Hello Again,

Today was a good day, I finally took the camera with me on my weekly run to the Levee.
I had time getting the photos because the Border Patrol Agents are always watching me.
Today was quit, no wild life. The Black Sand Crane where hanging out in the back lot behind our house on there way to the Rio Bosque Water Wat Lands in Socorro Tx. That's about five miles down the river from where I was. With the construction the birds have to find other rest areas. No dogs either, there are two white German shepherds that hand out on the irrigation ditch that I run on. They seem to be wild dogs, but friendly with me, sometime the bigger dog runs with me on the levee across the ditch. Yes most people would be afraid but the dogs are cool with me we have a connection.

Photos left to right: left one is an open area no face facing southwest Mexico. Middle, Industrial area northwest facing Mexico, It looks like there is a race track over there some times on Sundays I can hear the race cars. Right, is the irrigation flood gates. I use to be able to walk across the bridge and maybe fifty yards or so down to the actual river bed. Now with construction and the fence it will be hard to do, unless they install a door and the border patrol agents give me permission.

This the face under construction photo on left is facing south and photo on right facing north. You can tell they built up the Levee on the irrigation canal about five feet (Flood Control) so you can not see the river bed. If they use metal sheets for the face I will not be able to see Mexico at all. Sad yes I know.

The rest of the day was spend with family on my moms side, today we met at the cemetery to pray and visit my Grandparents and one of my uncles grave sites . From there we went to the family house its an old house with may memories, two of my ant's are living there now. Part of the house is still Adobe and newer additions are center block. It's still abuelita's (grandma's) house to me. We had spaghetti and salad very good. After that I came back home so here is the end of the day, yeah right, its time for diner and then homework.

Here is video I attempted to create, Blank sand crane in the land behind the house. It is a real armature piece of work lol, Its a new camera (year Old) and I am still learning all the features. I tried to get close up and that was a big mistake as you will see just some black spots, them be the crane. Have a good week and will write again soon.

IndioRaven

Irrigation Day

Good Day,

Yesterday was the first day of irrigation season for us. We are on small track as the water reclamation depart calls it. That means we are not a large acreage farm or ranch, but a residential area. This is our garden looks bigger then actual size. This was all done by hand by My Dad and Myself. Last year we had a good crop many pickles, cucumber, tomatoes, corn, and squash. This year we made some adjustment based on last years results. We added a few extra rows for watermelons and cantaloupe. Last year we did not have a good crop of melons due to bad placement. We planted them behind some sugar cane. Oh yes the cane was doing OK until a bad storm heavy wind and well you know the rest.

As you can see we got plenty of water, we still need to make a few adjustments and build up a few sides so the water will not overflow.

Different angle

This is the rest of the yard, this would be my front yard from my little house, and the back yard from my Parents house. Yes two house on one acre. That's one of the many peach trees we have this one gave a good bash of peaches last year. Small tree with many peaches oh yes, One of my Aunt made me a very good personal peach cobbler. Oh yeah I forget we have five pecan trees they are still small but in a few years we should have pecans. I am trying to grow an apple tree from seeds. I have grown all my mesquite trees from seeds I picked up at rest areas off the I-10 in Texas and I-25 in New Mexico.

Another look at the yard, as you can see we got a lot of water. Soon the grass will be green again and the trees will be full of shade. My plans are to have a great little park like atmosphere where we can hang out on Sundays and cook out. I have put in a few Washer Courts you can't see here because the are under water lol.

Another look at garden, you are think that I will be busy all summer? Yes you are right, but its a fun busy I like working in garden. Did down inside me is a Farmer. I guess it skipped a few generations and its my time to do as some of my ancestors did.


Well this weekend I irrigated, and have been struggling with my school work, writing papers and midterm exams. I did not get a chance to take my week run to the river, I'll do that on Monday morning and I will post a few more picture if I can carry the camera while I run lol.


You all have a good week.
Walk in peace.
AKA Indio Raven

Looking Back in Time

Hello,
This weekend I did some reflecting a back in time. It was a typical Sunday, I been jogging to the river every now and then for over 30 years. Lately it's been a weekly trip on Sunday mornins as part of my work-out schedule for the month of February and now March. Every time I get to the river levee I face to the east and pry to the creator and thank him for all his blessing. I have done this for years so the Border Patrol Agents should all know me by now. I use to be able to see the desert in Mexico and the surrounding mountains. But things change fast and now I can see industrial areas and a fast growing community across the border. I am sad, because soon I will see a fence, yes there is already work going on, They made the irrigation ditch levee higher so now I can't see much. I us to be able to ride my bicycle on that irrigation ditch levee, but now they are installing a fence. I will try and take some photos next week if I can remember.

Today I cleaned out a dresser drawer full of old papers and pictures. Yes I have been trying to get myself organized somewhat. I found an old news paper that I put away. I was a volunteer at the old Socorro Church a few years ago; I made new adobe brick to replace the old ones as part of the restoration. I was one of hundreds of volunteers to work on the project. I did not appear in the news paper, but I had a good time working out there. After doing some research on family history, on my maternal side of the family. I found out that some of her ancestors have connections to the old church. I guess I was making my own connection to the ancestors who where members of the church.



This paper is dated Tuesday August 14, 2001

The El Paso Times


Well it's been a while and the Church is restored. I am thankful for the opportunity to be part of the restoration.
(DC)