The cranes have found our farm!
They are HUGE birds! Standing 5′ tall.
They are big, loud, and very shy!
I used some of my photos from the archives to show you up close and personal. I haven’t been able to get very close so far.
One nice thing about winter is the BIG birds!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
We started cleaning out the Settling Pond three days before the storm hit.
Day one and day two were beautiful! Warm, sunshining, no wind.
(From my archive-
The third day, the wind picked up, and it turned so cold it felt like our part of the world was shrinking to protect itself.
The last two loads were in sheets of snow and wind
But we got it done. One winter maintenance job finished for the year!
A settling pond is used to improve the quality of water going onto the farm: the dirt settles to the bottom, filling up the pond and not clogging the siphon tubes.
We always try to get this done before the first irrigation of the year. (Which can be March if the Onion farmers call for it, then)
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Not lots of snow, mostly ice.
A Tad bit of winter!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Finally, I think we are making headway!
TLC is settling down to not be so mean.
Mr. Hobbs is Mellow! Real Mellow. So Dad is now calling him Mellow Yellow.
I tried it out—Mellow Yellow Hobbs. I guess it will work.
After all, TLC and I have LONG names: TLC Cai-Cai,
and Boo Berry Betty
So why not Mellow Yellow Hobbs Brown?
So, there ya have it. We are making headway—
which is good, because now that the cows are gone, Dad has started the winter farm repair/maintenance work.
Boo Berry
The rancher, his dogs, 
and the cowhand showed up about 2:30 pm yesterday
After running all over the farm, the cows came down by the yard to tell me good-bye.
I appreciated it and told them Thank-you, Come again, next year.
Off they went, to the round loading corrals.
Then they loaded up and headed to better pastures!!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Yes! Oh! Yes! I feed the birds! I love seeing who comes to the feeder. (The Red-Winged Blackbirds are back —-early!)
And I love the sound of wings swooshing into the air
Yep! I just their presence feeds my soul
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
The gentle colors of winter really haven’t arrived (yet).
(Taken from my archives)
The pinks and mauves and shades of lavender only show up just before a storm or after one.
(From years ago)
The storms have been rare.
Instead, we are still being gifted with the fiery reds and yellows of Summer and Autumn.
(This was in February 2021)
We are in desperate need of snow. For sure in the mountains. Maybe come February!
Only time will tell.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
No more chasing this one (or her sister)—ever! She/they has gone to the calving ground!
YAY!!!
Double YAY!!!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Well, almost!
We still have some new moms and their new babies here.
That’s okay. New moms stay really busy!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Despite being thrown away.
Despite not knowing how to eat and not finding anything to eat for days and days and days
Despite being locked in Dad’s shed until my backbone met my tummy
Despite TLC
I am finally! Finally Home!
Life is good!
I have hoomans in my life again.
I have a dog I can love again!
All the food I want to eat
Whenever I want to eat it.
A lap to lie on
Mom to brush and pet me
A soft bed to sleep on
I get to go outside!!! Mom says I must have never gone outside in all my many years of my former life, because I don’t know how to use the big outdoors kitty box. I have to come in and use the inside kitty box.
No matter! Everything is good now.
I’m home!
Mr. Hobbs (Hobbs for short)
Life on a Colorado Farm 