March 2019

With the 89 Toyota back on the road, we decided to sell the 98 Tacoma that Linc had bought as a replacement.  After putting a new steering rack and ball joints in it, repairing dents and repainting the whole truck, we still thought the old 89 was a better farm truck.  The 89 has a V6, auto locking front hubs, a customized rear suspension and receiver hitch for hauling, and the Tacoma didn't.  Besides, the previous owner had hidden those scented christmas tree air fresheners all over the inside of the truck, and it still reeked of fake hemlock tree, a year after purchase which kind of drove Jeanne crazy.  Linc sold it on Craigslist.

With the two trucks done, he pulled an old Ferguson tractor into the garage for new brakes and rear axle seals.  With the first hint of spring, we started to get a little busier with farm things.  Cleaned out the barn and barnyard using backhoe, loader, wheelbarrows and hay forks, an all day job but worth it for the goats and for the huge amount of already half composted goat manured bedding that we pile up for the garden.  We also were busy starting plants from seed in our cabin greenhouse in trays of 2" soil blocks (home pressed earth blocks instead of pots).  The garden already started to need some work, cleaning up from last year, and getting ready for the next.  Some water started coming down Roatcap Creek and the pipeline that serves our land sprung a leak or two that caused some exciting flooding and repairs.  

Winter here is also a time for catching up on indoor hobbies and gatherings, crocheting for Jeanne, mandolin practice and a weekly Irish music gathering for Linc, some song circles that we both attended.  Jeanne has been gradually rediscovering musical pitch, practicing singing with some interactive music software on the laptop.

The highlights of the month were getting out skiing up on Steven's Gulch, below, to get ready for a winter ski camping trip in the San Juan Mountains.

Then the trip itself, thanks to Amber for taking care of the goats and farm so we could get away!

Jeanne at the Blue Lakes Hut trailhead, Sneffels Range (where we were headed) behind.

Great view of the Sneffels Range on the 6 mile ski in to where we tented near Blue Lakes Hut, located at the head of the valley ahead.

Ah, toasty toes around the wood stove as we melt some snow for drinks in the winter tent after a long day of skiing.

Jeanne on Log Hill above our tent site.  Mount Sneffels behind.