OCTOBER IN THE VALLEY

 

OCTOBER 1 - The valley is showing signs of Fall.

Coming into the Valley on Oct. 1, the top of the mountain
is freckled with fall's first colors.



FIND WALDO -
 Er, I mean, FIND THE UNWATERED GROUND



Working with the water so that it covers the entire ground is a challenge.  First some shallow ditches were made going from east to west and then outlets from them were made in intervals to encourage the water to flow from the high ground to the lower ground.  This photo shows the green ground that has received water versus a parcel that has not (center).  It has been great to see the old pasture cleared of brush and refreshed with irrigation.  Everywhere that water reaches, the grass jumps up.

Repairing the fence when it has been torn away by the creek's

high water can be very interesting.  We're still not sure where AlRay's old bull went.



Now that the creek water is low the crossing is useable.  You all need to take a look at the other side.

Keith looks over the ground across the creek.  He has cleared the brush, some of it 6 feet high with 4" stumps.



View looking back from across the creek.  Not too bad of a view - some of you may want to build your cabin in this area.

MAKING THE HOMESTEAD BETTER

What would make the old homestead better?  Clean it?  Paint it? Plant pasture grass?  Build your own home?  Buy your beef and raise it?  Grow a garden?

One goal we have been working on is making the old homestead to look like someone cares.  Saturday, Sept. 22 Keith removed the junk surrounding the house to a place designated for each type of  item.  You can now walk all the way around the house.  While he has been cleaning the pasture and lot he has designated places for each of the items. 

Scrap lumber is in a scrap lumber pile and can be used for firewood or anything else useful.

There is a scrap wire pile and a scrap steel pile.  We think the steel might be sold to a scrap yard, unless any of you want a piece of it to take home or use at your own Pine Valley place.

The pasture continues to improve as Keith has mowed off the sage brush.  He continues to clean up the acreage across the creek.  It is a bit rocky over there and the brush is huge so mowing is slow and difficult.  Wouldn't it be great if we had a foot bridge so we could cross? 

Water availability has improved greatly and this last two years there has been plenty of water to make the field into a beautiful meadow.  It has taken some time and effort to build the ditches and diversions to make that all work.  Here's how we have experienced the irrigation water:  For several years we hardly got any irrigation water.  The Water Master is who regulates that and you are sort of at his mercy.  Keith would call him several times a year asking where the irrigation water was with very little response.  About three years ago, I asked Maree Gardner why it was we couldn't get him on the phone and if she knew a better phone number to contact him.  We never did have to call him again, as the irrigation water finally was turned to us.

Water, Water Everywhere

Our home evening group was to meet at Pine Valley Campground last evening so we decided to go up early and see what we could do at the place.  Arrived about 2 p.m.  We could see that the water had been turned on and decided to direct it to the front yard of the old house.  As far as we know, that hasn't seen irrigation water for years (since Keith last cleaned the ditch - long ago).  By the time we made it to the diversion place where the auxillary ditch delivers the water to the yard, the water stream had increased significantly.  Keith put in a dirt dam to divert the water and then he started digging out the ditch.  I am ever amazed as how he can use a shovel and dig and just keep going all day.
Keith had taken the weedeater last week and cut down all the grass growing in the ditch.  Yesterday he shoveled out the low spots and places where bushes had taken over and lowered a couple of high spots.
When the water reached the culvert by the road it refused to go further.  The ditch backed up and backed up.  He took a steel post and shoved it into the culvert and eventually, the water pushed its way through. By the time we left, there was a nice little pond on the grass between the house and the road. 
Next post we will present "Flood Irrigation 101"
Stay tuned.  :-)

Growing Up In Pine Valley

I grew up in a small town learning how to build a fire in a cook stove in order to have hot meals, and how to  bathe in a number 3 wash tub.  In my mind the tea kettle singing on the back of the stove is pleasant to listen to.  I am capable of brushing my teeth with one cup of water including rinsing the brush out.  Sometimes the people talking about ways to conserve water makes me chuckle.  If they only knew what a real water shortage is!

My job on laundry day used to be getting water from the irrigation ditch and building a fire underneath it.  Times have changed—to experience a good thunderstorm I have to visit the produce department at Harmon's.

I like all of the computerized things scientists have invented for my car.  (even if it is considerably smarter than I am)  I want to live now and on into the future.  What more can I say?  I married a Princess and lived happily ever after.