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

In the Spill of Light—August 28, 2017

Posted on August 28, 2017 by Dayphoto

We are dry here. Of course it rained and rained all through the third cutting hay 🙂 pretty much how haying season goes. 🙂

But the night air is very mild even cold before the sun comes up in the morning.

Still the plants grow gently larger and larger…waiting for that time called harvest

It won’t be long now until pinto bean harvest….the pods are starting to stripe and the leaves to turn yellow

Terry is watching the crops daily now…checking how hard the corn kernels are becoming, where the pods are on the pinto beans…we still work several times a day with the mountain water irrigating the crops,

The other day a summer storm blew in…not that kind that drops water on the ground, but the kind which drops water toward the earth, BUT dries up BEFORE it hits the ground

Leaving us a Rainbow, in the small silence the phantom raindrops made in the air.

My eyes and my heart reached up from the shadows on the ground — Rainbows always say to me—Good things are sure to come!

From my heart to your world,

Linda

A Day in the Sun—August 27, 2017

Posted on August 27, 2017 by Dayphoto

“We are all heroes. We are all helpless. It just depends on the day.”—Brad Meltzer

We got to go to our youngest granddaughter’s soccer game yesterday!

Of course we are the typical doting grandparents

Loving every second sitting out there in the noon day sun!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

The Air Sparkled with Light and Water—Thursday, August 24, 2017

Posted on August 24, 2017 by Dayphoto

Early this week we were blessed with the shy dancing lights

Of Rainbows!

Our air was full of the scent of Sweet Alyssum, Four O’Clocks and wonderful ozone

As the sun started to set, the sun’s rays broke through the western clouds shining white hot into the immense rain soaked air

Making rainbows in the sky; catching in the fine gossamer of the sprinkler…glinting rainbows upon the heavens and on the earth.

Today I give to you Rainbows!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

The Things We Truly Love — Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Posted on August 23, 2017 by Dayphoto

“The things we truly love stay with us always locked in our hearts as long as life remains.”–Josephine Baker

As I said in yesterday’s post, the grandchildren came for two days this weekend, then the two oldest went home and the youngest got to stay “ONE MORE NIGHT”!

She was more than willing to make the night water checks

We are so blessed!

Our grandson has grown so much! He helped load out hay–one hundred plus bales, and anything or everything else we might need help with–and, of course, helped Grandpa change water, even way in the dark.

I was so surprised to see that Blade has grown so tall over this summer…almost as tall as Grandpa!

Time flies if you measure it by children.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

The Checkered Light Dances—-August 22, 2017

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Dayphoto

Daily I watch the trees starting to turn…first a slight lightening of the leaves

The weight of their slumber is like a shooting light upon the lush green of the land.

The morning and evening air is more purple than rose, moving toward the light lavender of winter

Our grandchildren were here for the weekend—one more time before school starts (today).

Linkin, our oldest granddaughter loves to take photos (a wee bit like her grandmother, I think 🙂 )

Capturing this busy little bee covered in pollen

In the dancing light—she generously allowed me to share these with you. Thank you, Linky!

Summer…gradually it is vanishing…like a ghost flitting through a forgotten graveyard.

The birds on their migratory flights…tell us…Autumn is coming.

Stand with me to welcome in that glorious, wondrous, bright season between Summer and Winter

From my heart to your world,

Linda

A Request for Help, Please—August 21, 2017

Posted on August 21, 2017 by Dayphoto

We have a varied and wide variety of Hummingbirds in Colorado…I have personally identified at least three here on the farm—-

According to hummingbirds.net this is the types of hummingbirds identified to Colorado— Colorado
Broad-tailed, Rufous, Black-chinned, Calliope, Blue-throated, Magnificent, Anna’s, Ruby-throated, Broad-billed, White-eared, Green Violet-ear.

I think this is the Black-Chin hummingbird

This is a Rufus…they are the bullies of the whole bunch

Although I adore their coloring!

I think I’ve seen a Calliope and a Broad Tail

But I don’t know what this little one is

It’s little beak is even blue like it’s adorable feathers.

If anyone of you happens to know would you leave a the answer in the comment section?

Thank you very much!

Linda

An Enchanted Place—-Sunday, August 20, 2017

Posted on August 20, 2017 by Dayphoto

“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

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

Posted on August 17, 2017 by Dayphoto

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

Posted on August 16, 2017 by Dayphoto

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

Posted on August 15, 2017 by Dayphoto

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