Health & Life at the Rough String: June 2009

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Flash Flooding...Where's Summer?!?

This past two weeks has been absolutely crazy. And, I'm talking about the weather. This has been the wettest spring in many years! We haven't irrigated for 2 weeks and the alfalfa is ready to cut, but Mother Nature just keeps on dumping more rain on us.

Now, we actually only get 9 inches of rain a year on average, and the past few years, we were lucky to get 7 inches. It's just making up for the past. So really, we're not complaining too much.

We are really thankful that the alfalfa wasn't cut and laying in the field when the rains started...otherwise by now it would have been a total loss and we would have had to pay to just get it off the field. Amen for a lil' bit of good luck there!

Yesterday afternoon the thunderstorms rolled in and dumped 3/4 inches of rain in about 30 minutes. This was our first flash flood.

This is the rim behind the barn. It started as just a lil'
trickle and grew into this in about 10 minutes.

Years back, there was a really huge mud flow caused by a flash flood that reached the house. After that, a berm was dug on the top side of the rim and it directs all the water down this one spot. It works well, as I'd rather have the flood come down here than at the house!

Three years ago, we had a lot of snow on the ground and then a bunch of rain. We had the water fall for about 2 days that time. This time, it quit after a couple of hours.

Once it hit the bottom it spread out, but the majority
of the flow went downhill (left) to the rim pasture.

An instant river flowing under the gate.

Then it kept flowing on out to the alfalfa field.

All the rain from the barn roof and surrounding area
made a stream between the back barn door and the round pen.

Water coming inside the barn
through the front door in this photo.

Water actually came into the barn through all three stall doors and both front and back doors...it's a mess.

Here is a good reason to put in raised garden beds!!
If I hadn't, I may not have had a garden anymore!
I'm hoping the stupid Sage Rat that's been eatin'
my plants got drowned out too!!

We're working on a barn makeover this year. Part of the makeover includes raising the ground level inside the barn (which the builder didn't do...that's why it floods).

The forecast for this week is for decreased showers and warmer temps...praying for good weather!!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

3 Weeks in Photos

...and very few words.

No, I'm not dead...and I've not lost interest in blogging...I'm missin' it a LOT!! Miss commenting on everyone's posts too. I'm lucky if I get them viewed in Google Reader...wish I could comment from there.

But between irrigation, ag surveys and everything else, time is short...and so is life, so blogging needs to take a higher priority!! This won't be too wordy...just a photo essay of sorts of my past 3 weeks.

We've been doing lots of this obviously.

All that work pays off though. We'll be cutting soon.

Cowboy enjoys the cool alfalfa.

Cindy Sue can't see through it.
Jumping is all she can do!

The "Girls" are growing.

The Great Horned owls made it out of their nest.
They've got 4 babies! Pretty big for babies, huh?!

I've driven 1630 miles since May 10 for my ag
survey job. It's finally winding down.
But, I have seen some beautiful country and sights.

Our best friend Ron and his gal Carrie came for a long
weekend last week. We had a great time with them.

I had the pleasure of meeting The Desperate Horsewife at
Mustang Diaries and her
daughter Darling at the Roaring Springs Cutting.
What a surprise! I hope to meet many of you too someday.