I tried unsuccessfully to get help at the oasis, so I determined to do the work myself. Started out early this morning weed-eating and servicing feeders, then set up a pump in the dirt tank. It still had a lot of water in it from the rain two weeks ago, plus I wanted the water out in case a deluge comes. The more that it holds, the less there is to spill over and wash out the road.
That entailed carrying heavy hoses and a 35 lb. pump into the water. It'll pump all afternoon (didn't get it running until noon), then this evening before dark, I'll get back into the tank and lower it further and let it pump all night. A gas pump is already set up at the tank, but I'm not strong enough to start it. It would pump the water out in about three hours... unless the intake is bogged down in mud. That makes it really hard to get primed.
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| Looking east |
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| Looking west |
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| Stucco tank |
I'm putting the water into the stucco tank. It's down about 21" through evaporation and leakage since the monsoon topped it off.
The hardest part is making my way down the steep slippery bank into the muddy tank floor. I just take my time and go an inch at a time with a walking stick. I could have gone deeper and not have to do it again later today, but having so much trouble with UTIs lately, I didn't want to get too deep into the water.
I had been despondent thinking how I live in pain and can't do the things I want to do, so I feel better now, even though my back hurts worse and my left foot was numb for a while. It makes me nostalgic to look back on the good ole days of boundless energy and enthusiasm.
LATER: Been weed-eating and sitting indoors in the AC all afternoon. Now I'm too tired to get into the tank, so I'll turn the pump off at dark and reset it in the morning. Raised the level in the stucco tank by 8." Should be able to add another 8" tomorrow, leaving the tank about 6" from being full. It loses about an inch a day, so not a real big deal. And surely we'll get more rain this summer, our official rainy season.
Went up to arroyo to check on the Dark Star Milkvine. Most of the pods are ripe and dispersing seeds.
4 comments:
Glad you made the decision to let it wait til morning. I know; I'm your age, and it's hard to adjust to what must be. You have quite an achievement to enjoy now and to look back on....
That variety of milkweed looks the same as others in the seed popping stage; but what an unusal flower!
I'm wondering if some of those seeds need to go to plant research centers like the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center or the San Antonio Botanical Garcdens. Or the Chihuahuan Desert Center near you.
I had wondered how imilar the pods were to other milkweeds.
I have given at least 4 pods to the herbarium at Sul Ross to Dr Powell. I'll check with him to see if we need to give some to LBJ center. Hadn't thought about it.
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