An Enchanted Place—-Sunday, August 20, 2017

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“There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever.”— Elizabeth Lawrence

If I had to pick a favorite season….I think I might struggle a bit…the early spring days lift me up after the thin winter sun, which painted long blue shadows void of warmth and color.  Spring lifts me up like the greening of the trees color the brown drab landscape.

Then summer with all it’s heat, which sits heavy and still, on the land, and swarms of chores—which seem never ending.

After which comes fall with the crisp, clear days and immense bursts of color; bring the world into life, in a way none of the other seasons can.

But if I am forced to pick…I would pick SUMMER!

For beats with a song only the humming of the stars in the heavens, (and in my heart, my mind, and my soul), can understand.

From my heart to your world,

Linda

The Adventures of Sherlock Boomer—The Mystery of Nothing— Chapter 2

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“There’s never enough time to do all the nothing you want.”—Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes

 

Chapter Two

 

So I headed out.

If Mom asks what I have been doing, when they get home….I can say with all honesty Nothing.

Really.

Nothing…I’ve been looking around, sniffing here and there, and searching for Nothing.

Nothing to roll in.

Nothing to really sniff and follow up on.

In general honest to goodness nothing.

Although…..

I did chase the fox…we ran here and there, up and down a few of the corn rows. Then we stopped and sniffed out a few mice. (Yes…you see the fox and I are really friends.  Drives Dad bats…says I’m supposed to CHASE the Fox away from the farm yard…Not PLAY with the fox!)

But…still…the fox is pretty cool to hang out with.  I do chase him, but not for the same reasons Dad wants.

Then as I was coming back into the yard I ran into several of the raccoon family…we sat around and chatted about all the things they have been up too.  Raccoons are extremely busy.  They make me tired just listening to everything they do.

Besides!!!!

Everyone is talking about the bears.  The bears have come down from the Uncompahgre Plateau to fatten up for their long winters sleep!

The Government Trapper/Hunter says they are coming in because there is no food on the Plateau and they are hungry.

Three neighbors around us have actually seen a bear or two.  Dad saw the backside of one crashing through our Upper End corn field, and the neighbor just to the south of us saw one on his farm road….then down at Rocky’s place a bear walked through their yard and into the corn field right by them late one night as Jason was getting ready to leave for work.

(My photo taken three years ago—I haven’t gotten one this year…but there is hope!)

Bears!  Now this a cool nothing.

I think I’m going to head out and see if there is Nothing out there on the farm concerning BEARS!

Each Day a Brilliant Victory—Thursday, August, 17, 2017

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Each  day we are moving closer and closer to fall…there is a wee nip in the air come first light, enough to make Boomer, Sam and Mindy curl into balls to keep warm. Those silly furry things still want to sleep outside, but soon they will [all] choose the warmed of the house.

It was 51* f here (10.55 c) when we got up this morning.  Very odd for August.  More like September…late September.

Still the view on the farm is green and gentle; the mild air warming up to a soft and lovely warmth.

Terry is baling hay in the lingering dew…too much and the bales will rot, not enough and the leaves fall off the stem, making the hay useless.  So carefully, at just the right time, the dried alfalfa is gathered by the baler and smashed into bales spreading that fresh hay smell throughout the farm.

Then later in the day we—and yes it is a true ‘we’— have been working on laying steel for the extension to the other building.

And I have begun painting the trim on the house. I want to get it done so I can paint some of the lawn furniture.  I also need to go down to the other place and paint the old chicken house.  I’ve been wanting to do that for several years, but can never seem to get the time.  I’m hoping this is the year I can get it done!

Anyway, not much going on here with the crops…changing water the big thing and the consistent work.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

When God Speaks—-Wednesday, August 16, 2017

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When asking to have time with the Universe I often walk upon the farm, or sit quietly amongst the flowers in the yard, and, of course, there are those ‘just before sleep’ times when communicating with a Power much higher than I helps me close down my brain and sleep.

But I have found that the answers do not come to you, if you, as the seeker do NOT have time to listen.  So I often seek out solitude — watching — for answers on the land, in the sky, or in the thoughts feeding my mind.

Three days ago Terry and I saw (the first photo) while we were up on the Rocky Point,  a slight sundog in the clouds ––a ‘slight’ cool down is coming in three days, so the old-timers say.  The weather people (for our area) are confirming that today will be slightly cooler than yesterday and the day before.

The announcement made me smile.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

When You Set your Life—-August 15, 2017

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I have noticed over my years…that those, who seem to grow old are those who set their lives toward one goal

All their life is pointed into that one direction….working hard until the hilltop is reached.  But once there, nothing is left to do.  There isn’t a way to climb higher, the peak is now at hand…there is nothing really to do WITH the goal — maybe polish it a bit is all.  So the flame starts to die out—and age creeps in chilling the body and shrinking the soul.

To stay young…well, at least youthful, the need to keep goals warming your thoughts is a very good thing.

(At a tractor pull one October a few years back)

Our neighbor, who attaches to our farm on the south side, is an amazing example of how to stay young.  He is eighty, or very close to eighty; broke his hip last winter…worked until he could walk again— without aide, and is on oxygen.

(A photo taken awhile back…that junk is cleaned up now 🙂  )

BUT!!!!!

He still farms!

YES!

We see him out there on his tractor doing all the things all farmers do…disking, plowing, planting, cultivating, opening rows for water, all those things.  He wife told me he told her:  “Farming makes me happy!”

(Taken one day close to harvest a year or so ago)

I’ve thought of that statement a lot this spring and summer…the nice thing about farming is (to us, Terry and I and to our neighbor) the beacon on the mountain top— the goal is still out there, still attainable, the leaping blood of youth still warming the body, mind and the soul.

