The top of Grand Mesa

Kitty and I decided to ride on the County Line at the top of Grand Mesa.  We followed some skidoo and x-country trails. 

Horses

 

Miha has to learn how to load in the trailer.  This works good.  Put her feed inside and she has to figure it out for herself.

Bountiful harvest

Gosh, and this is only some of it.  There are potatoes, winter squash, berries and grapes, plums and pumpkins.

A favorite pic

I was going to post something new when I came across this picture in my computer.  I love it.  We were at Grandpa John's in Prescott and the girls were playing outside.  Gigi was furious at her sister and no one knew exactly why.  A few months later the girls were at the farm and my friend, Meredith, showed the picture to Gigi and asked her what she was so angry about.  Gigi promptly said, "Because Bella got me all dirty". 

Early Bounty

Dusty

My wonderful pocket rocket horse.  For 15yrs she has taken me into parts unknown.  Beyond and far.  Places only a horse can go.  Today we were in a burned portion of Grand Mesa called Cactus Park.  It is steep and rugged terrain.  It burned about 5 years ago killing the cedars and pinions but the oaks are beginning to grow back.  Dusty gives me all she has and more.  I even have to request her to slow up, stop and smell the mesa.  heeheee

Apricot thief

TOXIC

The western slope has been fighting this deadly milkweed all summer.  We have so much it seems impossible to get rid of.  David has taken over the eradication process and can get more jugs done in a day than me.  My arms wear out.  The area is in a panic making sure we don't feed it in bales or let it take over our pastures.  It is too bad I lost a friend over the use of spray.  What does a person living in a planned community know about pastures?  Furthermore, I would be shocked if the HR/HOA doesn't use all kinds of 'licensed' power sprays on the common grounds.  sheesh.  But we have to produce lush fields and healthy equinelivestock and wild life.  It will kill deer as well as horses.  There is nothing fun about the job or the cost but we do what is necessary to take care of our land and animals.

August already!

HA!  I think I just posted the 'July Already' teaser for pics and fun things.  July disappeared in a blur.

We had company to the farm.  Phil and Chris Switzer from Estes Park Switzer-land Alpacas and Vicunas.  Brian and Sal of Pear Blossom, Ca.  The Hawaiians came for a week.  Dad came from Prescott, too.

A hot summer and a lot of time spent in the garden to keep it alive.  The time was well spent because we are now reaping our harvest.  Five kinds of squash, cukes, bush and pole beans, eggplant, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, watermelon, cantaloupe, pumpkins, raspberries and grapes.  The apples are abundant and so are apricots and plums.

The stream was too low to come through the yard this year so we came up with a few alternatives to keep the kids busy.  A small pool.  Well, this was ok but the water was never warm enough to actually go in despite the high 80's sunshine.  Even after a few days in the sun the water from the well did not warm up sufficiently.  CJ waded some but he would rather find things all over the place to toss in.  The 14' trampoline was a huge hit and even distracted the girls from horses.  We did ride some but the lure of jumping was always on their minds.

Weed battles continue and we have never seen such a wicked invasion.  Besides the deadly whorl milkweed we have tall stands of what I call 'sock stickers'.  The tops of these plants stick to your clothes and you can't get them off.  We have abundant clusters of bindweed, too.  I rarely hope for some winter temps below 0 but this winter I hope we get some serious freezes to kill off these dreadful pests.

I have started to buy 'subscription amazon.com' products.  I don't like to go to Grand Junction to shop.  Too far and I spend too much time and it is a metropolis.  Delta, the same.  I want to go now and then for things instead of weekly and we like to patronize the local Cedaredge store for groceries.  So, here is my list so far of items delivered to my door - Seventh Generation dish soap and laundry soap.  Dog and cat kibble, septic chemicals, Bob's Red Mill soy protein, coffee.

The Creamery Arts Center in Hotchkiss has asked me to come back.  Who would have guessed that my stuffed pieces sold continuously and they are willing to work out a special agreement just for me?  I said I would but at this point I have not had the sewing machine out for weeks and weeks.  I miss sewing and I have stacked up several things to work on if I get the time.

Riding has taken a back seat to other things this summer but I am making up for lost time.  Kitty and I are getting up on the Grand Mesa and we have been to the adobes down by Cory several times.  We have an addition to the farm.  A black colt named RiverBelle was born 2 days before the Hawaiians arrived.  He got a lot of attention from Bella and Gigi.  Dad thought he was grand.

Pics will follow.  I promise.