pods became too dry. Pintos have to be pulled early so the dew will keep the bean pods from cracking open and spilling the pinto beans out onto the ground. Once the beans are spilled there is no way to pick them back up.

Today he has been out there since full light. He hopes to get the other half of the field done before the heat hits.

Depending on the weather he will wait about a week then start combining the rows, gathering the beans into the hopper and then the truck and then off to the Beanery to be sacked and sold.

Rain clouds keep building every afternoon, which causes us a huge amount of tension. So far so good, the storms stay around us in the foothills and on the plateau, which is good.

Another thing that is good is we sometimes get a rainbow!

Feeding the bees seems to be working. I use a dollop of honey early in the day…by nightfall it’s all cleaned up.

Terry also said we are on the very last irrigation of the corn. Boy, has summer ever flown. Although, we will still irrigate the hay fields the work load of changing water is fast disappearing.

I’m not sure but I think most of the adult Hummingbirds have left, I still have lots of little ones feeding. I’m not having to fill the feeders as much so I’m thinking this is a sign the large majority of those delightful little birds have gone. I know the Bullock Orioles are gone since I haven’t seen any for two weeks now.

I’m off now to fork the bean ends back so we don’t lose any…those tiny little beans are what we’ve been working all summer to have. 🙂

Your friend,

Linda

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Posted on August 25, 2013 by Dayphoto

We have arrived at the last week of August! I already miss Summer!

The corn is starting to dent…maybe (just maybe) only one more irrigation then the corn will be left to dry. Harvest should occur in October.

The snakes are starting to hole up for the winter…we are seeing fewer and fewer every day.

The Hummingbirds are still here, although I’m having a terrible time keeping the honey bees off the feeders.

This sugar water is like some sort of drug to them, even crawling clear in PAST the bee guard then drowning.

Any suggestions on how to stop the bees from eating at the feeders would be greatly appreciated.

A huge storm blew in late yesterday evening complete with flood watches and warning out for today and tomorrow, then in will gradually leave just in time for the third and last cutting of the old hay field and to pull the beans.

Magic thoughts for at least two weeks (possibly three) of warm drying weather would be greatly appreciated. 🙂 🙂 🙂

I picked the cannas and the datura as my daily view for today…my tribute to a tiny tropical garden in western Colorado. 🙂

I guess there really isn’t much going on here — which I’m loving. I hope your day is just as nice.

Your friend, Linda

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Dayphoto

I had my first in a very long-time day to myself yesterday. I was able to get some stuff done in town that has been every so long in coming. 5 Weeks!

Five weeks of not really buying groceries…just running in for milk or something of that nature…you would NOT have liked my grocery bill…I didn’t either. 😦 Still I was thankful that I HAD rather stock piled some things and we had the freezer with some meat and the end of the jars I had put up last summer/fall. It all worked out for the best. Now I just need to start rebuilding, I’m down to four package of hamburger, many frozen chickens and some frozen vegetables, like corn. Going five weeks without really shopping and eating and feeding people straight from the larder is really nice.

(You can see the yellow leaves starting to appear)

When I was working outside yesterday I noticed the little Robins are gone. They have left us I know not when. 😦 😦 Another sure sign that winter is coming. We still have lots of swallows and the hummingbirds plus many others.

A crow landed in the old cottonwood tree as I worked and cawed to me he was back and fall was coming. I guess it is so.

Last week was my last full week of having the little grandchildren everyday. Since both of their parents….Misty (teaches) and Kelly (Assistant Principal) go back to work the First of August ————–THANK HEAVENS MISTY HAS FELT WELL ENOUGH TO GO BACK!!!! The kids stay with us.

Thursday (the kids and I) went to Fat Cat Pottery to create something fun, then Friday we had a fun day by eating out (JUNK FOOD) at Wendy’s, then going on over to the Miniature Golf place and played a round, after that we went to the batting cages to see if we could hit a few soft balls.

Then to top the whole afternoon off we headed to Dairy Queen for ice cream. I let them have the biggest ice cream they thought they could eat :).

This next week the two oldest will hop the bus and be in school. The youngest will stay with us until Thursday when it will be her turn to start school. Kindergarten rotates the little ones in so no one is afraid and can handle the new environment.

After that Terry and I think we will take a short trip just to unwind by ourselves, something over night but close by.

He has stopped irrigating the pintos and will start pulling them soon. Then it will be time for the last cutting of alfalfa. When that time comes he will have stopped irrigating the corn. Corn harvest will/should be sometime in October. Boy, this summer has flown.

I hope everyone has a restful Sunday,

Your very thankful friend, Linda