Farming IS the goal.

(Current taken this week)

The work is still fun, the days still full of wonder, the evening water checks still something beautiful, the first light of the day a marvel to behold.

So I guess the whole secret to staying youthful is staying happy.  For Terry and I in our ancient years…we can truthfully say, like our neighbor, “Farming make us happy!”

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

 

 

 

That Wonderful Light and Hollow Feeling—Monday, August 14, 2017

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Way back in June I sat about making a couple of Hummingbird swings….

I hung them and waited…and waited…and waited…then last night

As the sun faded quickly from the heavens, and the night air scented with the smell of Four O’clocks and sweet Lilies

Several of those tiny flying jewels tried out the swing!!!

I WAS DELIGHTED!  (to say the least 🙂 )

Then while I watched and waited, for that perfect photo, of a hummingbird on a swing…a little wasp decided to see what all the fuss was about.  I had to laugh-out-loud as the joy that little swing has brought, not just to me, but those creatures living in our yard!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

The Adventures of Sherlock Boomer—The Mystery of Nothing Chapter One

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“There’s never enough time to do all the nothing you want.”—Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes

Chapter One

Our day was pretty much the same as everyday…Mom doing something in the house, Dad doing something on the farm, me checking out all the happenings on the very long lane, which leads to the farm yard, Mom, Dad and Myself checking and changing water….the everyday of everyday.

Our days have moved into August.

August where it’s supposed to be so hot a dog couldn’t pant himself cool.

BUT it wasn’t!

It’s August, but it feels like September! Cool days and wet skies!  Scary sounds and flashing lights in the sky; August that feels and acts like September!

I still sleep outside at night…it’s not THAT cold.  I know Mom keeps all the windows open, even still I find the house hot!

BUT…more than any reason I sleep outside to PROTECT the farm!

As for panting…its cool enough I don’t even have to open my mouth to cool down ONCE!

That’s pretty okay by me!

Mom and I still go for our nightly walks…sometimes Mindy cat goes with us.  When she does Mom doesn’t like to go far…there are coyotes out there you know—and Mindy is a cat.

Cats are sorta stupid…they get to chasing mice and forget to look up once in a while…when that happens they can get themselves lost!

Way out on the farm somewhere.

AND cats are dumb!  Even when Mom calls and calls for Mindy to come back, she doesn’t.  She just looks at Mom and does what-ever-in-the-world-of-kitties-she wants to do.

So…if Mindy comes we only go to the end of the equipment area, but if it’s Mom and I we go LOTS further.

I mind, you see.  Actually I come back lots better since I’ve been sick.  Being sick is still rather fresh in my mind—-and in Mom’s mind.  So she really doesn’t let me go far by myself.

That’s okay by me…I listen to Mom and always come back.

Mom and I (and sometimes Mindy) like to walk in the moonlight the best. There is usually moonlight, but the BIG FULL MOON is the best moonlight to walk in.

When there isn’t a big full moon, but only lots and lots of stars Mom is very careful to not go very far indeed.  It seems that it is on those nights the coyotes prowl; slinking silently about in the dark.  They move around at night ALL the time, but on the nights of the dark moon it is hard for Mom and I too see them…which makes both of us jumpy.

Many times out on our walks we hear the coyotes screaming their crazy laughter after they catch something for their lunch.

Mom says their howls send shivers down her spine…I tell Mom they send shivers all over my body.  When I hear them I try to walk ON Mom.  I get as close to her as I can and try to get all tangled up in her legs hiding myself.

I always get a scolding when I do so:  “BOOMER!  STOP! You are going to make me fall!”

I stop, but I really don’t want too.

Mom and I always hurry home when we even have an inkling there are coyotes out and about on the farm.

Now…where was I?  Oh yes…it was pretty much the same day as we always have…not much going on.  Then the day started to end.  It was at that point Dad and Mom came out…walked over to the ‘fancy car barn’,

Mom gave me a kiss on the nose, told me to guard the place, got into the fancy car with Dad….and LEFT!

Zoom!

They were gone!

I stood there watching them leave.

Hummm.  Now what?

I sniffed around checking stuff out…sat down for a spell and watch Sam cat sleeping…got up and shook myself.

This is BORING!!!! I thought.

BORING!

Picking my paws up, wagging my tail I decided to head out; I wonder what Nothing is doing out on the farm!

 

 

 

 

 

All in a Day’s Work —- Wednesday, August, 9, 2017

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The pinto beans are setting on and starting to fill out —harvest will be sometime in September

Since we leave all our windows open day and night, the house smells like fresh mown hay.  Third cutting…  time is passing quickly now

While Terry mowed the hay I mowed my lawn…it was in dire need of my attention! 🙂

Yesterday we hauled in gravel and spread it on the long, long lane from the farmyard to the road….also putting down gravel in the farm yard itself

Then the thing I hate to do worse than anything….is getting Terry out of a tight spot.

He went over to make a ditch, got stuck…I had to come over and pull him out…

When he is in a ditch like this I’m always afraid I will pull him ‘wrong’ and cause the tractor to tip over.

When I was young our neighbor did tip over and it killed him.   Then (when our kids were grown) Terry’s good friend was working on one of his ditches when his tractor tipped over and killed him.

Scary stuff…working on wet ditches!

Finally we made it to the end of the day…the water changed for the last time until first light.

 

It was time to watch a little TV, rest a spell before bed. to relax.

Boomer lay down beside my chair, while I worked on a needlepoint canvas.

The day finally …. finally coming to an end.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda