June 18, 2013

Red Flag warning here—High Fire Danger!

Although, we have been having little storm clouds pop up in the afternoons we have not had any moisture to speak of….just tiny drops.

The air is just too hot to allow much to really fall, evaporating what moisture is there before it hits the earth.

We randomly get sprinkles, droplets of water that actually make it through the super heated air to land on the hot soil.Rain-drops

One evening a huge column of smoke made it’s way over the Uncompahgre Plateau (Un-come-pah-gray—accent on the pah) snaking it’s way across the sky from a fire burning in Utah, close to the Colorado border.

Fire-in-the-sky-1By morning the smoke as moved on to other parts or had dissipated.  (The Uncompahgre Plateau IS close to the Utah/Colorado border.)

Fire-2 

The following the the setting after the smoke column left

Set

Most of the time we see thunderheads build up then break apart and shower different parts of the foothills, small plateaus, hillock, knolls, buttes,  cliffs and ridges filling the surrounding valleys and hollows with (as it looks like from here) with much needed moisture.

Storm-at-Cedaredge

 

This is a storm around the Cedaredge area.

Storm-at-Eckert

This storm looked like it was around Eckert.

storm-around-Montrose

Storm around Montrose

I have NOT seen a rainbow yet this year.  I keep hoping.  July is typically the start of our monsoonal month maybe I’ll get to see some then. :)

Pink

Although it is hot…I am not complaining.  I will take this time of year over the long, dark, bitter cold days of winter anytime.  (I’ll complain then, for now I’m enjoying myself.)

Off to get some stuff done —  I hope you have a really nice Tuesday!

Linda

 

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June 17, 2013

I have some ‘new’ to me birds feeding at my Hummingbird feeders.  I really don’t know what they are so if someone out there does, please let me know.

It is possible these are the Lesser Goldfinch, but I’m not sure.

Yellow-Bird-1

I am surprised that these big birds like to drink the sugar water…they chase the hummers off and have a go at it; draining the feeder in a very short while.

Yellow-Bird-2

At first the hummers tried to dive bomb these big birds but they have given up now.  If the big birds show up the hummers just move down to another feeder or fly up into the tree branches.

Yellow-Bird-3

I tried putting out other types of food, but nothing tastes as good as sugar water! :) They just let the oranges turn to cardboard….

If you know please drop me a comment…it would be fun to know who is ‘bellying up to the bar’, so to speak.

Linda

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Happy Father’s Day

Happy Father’s Day to all of you Dads!

Sun-and-feederLinda

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The Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer on Friday — The Time of the Skunks

Let me tell you about our night visitor—-A SKUNK!

Night-skunk

Spring, summer, and fall are all TIME OF THE SKUNK!  They do not hibernate in the winter but they do become less active.

Checking

We have another skunk!

Mom said unless it tries to get into the chicken house just LET IT PASS ON BY!

Hummmm

No chasing it!

Come-see

EVER!

Did you know skunks only live in the New World and they are part of the weasel family!

They also have a NASTY spray this STINKS!  And if you get sprayed it is comes out has an oily, yellowish/greenish liquid!

Just ask HANK! The grand kid’s dog and our goodest friend!

B-Hank

OH! YES!  They can spray up to fifteen feet. (and the spay smell can travel a good mile.)

Hank took one on and tried to kill it…phew we can smell Hank clear up here!

I've-got-a-plan

Oh, yes!!! Mom says that we all need to be careful because skunks are the number one carrier of the Rabies Virus!

So all you dogs out there BE CAREFUL!!!

Because Hank REALLY, REALLY, I meant REALLY STINKS!!!

The-nose

Boomer

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Get Ready for July

July is Butterfly Count Month!

The North American Butterfly Association needs volunteers to count butterflies in a selected are 15 miles wide in diameter, called count circles.

Milkweed

Our milkweed is blooming now and, of course, other really fun food for butterflies.

If you are interested in being part of the butterfly count go here: http://www.naba.org/

Have a nice Thursday!

Linda

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Crop Report

We only grow three products.  DinnerThat is all we grow.  Back in the day…not so very long ago we also raised pigs, goats, and cows.  As we aged the raising of the animals diminished. Every year Terry says this is his last year…we had a big laugh about that yesterday.   He finally admitted that the only way he is going to stop farming is if there isn’t anymore water or the Good Lord calls him home.

Corn-June

He says there is dirt in his veins instead of blood :)  Probably.  He’s been farming (helping his Dad) since he was tall enough.  He tells a story of the first time he got to go help his Dad…his Mom drove he and his little brother and smaller sister out to the field that his Dad was working in –his job was to harrow the field behind his Dad who was on another tractor.  He said he felt really big and grown-up —although he couldn’t sit on the tractor seat and could only stand.

Pintos

His Mom drove up…he got out…got on the tractor….Mom, brother and little sister stood by the side of the pick-up and watched him…he turned and waved, they waved back ..he then gave the tractor gas and drove off…..leaving the  harrow behind.

He was so embarrassed because he hadn’t even thought to check to see if everything was hooked up and ready to go.

They all had a good laugh at him…he backed up and his Mom helped him hook everything up and off he went.

Roses

Anyway, everything is looking good…the corn is almost as tall as MY kneecap, the pinto beans are growing taller every day and the hay is sold.  The Delta Elevator told him they wanted everything he had, don’t even unload and stack up…just bring it right down to them NOW!

Sold

This is the last load to take —  sure is nice to just move it once!

The heat is on here…early for this time of year BUT I’ll  take this any day over winter!  I love the long days, the warmth (heat) and the color that surrounds us.

Yard

I need to get outside and get the hedge clipped before the wind starts!

Purple-Sky-1

Have a nice day!

Linda

 

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I Should Have Known

Hay-FirstAnd with the 4010 also!

The Doctor said it was a torn muscle…it will heal, the tear doesn’t seem to be real bad—so with ice, rest, elevating the leg in two weeks it will be good to go.

Sure!

Two weeks –an eternity–so off we went.

I made sure the bales were straight so he wouldn’t have to get off the tractor; he did the rest.

Today he says his leg feels a lot better and he will soon be back in shape by the weekend.

I sure hope so!  He is going to make sure it is.

I guess I’m not surprise.

Linda

 

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