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

A Secret World of Ancient and Mystic Things—-Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Posted on June 5, 2018 by Dayphoto

Spring and Summer are such magical times. They are neither dark and dreary, or so brilliantly colored you forget to see the magic happening right in front of your eyes.

Spring and Summer are somehow a time set aside, a time when spirits roam from daylight until dark, and the old gods walk upon the land in that time of Twilight.

Where all those tiny little creatures perform that mystic ritual of building nests

Of this and that

In secret tiny spaces….waiting and sitting and waiting until the whole world is greeted with the joy of bright little babies.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

Relief and Joy—Monday, June 4, 2018

Posted on June 4, 2018 by Dayphoto

Sunday day was blissfully restful. Terry and I did NO real work. Only the irrigation, fixing a light lunch, then taking a long, long nap in the afternoon

About two o’clock in the afternoon, we started hearing rumbling way over on the Uncompahgre Plateau…then a faint crack or two, the echoing becoming louder

Then the wind picked up and the temperature dropped as the very noisy storm moved like a demon through the canyons, across the plateau and flung itself weightless and bodiless throughout the whole sky covering our mesa and for miles around.

The trees tops started swaying and the air turned fragrant with the smell of rain heading toward us in a fury.

It was lovely and wet, and ever so nice. For a very short while.

By evening only a few clouds were left in the sky…the storm had moved on. Dropping rain someplace else in the world. Right here on the farm…we only received a quick sprinkle. But it cleared the air, perked all of us (plants, animals, humans) up. And left us feeling like we were able to begin anew.

From my world to your heart,

Linda

Bright Days—Sunday, June 3, 2018

Posted on June 3, 2018 by Dayphoto

We’ve planted another alfalfa field. That will make two fields in our place. Alfalfa lasts anywhere from three to five years, so the initial cost of buying gold (:) ) pays for itself over time.

We’ve been very hot and very dry here. I am thinking some of you might have learned about the huge fire at Durango, Colorado.

Durango, Colorado is about 2 1/2 hours from us. Over the

San Juan Mountain Range. Just to the south of us.

Fire is so scary. And we are so dry. Although, there is the talk of 50% chance of rain coming in today, which should help.

Today, Terry and I are ‘taking it easy’. It’s been a hard week, with lots of push and pull and pressure to get the hay sold and loaded and on its way to its new home to feed animals.

Don’t take me wrong. The selling of the hay (within 24 hours) was amazing and wonderful, and a huge blessing.

Plus I have a waiting list of 10 people who want some of the second cutting of hay and to be put on the list for third. Many of those people have called back saying it’s some of the best hay they have ever had. (That’s always nice to hear. Makes the hard work worthwhile. So it’s not just the money, but the satisfaction of a product done right!)

And it was our first paycheck for the year! 🙂 Which is always a very good thing. Spring is such an expensive time, with so much money going out, that the money coming in from the hay sales is very welcome.

We will have two more cuttings of alfalfa this year. Normally Terry doesn’t cut the new field allowing it to grow and go into the winter to feed the cows which winter here on the farm. But hay is very short here so he may cut the new field. Only time will tell.

So, today, we have a wee slow down. Just the maintenance of the irrigation water, the few things I want to do in the house, and rest. Being in your 70’s having a wee day of maintaining the status quo is a rather nice thing.

I hope you have a perfect Sunday!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

The Dream Which Holds Us—Thursday, May 31, 2018

Posted on May 31, 2018 by Dayphoto

A squall blew up for a few seconds/minutes yesterday…dropping light rain on the ground and messing up all the just washed windows….ah, well, they will wash again.

Then the clouds dispersed and a steadily strengthening sun came out…I didn’t see a rainbow. 😦

There were other beautiful things to share—the warm evening air, tenting us with the feeling of silk on our skin

The light and shadows falling on those things in bloom, making welcome colors for our eyes

And that sound of always running water, giving life to crops.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

The Cheering Rises Clear to the Sky—-Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Posted on May 30, 2018 by Dayphoto

We have been as busy as bumble bees the last two days.

I put an ad on Craig’s List, on Face Book on Colorado Hay and a few other spots on Face Book

Within minutes of the ads hitting the internet we had hay customers…this is all we have left as I type and it will be gone by noon.

They started lining up at at 7:30 this morning. WHEW!

What a wonderful blessing to be able to sell our hay within two days!

Terry and I feel so very humble.

Life on a Colorado farm,

Linda

In the Golden Sunlight—-Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Posted on May 29, 2018 by Dayphoto

The afternoon quiet, except for the movement of the tractor and the haystack wagon, the going back and forth to the field, I weeded in my yard.

Where the sound of the canal, the chirps and songs of the birds, and the humming of the honey and bumble bees…

Made the moments of the day calm and content.

Gradually the light started to shorten

When we heard the sound of a vehicle coming down the long lane into the farm yard.

Our daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren and newly adopted grand-dog, had arrived to spend the night with us!

From my world to your heart,

Linda

The Movement Continues — Monday, May 28, 2018

Posted on May 28, 2018 by Dayphoto

Although Terry only cut the alfalfa just a few days ago, the hot sun and the drying winds had the alfalfa turned to hay by yesterday afternoon.

Then at the crack of dawn

In the tranquil brightening of the sunlit sky…

With the dew laying perfectly on the rows of soon-to-be-baled hay….Terry started up the tractor and baler. Each little leaf still adhering to the stem, folded and compacted, all tied up with twine.

Making perfect bales of hay.

Dew…just the right amount of dew, is the secret to rich, green, protein filled bales of food.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Eyes Ready for Wonders—-Sunday, May 27, 2018

Posted on May 27, 2018 by Dayphoto

We took a wee trip. Over the Uncompahgre Plateau (just behind our house) to the west end of Montrose County…into the towns of Nucla, Naturita, and Norwood.

We traveled across the Uncompahgre Plateau to the base of the Lone Cone guarding the hills, vales, and towns from it’s majestic view there in the sky.

We have been hearing how terribly horribly dry everything was on the plateau, so we took off for a five-hour-round-trip drive (with a nice lunch in Ridgway, Colorado)

Oh…it is sooooooo dry up there. So very dry. The green grass, which should be green, just isn’t. It looks like October grass all brown and crinkly.

The ponds, sloughs, ditches, and reservoirs are dry. Nothing there, accept possibly a puddle.

It’s all so scary.

The west side of the Uncompahgre Plateau looks much better than our side. It is greener, the wild berries are blooming and the trees starting to put on new leaves. There are even some ponds with water in them.

As we grew closer to the San Juan Mountain range we saw snow still on them—so there is hope for those living in that area.

If we start to get rain it will help. Then next winter’s snow (as much as I don’t care for winter, it is an important source of water) needs to fall early, thickly and very often.

Only time will tell.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda