Water - Company - No Water - No Company

Well, it's been awhile since this blog has been updated. I tried to get Levi to do it, but he's been busy catching garter snakes in the back yard and trying for the gecko/lizard things in the front. So far no extra protein but he's getting closer. So I guess it's my turn to update this.

We had great fun with our company - Jim and Linda Grover from Seattle from Saturday Aug 22 - Monday Aug 24 and then with Gene's sisters, Barb Johnson and Bev Solyntjes, plus friend Carole Edmond who arrived on Tuesday, Aug 25th and left on Saturday, Aug 29th. Well, I'm sure it would have been more fun if the well had not run dry. Yup, our turn. It was quite traumatic..we knew it could happen but had no warning...just no water.

Luckily for us, all our guests were good sports about it and we survived but it was like our neighbors had told us...your stomach just drops and you think life is ending. Very scary..sad..hard to believe. We managed to get drinking water from Wal Mart (thanks to Linda heading off there with me and we used the water we had in containers outside to flush toilets. Our neighbors found out about this problem quickly and one of the guys who is becoming the expert installer got us a 500 gallon tank to use along with a pump so that we now have running water. The well guys checked the well and it is dry plus the pump is burned out. So we have the option to drill a new well but that could run in the thousands of dollars with no guarantee we are going to hit water. So we moved our plan up to put in a water catchment system now instead of waiting and are in the process of doing that. The gutters are nearly in and we actually are catching water in the 1100 gallon tank. The 3500 gallon tank should be ready tomorrow and then they need to hook it all into the house system. We will be able to catch a lot of water off this huge roof and when it's all completed we will no longer be dependent on a well. And the water actually goes thru enough filtration that it will be better than
our well water.
Again, as I've said before, God has put angels in our way all along these last 3+ months and we are grateful and blessed. Our neighborhood is really suffering with about 12-14 wells gone dry. Some folks have been able to lower the pumps in their wells and get water but they don't know how long it will last. Some have drilled and not found water. We are in the process of setting up a Mutual Domestic Water Association with the state of NM so that eventually we can drill our own well and have a water tower and all that and not depend on individual wells. It's a long process with lots of legal stuff to go through but this group is filled with lawyers, map makers, grant writers and people with all sorts of experience and talent that will get this done. Gene has been asked to be one of the 5 directors of the association and I'm doing all the database work. There is a rancher to the north of us who has lots of water and lots of water rights and he is willing supply water to us in order to be able to sell water to others. Long story...come visit and have a margarita and we'll give you all the details!!

We also have gotten water from one of the nearby fire departments for our temporary tank for no charge. They came over in their new Mercedes fire engine with enough lights to light up the neighborhood and make people think this was the other Las Vegas. Unfortunately, I wasn't home the day they arrived so no pictures but me thinks they may be back soon. We also have our county commissioner working with us on finding water to supply our tanks and that would be good. If we can declare a water emergency at some point, the National Guard will bring in a water buffalo for us. No, it doesn't stand around and raise it's leg!! It's a big water tank but isn't the name great!!



So other than that, we are doing fine. Enjoyed having company all week and getting to see our friends and catch up on news from "home (MN)" and "home (WA)". We ate out a lot, went to an event at Fort Union, talked, shopped, etc. Weather was great and we hope a good time was had by all. They all were such good sports and as Jim and Linda keep reminding us "We came to see you, not your water"....next time we'll have water!!

Levi has a new groomer and she did an awesome job on him. Westie's are hard to groom so they look like Westie's and Vicky did wonders with the shaggy creature. And I found a good hair stylist too!! Gene? Well, he just shaves his head and doesn't need to worry about a barber.

Even though we've been stressed, we are enjoying this new life...mostly. Some days I think we wonder about it but now that we can see the progress on the water issue, it's much better. Going to do some painting this weekend and on Tuesday head to Taos to see an orthopedic surgeon for Linda and also do some sightseeing.

Oh yes, the Pot Quilt is home...all quilted and ready for binding which I hope to get done soon. Was going to hang it in the great room but now have decided to hang it on the dining room wall where people can actually see it.



















And now to watch the Vikings and Cowboys!!