The color, that is.

The first tree to start changing is a maple in our lower pasture. It starts just a little, at the very top. It drops a few ‘hints’ to make sure we are paying attention.
There are a few late-season blooming things around the house … mums, some roses, the last of the zinnias and Russian sage. (Though, if I follow Home Depot’s example, renaming paint color called Russian olive to Mountain Olive, maybe I should call it ‘Mountain Sage’). 🤣

Oh, I mentioned water chores in the previous post … a few nights ago (actually, 4:00 a.m.), I heard water start spraying loudly outside and the dogs barking. I immediately knew the irrigation system had sprung a leak. I rushed outside to swing by the pump house to confirm my suspicion. Yep. There’s the pump running with almost a fire-hose amount of water spraying all over the place. I continued on to the shop and switched the circuit breaker, and went back to bed. After morning chores, I took a look at the problem. Wow! Something I’d never seen before (pictured below).

The pressurized pvc side of the pump was totally distorted … it had been blown up like a balloon! Turns out, the pressure switch on the pump was bad and it failed to turn off early that morning and kept pumping, pumping, pumping. Must have gotten a little warm along with the explosive pressure. Fortunately, at this time, I don’t think anything else was damaged (like the bladder in the pressure tank or other fittings). Makes me think now that I should probably put a relief valve into the irrigation system’s pressure line.
Later, after replacing the pipe (this time with steel) and the pressure switch, I told David … you know, it would be totally impossible to run this place without all the experience and abilities we’ve accumulated over the years. Many thanks to our parents and former ag teachers/employers. I know there’s Youtube now, but fortunately, we don’t have to take the time to go there, most of the time.
With all that said, I decided to try out a home warranty program this year because there are a lot of things that break and need fixing. We are a few months into it and I have the first call in: one of the garage door openers no longer opens the door in cold weather. (Yes, I know there are adjustments, and I’ve made them. I’ve ensured the door manually opens smoothly and easily. I know the garage door opener is ancient and needs to be replaced). Let’s see what kind of adventure the home warranty service takes us on.
Wow, I sure wandered off from first Fall colors starting. It is hard to stop and admire things … maybe that’s why the tree drops a beautiful leaf in my path during morning animal chores. I stuck two of the leaves in the little vent holes of my tattered Tractor Supply baseball hat. A little later, David saw me and the leaves fluttering like wings and asked if I thought I was Hermes. 🤣