About Dayphoto

My name is Linda Brown. I live on a farm on the western slope of Colorado, in the high mountain desert. I’ve lived here all my life, hailing back four generations on my father’s side. Today I blog about our farm, the everyday activities that keep the farm going. I also write about my thoughts and dreams and goals. On Friday’s I always write about TLC Cai-Cai. Our sweet kitty who helps keep the farm safe. And Boo Berry Betty, a breeder dog learning to be a Farm Dog! The lovely thing about blogging it opens the world up for all of us to reach out and meet people from many different cultures and different ways of life. You can find me every day (but Saturday) at https://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/ Your Friend on a Western Colorado Farm, Linda Brown

The Adventures of Boomer on Friday— Catching UP

Posted on August 17, 2018 by Dayphoto

Well, it seems like I need to do some catching up. Well, not me, but you. Well not you catching me up, but me catching you up.

It’s still terribly dry here.

And the wind blows every day, —- still.

The deer are enjoying the corn.

They like corn just like Mom and Dad.

The coyotes eat the corn also. There isn’t anything a coyote won’t eat —-just say’n.

The Barn Swallows are doing a real good job of keeping the mosquitoes gone. They are on another batch of little kids so they eat lots of flying bugs. Mom and Dad and Mindy and I think that is a VERY GOOD THING!

The very busy raccoons are coming into the yard all the time. They robbed Mom’s tomato patch the other night and had a huge feast.

So, Mom covered up the watermelon hoping to protect the three which are left. (One was eaten and Mom said it wasn’t even ripe.)

Freddy Fox comes to see me every so often. He is shy and won’t come around if Mom is out on a walk with me…but I see him and give him tag wags.

The other night we almost ran into a skunk. Mom was extremely careful. She called me back to her and made me walk with her into the cornfield where we hid—and Mom took a photo.

That tail went up, up and more up, but nothing came out. Which was a very good thing. Mom and I were extremely nervous we were going to get sprayed.

But I guess the big news is Ethie and Dottie don’t live here anymore. Ethie’s real parents came and got her. They also took Dottie because Ethie and Dottie were BFF’s now and would have been sad without each other.

Then Mom was sad about not having Ethie and Dottie. She kept saying that the yard seems empty without chickens. This went on for several days.

My oldest sister (the one who has my cousin Etta) came up and gave mom TWO young hens.

Little Bit One and Two. They do everything together. If one turns left the other one does too. If one runs down the road the other one is right with them. Mom says they must have been twins. (Can chickens have twin eggs? It’s a wonder all eggs look the same to me.)

Anyway, Mom is happy again…two hens to scratch and run in her yard. I have two hens who like to take naps close to me…and Mindy has two hens who like to chase her.

Mindy is not very happy about that!!!!

Oh! Have to go!…………….

It’s UPS TRUCK TIME!

Boomer

Who Said Chipmunks Were Cute? —- Thursday, August 16, 2018

Posted on August 16, 2018 by Dayphoto

I mean after all Stewart and I

Are most darling little squirrels

Anyone could ask for.

Just ask Boomer. We help him lots and lots of times!

Stewart and Stanley Squirrel

Your friend(s) on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Chipmunks—Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Posted on August 15, 2018 by Dayphoto

We have at least ONE little chipmunk here on the farm. Maybe there is more, but I can’t tell them apart; I only see one at a time.

I think he/she/they have come in on the large semi-load of firewood we get each year.

Thankfully he/she/they have stayed safe from the mirid of predators who also live on our farm.

But our little chipmunk(s) are wild little creatures…

Nothing like the little pet(s) who live in the Black Forest with Elaine and Bob!

Doesn’t that just make you SMILE out LOUD!!!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

The Sky Drained of Color —- Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Posted on August 14, 2018 by Dayphoto

The sky filled with smoke more than ever before yesterday.

Leaving not a smidge of blue sky anywhere

Tendrils of smoke wafted around our heads, in our eyes, and settled upon our skin

The whole sky had a grey sheen to it

The air smelled of forests burning,

the taste of wood ash on our tongues

the smoke lay heavy although smoke itself is not heavy

It might as well be

It comes in such a volume it weights on all lungs — human, animal, bugs, and plants

That breathing is a stress upon itself.

Gradually the sun turned the sky to pink and the smoke turned the sun red

As the western side of the United States continues to burn.

With sadness your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Simplicity/Borrowed Time—Monday, August 13, 2018

Posted on August 13, 2018 by Dayphoto

We loaded out a hay customer in 100* weather yesterday. (37.7778c). Exhausting all of us. The last bale placed on the hay trailer at 2:40 p.m.

Since Karen now had the long drive back to her Dairy in Edwards, Colorado, we decided a quick break in town for a small lunch would be just the thing.

Then home again and she was off with her load of hay for her lovely milk cows.

Later that evening, after supper and water changes… Terry said

Let’s give ourselves a break and go for a ride

Off we went into a sherbet-colored sky

Then home again, home again as the air started to cool.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

Hello Sun in My Face—-Sunday, August 12, 2018

Posted on August 12, 2018 by Dayphoto

“Hello, sun in my face. Hello you who made the morning and spread it over the fields…Watch, now, how I start the day in happiness, in kindness.” ― Mary Oliver

Even though there is lots of work still to be done

And we are in the middle of third cutting of hay

With hay customers coming on a regular basis

We took a day off and went on a fun

Road trip

Breaks…so necessary

And a whole lot of fun!

From my world to your heart,

Linda

At the End of the Day, Is Peace — Thursday, August 9, 2018

Posted on August 9, 2018 by Dayphoto

The smoke blew away during the day. Leaving us with soft puffy white clouds.

There were two new fires yesterday…one in Gateway,

And one around Delores, Colorado—adding to smoke coming over the Uncompahgre Plateau

Still, there were moments of the bluer sky and puffer white clouds

Still, there was a rightness in our yard and on the farm

The little hummingbirds buzzed around us as we moved to and fro and in and out

Their movements and chatter a melody.

It’s easy to stop all work and just sit still watching them

Letting time and work slip by like water in the canal

The silence left, after the wind dies down, filled with the buzz

Of tiny wings

And chatter as they vie for places along the feeders

Peace

and tranquility, and calm

Experienced while watching those tiny flying jewels called Hummingbirds.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

The World is Not Black and White—-Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Posted on August 8, 2018 by Dayphoto

It isn’t even shades of gray

It’s full of color and beauty and a whole list of wonderous growing things

It’s full of those small things. Things that are made up of seconds, even moments, filling time until minutes accrue

Each second heaping onto one another; riding piggy-back until it becomes a whole day

And that whole day becomes your life.

Gradually the day winds down and the night comes on

The distant sun shrouded in clouds and smoke. The last burst of color fills our eyes as the day cools and the sun sinks into the west.

Reminding us to give Thanks for the gift of one more day!

From my world to your heart,

Linda

The Forests Groan in Agony—-Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Posted on August 7, 2018 by Dayphoto

Every day we have wind, sometimes all day, sometimes only in the afternoon, sometimes just before nightfall. Sometimes it lasts forever, sometimes for only a few hours.

The wind brings with it the smoke

Or it drives the smoke out and away

One never knows.

The smoke is ominous. Shouting loud and clear that the forests are struggling

The animals, bugs, and plants sobbing in fear. My heart breaks for all of them.

We can still see one of the massive fires on the Uncompahgre Plateau (there are two up there). At last count, there were fires in Parachute, Rangely, Meeker, Oak Creek, Parshall, Basalt, Hartsel, Cahone, and Cortez.