Opening the Fields

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Dayphoto

We opened the fields Friday — which means we started water. This is a big job as all the ditches have to be flushed, the weeds cleaned out.

Hank enjoys helping the water move through the mud at the bottom of the ditches. He gets the mud packed into his nose. Such a goofy dog! (said with love)

Then the water is set in the proper fields.

Boomer only likes the water to get a drink out of, most the time he is out scouting around!

The day started out cold, warmed up, and then cooled down again. Of course when you are working you warm up fast!

We had help, Misty and Tallen, Hank, Boomer, and Fuzzy.

Fuzzy didn’t want to get off the four-wheeler so I just let him stay up there. This is not normal for him as he loves ‘chasing water’. I guess, he has decided he is just too old now and will opt for directing the other dogs on what to do. The patriarch of the dog pack so to speak.

I would set him down and he would hang out in the shade, go over and get a drink and then head back to the shade. Sort of sad really, but at least he still like going with us.

Tallen really does help…we gave her a row of her own and she truly worked at getting the water down it.

These little grandchildren may never live or work on a farm, but they are getting a good taste of what it takes to make a row crop farm go. 🙂

This photo shows you the gated pipe at work. The little gates are nice in some ways, in others not so nice….like having to clean the trash out of them. You have to reach clear inside and pull the trash out, lots of bending over and getting your hands and fingers wet.

The end of the day we were all back out there.

When you open a field every end of the row has to be dug out so your water goes down the row it is supposed to be in. Corn is watered every other row. Lots of digging when you first open a field, lots of digging after you plant and after you cultivate.

Terry always waters the corn fields first so he doesn’t have to worry about cold weather coming along and causing the VERY EXPENSIVE corn seed to rot.

We will soak the fields, let them dry, then he will plant.

In the beginning your winter body doth protest loudly, by the end of the season you are ‘fit as a fiddle’ — as my beloved maternal grandfather would say.

Terry packed rows ahead of us so we didn’t have to walk the water through the field, sometimes packing helps sometimes not. Yesterday and Friday it worked great!

I hope each and everyone of you have a really nice Sunday…a day of just doing whatever you feel like doing!

Linda

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Posted on March 10, 2013 by Dayphoto

The big nasty cold storm blew itself away last night and left us with a sunny (:)) day. The dogs went out as soon as the sun came up…they were ready.

Looking around I saw green

Everywhere

Little bits starting up

and the promise of tulips not far off!

JOY! JOY! JOY!

Linda

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Posted on February 24, 2013 by Dayphoto

We had another winter storm come in, complete with wind and drifting snow…I guess I really should expect it since IT IS FEBRUARY!

Some of the farmers, around here, started plowing…now they have a mess. Plowed up ground is like a huge sponge, then when it drys out (finally) it is just as hard and brittle as a dried out sponge.

Water is still an issue, although the snow pack should have grew some with the last several storms —- the last we heard snow pack was 77% of normal. Still a ways to go to normal, but much improved.

Usually the water is turned on the last week of March, but not this year — they will turn it on the third week in April and then at only 50% of your allotment. Of course, you still pay for the 100% you are entitled too. Our water bill is higher than our taxes, go figure.

As I am writing this the sun is starting to break through the clouds, always a good feeling.

I hope you enjoy your Sunday.

Linda

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Dayphoto

It’s snowing here today.

Last night, I remembered that I hadn’t taken my 4 o’clock photo yet. I usually take it on Wednesday afternoon, but for some reason it slipped my mind.

Our days are growing longer, instead of 9 hours and 30 minutes long, we have reached new lengths of 9 hours and 42 minutes.

We are still cold. Although, three days ago we warmed up to above freezing for about two hours, I did the happy feet dance the whole time.

Our day was darkening down when I got outside, the snow clouds just starting to blow in over the Plateau. Our storms usually come out of eastern Utah, crossing the Uncompahgre, then moving on past us toward the North Fork of Delta county. From there I don’t know where the storms go.

Randomly and very rarely (right where we live) a big storm will roll into Montrose from the Durango area, blow itself around to the Plateau and then land on us. The storms from the San Juan area can lose steam at Montrose and never make it clear on down here to our Mesa.

Even rarer is the storm that comes in from Gunnison, spins onto Montrose, then to us. Usually those storms (the ones from Gunnison head into Peach Valley and the Black Canyon area, then into the town proper of Delta).

I watch the sky a lot……as if you can’t tell. The sky and the weather are major interest and concerns when you farm and have animals that live outside.

But besides those things—I just plain enjoy the magic of the heavens and how they swirl and play upon the land.

Linda

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Dayphoto

We warmed up yesterday just for about thirty minutes…then it dropped rapidly and we froze back up.

But for that short length of time the snow on the carport started to melt and drip off.

(You can see the two tiny drops against the background of the metal building, I hope)

I tried really hard to get a photo or two of the delightful melt, but they didn’t turn out very well…:)

Oh, well…short lived, but very enjoyed.

I hope your Sunday goes pleasantly for everyone. Fuzzy goes in for his operation Thursday morning. I am concerned that I’m doing the right thing…I sure hope so.

Linda

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Dayphoto

Grandpa came out to meet us on our daily walk

What more can a Grandparent ask for?

Linda

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Posted on December 9, 2012 by Dayphoto

Goose Paradise

The Geese are enjoying Confluence Lake, located in Confluence Park.

Of course you don’t want to walk on the grass, but they do seem to stay off the paths!

Dog walks are a blast for both dogs and goose alike.

Not so much humans!

Linda

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Posted on November 18, 2012 by Dayphoto

I guess I’m going to have to take the day off — I a bit tired for some reason or other and can’t seem to get myself together.

I will be back Monday, bright and early, that is for certain and for sure.

I hope you have a really nice Sunday!

Linda

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Dayphoto

All the windows are washed, everything is greased and cleaned and the oil changed…

Tomorrow we begin

Linda

Any Day Now

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Dayphoto

It is nice to have cows on our place again. The rancher who brings his first year heifer’s up here to calve-out brought them in February 1st.

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We check them often and the rancher checks them twice a day. Since this is their first year for calving we all stay very watchful. (Although, problems can occur at any age with any cow or calf)

Happy Sunday everyone!

Linda