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

Taking a Time for Myself—-Sunday, August 5, 2018

Posted on August 5, 2018 by Dayphoto

I’ve been taking a few minutes around four in the afternoon to do something rather enjoyable

It’s nothing spectacular, or show-stopping

I’ve challenged myself to ‘not get obsessed’, to work in stages and enjoy the process and the colors more than getting one done and moving on to another so I can make something of the creations.

I am working on creating crepe-paper flowers.

This a real flower. My crepe-paper flowers have a long way to go before they really do start looking like real flowers.

That’s okay. I’m enjoying myself, it’s a tiny break in the day, and there really is nothing I can do with them anyway but look at them.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO—-When Life Gives You Lemons—-Thursday, August 2, 2018

Posted on August 2, 2018 by Dayphoto

The smoke from all the fires…fires in Utah, two on the Uncompahgre Plateau (which you can’t see right now because of the smoke), the one at Crawford, over at Rifle, three at Meeker, one in Parachute…

Terry said…”Let’s go for a ride!”

Who could turn THAT down? Not me!

Off we went…traveling here and there, then home again.

Later that evening…much later. The smoke thinned somewhat and I saw MARS!
Running in to get my camera I was delighted to actually have a photo of that stunning red planet!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Weariness — Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Posted on August 1, 2018 by Dayphoto

I’m tired. I don’t know why. I can’t seem to ‘get myself together’

There is always something I need to do or get done or should have been done yesterday

Although, I know I am busy all the time.

I feel like I am standing in one spot spinning my wheels

Everywhere I look there is something I should be doing, although…the should is as far as I seem to get

Part of it is my age…I just don’t get as much done as I used to even as short a time ago as a couple of years.

Terry’s and my day starts early 4:30 or 5:00 at the latest

And it ends at dark. Sometimes, though, we do just sit outside enjoying the evening light (as you well know.)

And we have been fortunate to have visitors which breaks up the monotony of work

Still, I often wonder where time has gone.

There is still some painting I need to do on the house, the windows need to be washed, dusting and other mundane things to accomplish

Just the thought of all that work makes me…

Well, tired.

Then coming in from the last set of water, passing one of the ditches…Terry and I came across

A little message written in mud: “Hi Grandpa” it says.

Even though still weary…tired to the bone, even…the joy of being this age is immense.

For without the ages Terry and I are; there wouldn’t be those precious grandchildren…who leave little messages in the mud.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

Moon Shadows Floating By —- Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Posted on July 31, 2018 by Dayphoto

The sun sets with brilliant colors only seen through smoke and ash

Another fire broke out behind us...on the Uncompahgre Plateau….closer to the Nucla, Colorado side.

The fat lovely moon rises pink in the evening sky

Then as the night darkens and the air starts to crisp the moon breaks clear of the low lying smoke and ash

It breaks forth in a clear and marvelous wonder, casting moon shadows on the land… and filling the earth with its marvelous glow.

Terry and I sat outside on the swing, as the leaves made shadows as we slowly rocked to and fro. (Boomer besides us and Mindy on Terry’s lap)

From my world to your heart,

Linda

In a Sudden Stillness —- Monday, July 30, 2018

Posted on July 30, 2018 by Dayphoto

My delightful blog friend who lives in Burgandy, France in the Summertime, and Milan, Italy the rest of the time sent me this lovely

Rainbow! 🙂

“Hi, Linda,

We were waiting for rain but the storm clouds passed us by with a couple harmless rumbles and then this.

x Charlotte”

Aww, the beauty of a French rainbow!

Thank you, Charlotte!

Saturday afternoon the wind arrived…it blows daily, for some reason this year. Has blown every day since March.

But coming with this wind was a RAINSTORM!! Enough to actually leave us puddles

Everything dried up quickly, but for a short while…moisture.

The rain chutes as the sun was setting were stunning.

Saturday evening was very nice!

From my heart to your world,

Linda

Covering the Mountains in a Rushing Wind—-Sunday, July 29, 2018

Posted on July 29, 2018 by Dayphoto

The fire at the edge of Fruitland Mesa is growing larger and larger. It actually looks like there are two fires there now.

The long plumes of smoke rushing skyward as more and more of the forest and underbrush are consumed. 😦

You can tell when another section of woodland is reached the fire plumes turn black and blacker.

My heart goes out to all the wild animals who live there and are fleeing in terror.

So far no structures are in its way…they are just letting it burn because of the terrible terrain it is in. Sad.

No real rain here. Lots of thunder and lightning and wind, but moisture of any count has not yet arrived.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Everything Surrounding Us Last Night was Exhilarating—Thursday, July 26, 2018

Posted on July 26, 2018 by Dayphoto

That beautiful, wonderful sky!

The heat wore on yesterday…humidity in the high 30% range. (High for the high mountain desert region)

The wind hot and streaming to us in waves; pushing large swatches of clouds into our area

But I’m not complaining…the sky was stunning as the sun sank in the west

Coloring the thousands of clouds in soft colors

Turning each cloud on the horizon and overhead into such a riot of unusual colors

I felt like I was swallowed in hues, and tints, and tones of soft-hued blush

The heat lightning played on the Paonia and Gunnison mountains…but here we bathed in color.

Then the sun finally set causing the colors to burst forth in vivid tones only the Gods know how to use.

It was amazing!

From my world to your heart,

Linda

The Aftermath of Yesterday Morning’s Storm—-Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Dayphoto

Although, we had a sprinkling of rain yesterday. We are still extremely dry.

So dry that wind rushing throughout the farm creates terrible dust, which settles on everything and everyone until it settles down (again).

Yesterday morning, early, lightning and thunder rushed upon us from the Uncompahgre Plateau, thunder rolled, long and loud, and lightning forked across the heavens.

It was a fast-moving storm. Crackling and jabbing toward the earth in flashes of silver and gold. Leaving behind in it wakes a fire burning on the edge of Fruitland Mesa, directly in line with Crawford, Colorado

Colorado (as many parts of the west) is just tooooo dry!

But last evening…. as more rain showers played along the edges of the farm— We saw a rainbow!

A huge joy to me!

From my heart to your world,

Linda

Flying Jewels of Color — Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Posted on July 24, 2018 by Dayphoto

The hummingbirds are enjoying the feeders —we have a variety of the little flitting and humming birds.

The Refus are back. They are two weeks early. It was a surprise to see them and this little Ruby Throated One sitting on the feeder.

They start feeding as soon as the sky turns pearly gray in the morning

And stay busy on the feeders and in my gardens until the last light of night

Then when the moon’s shadows start to fill the open ground they vanish. Tucked away somewhere resting. Until day starts again.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

Echoes of Thunder —-Monday, July 23, 2018

Posted on July 23, 2018 by Dayphoto

A big storm rolled in last evening…massive clouds dropping chutes of rain all around us

The thunder and lightning played along the Uncompahgre Plateau

Terry and I sat outside under the carport and letting raindrops fall all around us.

After the fast-moving storm headed beyond us it was time to change the irrigation water one last time before night.

The light tumbling and playing within and on the storm clouds was invigorating.

Coming back in through all the fields of corn, alfalfa and the pinto beans I thought to myself the air feels more like August than July. The heat sits on one (I AM NOT COMPLAINING — I do so love Summer!) the air hot and humid, and a certain stillness which bespeaks of growing and maturing plants.