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Water Observations

Posted on October 31, 2022

Time flies and it’s telling us it’s time to bring the cows off the mesa pasture. That also means it’s time to shut down the water system for the year. We’ll bring the cows down tomorrow, today Vernon and I ventured out to take the first steps in stopping the water we seem to work so hard to get going!

We won’t drain the tanks, the cows do need to drink until tomorrow, but the pump will be turned off.

Now that is a picture of happy cows. Spread out far and wide with enough grass to make it for weeks! Those last rains helped this country tremendously and we’re so blessed to have it. I will never forget that this is the pasture that burned years ago, leaving us with no feed for a couple of years. It grows the grass now, though.

Vernon pulled the battery from the generator, twisted the knob on the propane tank, and flipped a switch on the solar panel. That was the easy part. We needed to go pull the pump out of the creek five hundred feet below us. Thankfully, it can be reached with a sidebyside journey and not the hike like in ”the olden days”. Hiking down with a skiff of snow on the ground is NOT recommended! Though we did it for YEARS.

I’m still not a fan of this road… much less when it is muddy or snow packed. I always pray just a wee bit on the descent (and ascent, for that matter). Twice Vernon had put the sidebyside in the wrong gear, so believe me when I say, I made sure it was in the correct place while passing through here!

The bottom of the canyon was gorgeous. Fish flung themselves out of our way at every crossing. Faded brilliance of leaves now decorated the ground instead of branches. The crispness of the air mingled snow, composting earth, and stone together.

We made it to the pump house, framed by berries and snugged back into the hill. While the big ram pump still lives inside like a forgotten troll, the new submersible lives outside in the creek. Vernon will disconnect and pull it out of spring runoff danger. First, release the 500’ of water in the pipeline to the top…

I simply stand out of the way.

Bravo stays out of the way as well. I wish I knew what he was smelling… he stayed that way for quite a few minutes… His appreciation for the smells and sights far outweigh my meager observations!

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7 thoughts on “Water Observations”

  1. Joanne says:
    November 1, 2022 at 10:08 AM

    That road certainly looks challenging. Great photo of Bravo.

    Reply
  2. Marilyn says:
    October 31, 2022 at 8:10 PM

    Bravo looks like he is following all the steps of this project…making those mental notes just in case he is sent to tackle this project! ha ha

    I don’t quite understand it myself, but find man’s creativity and ingenuity quite fascinating.

    Reply
  3. Rosemary Carey says:
    October 31, 2022 at 2:41 PM

    That’s a wonderful creek bank photo; it looks to me like the red berries of Utah honeysuckle growing amidst red twig dogwood, which is a gorgeous composition.
    Somehow a couple of months back, I got dropped from receiving your posts. I’ve tried to resubscribe a few times but it hasn’t worked, and neither did the contact me form. I enjoy your posts so much so please resubscribe me, Carol.

    Reply
  4. Joan Wood says:
    October 31, 2022 at 1:52 PM

    Dog’s noses are amazing. My dog walked with her nose up on high alert for quite a ways this morning. Perhaps it’s the crisp air.

    Walking in thin snow is slippery and no fun. I imagine that driving in it is no better. Remember I’m in So Cal near the ocean so snow happens VERY rarely here. I’m intrigued by the fish flinging themselves out of your way. FISH??? Was the water shallow?

    Reply
  5. Jean says:
    October 31, 2022 at 5:46 AM

    Enjoyed the trip today. Bravo’s expression says it all.

    Reply
    1. Karyn Newbill says:
      October 31, 2022 at 9:43 AM

      Ditto. I’ve seen these things many times but never knew what they were. Learned a lot today, and I have a dog that does like Bravo….just sits and pokes her nose in the air! Often wondered the same thing!

      Reply
  6. Susan says:
    October 31, 2022 at 5:27 AM

    Love that picture of Bravo!! Amazing all the work that goes on behind the scenes Caring for those cattle! Glad you’ve had some rain/ snow!

    Reply

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Carol, Wyoming rancher

Since 2008, I’ve kept this photographic journal of life on our working Wyoming ranch.  I share ranch work, my family, crafts and DIY, my English Shepherds, Bravo and Indy, and a love for this land.  Enjoy this red dirt country!

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