Ever since we got the shop built
I’ve been wanting a shop party!
Then Saturday….in an impulse of a moment
I got to have one!
In the rain, in the shop, a fun little celebration for a fourteen-year-olds birthday!
Love,
Linda
Ever since happiness heard your name, it has been running through the streets trying to find you. Hafez
The earth, the sky, water, animals, and plants all of the natural world—makes me happy.
Living on this farm, hugging on the farmer every night, or randomly throughout the day,
Those are all such joy producing moments
Every second of every day
The stories of each and everything surrounding me tells a story
Sometimes the story is one of sadness…like the two little baby raccoons smashed on the county road this morning
But the largest majority of the day (and night) is full of wonder
And, above all, magic.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Have you ever thought on the art of making choices?
Yesterday, while I worked in my yard,
In the huffing and blowing in the very warm late spring—nearly summer— wind
That silly little thought kept running around in my mind….. ‘what is the art of making choices’? I pondered from one garden bed to another
The wind flipped my hair here and there and everywhere, little bits of soil flying into my eyes
By the time I made it to the west side of the yard, I could hear the wind in the trees down at the other house.
Gradually, the wind slowed enough I could hear the bird’s singing in the rosebushes, and high in the tops of the trees in our yard
Still, I wondered: what is the art of making choices?
Finally, I decided…there is no art. You do the best you can do.
Every once in awhile you will make a wrong choice. Everyone does.
But no choice is never a good thing. With choosing ‘no choice’ we are choosing to not live, to experience, to be full and present in our lives.
From my world to your heart,
Linda
Who is to say the Old Gods do not roam this world anymore? Those Old Mythical Creatures of Ancient times?
Or those Gods of the American Indian?
Whose to say that science isn’t right?
That everything and everyone is all created along logical sequence…and operate along the same way?
Who is to say that physics isn’t a true fact?
Or to argue the Holy Book(s) are not true?
Who is to say?
Not I…never me.
Ever!
Because I see the moods reflected in the sky.
I feel the wind ripple the water, the plants and touch my skin.
I stand all amazed at the morning light in the eastern sky
And walk at midnight under ragged clouds covering the moon as it advances across the heavens.
I’ve had my eyes filled with color as the noonday sun gradually slides into twilight and darkness
I’ve watched the earth turn…from the shortest days to the longest days. From the longest days back to the short dark days.
No matter how the heavens appear, or how they function, or what logic lays in their operation…I agree with those of old.
God(s) Make the Sky…there is no other explanation for me.
From my world to your heart,
Linda
Terry and I were out changing the water in the little cornfield when I looked up and saw
A beautiful sight….a SUNDOG! Cooler weather would be on its way.
Then last evening, we started having scattered sprinkles. Gradually as the night wore on and early morning came, a thin, much cooler spike of air rippled in through the open windows….and it began to rain.
Not a lot of rain, but still air freshening, washing the plants off until they glow type of rain.
Hopefully, rain in the mountains is stopping those malevolent, absolute evil, fires raging there.
From my world to your heart,
Linda
“If Life gives you lemons, make some kind of fruity juice.”–Conan O’Brien
We finished the first set of water just as the morning sun broke forth torching the sky’s edge with brilliant color.
Terry’s foot is doing ever so much better. Although, by nighttime, he says it still pains him; sleeping can be rough.
Still, each day is an improvement.
So being a tad tired of work, he decided we needed to take a ride.
Loading up we headed to Grand Mesa…the largest flat top mountain in the world.…the old-timers used to say.
When I was a tween my family spent all summer up here. I used to think that the old gods lived here. The Gods of the Indians, for this, was the Utes hunting ground. I would tell myself the Gods of the Indians were here; having been driven back into these high valleys, green places, and lush forests onto of the world. I would walk along paths deep within the forest and sing to those old Gods.
We roared along the highways, gazing out onto blue lands, trees full and lush, the cool air suffused with an azure light which glinted off the lakes.
We dove over the top, into Grand Junction then home again. The little rest refreshed our eyes, our minds, and our bodies.
The work still there, waiting, only now…it lifted us up once more, lending satisfaction to our day.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Summer is such a hard time for the very dry west…..lots of fires all around us.
The lack of winter snow adding to the horrors of fast and furious wildfires…
https://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/nfn.htm states: “The majority of the country’s fire activity remains in Alaska with 17 large fires. Four new large fires were reported: one each in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Washington.”
Our air is full of smoke, as I’m sure others skies are also.
Sunsets are stunning with deepening reds into purples, darkening to point you really can’t see the stars along the horizon.
The air hazing and muted. Heavy.
Please pray for rain…rain the mountains, deep rich cooling, ground quenching rain.
Pray for rain to save the forests.
Please.
Linda
.
Terry is feeling much better. Still not able to walk on slanted ditch banks, or to carry heavy loads, but improving daily.
With the healing of the foot, he is now restless…a good sign, as they say.
So Terry decided it was time to clean off the top of the settling pond and haul the dirt into low spots on the farm.
This isn’t our settling pond, but our neighbor always lets us clean the top off, then he comes in and digs out all the dirt so the water can ‘settle’ before it goes onto the fields.
Since the air was hot and dry, no sign of wind or rain anywhere. Off we went a mile away…to haul loads and loads of dirt onto the hollow spots on our farm.
We worked all afternoon until around five. Only stopping a short spell to change the water in the little corn field.
Finally, it was time to head home. Terry with the load. Me on the tractor. We will begin again in the morning. After I get the water changed and some of my housework done.
I’m so glad he is feeling better. Soon, maybe by next week, he will be back to normal. That’s my wish anyway!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
When we are busy “doing something else”
The world is continuing it’s pouring forth into the clear days and lovely nights of summer
The Barn Swallows are busy raising their first set of babies
The Red-Winged Blackbirds, Western Meadowlark, Red-Robins, and the host of others birds flutter and dip through the skies and call their charming songs for all to hear.
Our first set of Hummingbird chicks fledged; joining their parents in the swoop and swirl around the flowers in the yard and my hummingbird feeders.
The lilies are open and perfuming the air, actually the whole yard…
Gradually, the late Spring is turning into early Summer.
Ah… the joy of warm/hot days and warm nights.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
We are way too hot and too dry. I know that other states are in the same scary place in time. Although I know I didn’t want rain during haying season, rain would be a very good thing now.
We are checking and changing water on a constant basis. Terry is doing better, but I still must go with him to set the tubes. Walking on a slanted ditch bank is just not possible for him at the moment.
The summer flowers are starting to come into the forefront of the yard now…with the spring blooms fading in the hot dry heat. (YAY! I LOVE SUMMER!)
Lady, that most wonderful mule, has gone to summer camp to work with Shannon’s friends on their huge cow ranch and with their Outfitter mules. She had gotten very restless and in need of ‘something to do’. Velvet and Cole just love her. Cole is even riding her instead of one of his other mules. Cole only rides mules. They say she is a very good mule. I’m so glad Shannon was able to spend the year helping Lady learn that all humans are not mean and cruel.
I miss her sweet mule kisses and when she would talk to me as I brought her apples. Still, I think it is a good thing she has a job to do. She was VERY fidgety.
Our days are quiet, every day filled with the smell of roses
The sun pouring down, tingling upon or skin, glittering on the water, running or still.
As bigger and brighter colors fill my yard sparkling in the light.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 