Our company left. Mom was sad. Dad was sad. And I was sad. The cats rejoiced! They don’t like company or HANK!
I got to play lots and lots and I got
Lots and lots of love.
Company….
It’s the best!
Boomer
It’s trying to rain here. Breezy and cold with scattered showers.
I saw a very weak sundog yesterday… which, usually, means cooler to even down-right-cold weather within three days.
Still all in all Spring is coming. The Red-Winged Blackbirds are back, I’ve been seeing flocks of Blue Birds and then yesterday, when out counting calves, there was a pair of Western Meadow Larks sitting on the fence as I passed by. YAY!
We have 80 soon-to-be-momma’s here on the Maternity Ward. 🙂 Yesterday evening I had only counted five new little ones.
But this morning, as the cows woke-up and started walking toward our house, I counted 9 baby calves. I’m pretty sure there are more, but I haven’t walked over the whole farm to see how many there really are.
Oh the joy of Spring and new little critters! Soon we won’t be a Maternity Ward but a NURSERY!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
I cooked the last of our pinto beans last night. The aroma of the beans earthy sweetness suffused the kitchen, welcoming us with a comforting embrace. (Eating beans and corn together supplies all the amino acids necessary for our bodies add in some ham; cook together until the beans are done. Serve with a hot chili pepper —- yum.)
Over supper Terry and I talked about farming this coming year. The big question: ‘Are you going to farm?’ Flashing loud and constant, like a neon sign. The second week of March is when the ground will need to be worked, the ditches made, the canal put in order, the seeds bought.
“I don’t know”, Terry shook his head. ” I really don’t know. But I need to be deciding I have to purchase the seeds (including the pinto beans—he plants Bill Zee pinto beans), the alfalfa field needs plowed up and moved….there are things I want to do to improve the place, a renter just can’t, nor should do.”
“I just don’t know.” He shook his head again.
“Besides I don’t want to be like our friend…he sold the farm, moved to town, grew so depressed because he didn’t have the farm anymore he rushed his move of the rainbow bridge one night.”
“That was terribly sad, for him and his family. But we are NOT going to sell the farm.” I pointed out.
“No, but Bob, rented his out and said it was the worst thing he ever did. No one could farm the place properly.”
I just smiled.
Then all the old farmers who are my age, keep asking me what I plan on doing if I don’t farm….die?!
“I just don’t know.” He said as he pushed himself away from the table. “I just don’t know.”
So here it is the million dollar question….with the clock ticking.
Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,
Linda
Our kids and grandchildren left yesterday…suddenly the house had an empty feeling, albeit was rather nice. I’ve reached an age and time in my life where lots of space from noise, conversation, constant sounds is a relief.
I have also reached a place where having them drive away is heart wrenching; the knowledge they are gone —- back to lives far from us.
We celebrated our youngest 8th birthday! She is a ‘sparkly’ kind of child..fake diamonds and glittered studded boots were the hit of the gifts. A Chinese blooming candle a delight upon her cake.
Watching her talking with with (our learning to drive grandson), and very modern 11 year old granddaughter, has caused me to think back over all those many years ago when I was 8, or 11, or…… I remember watching my parents, friends of my parents, my grandparents and my great-aunts and great-uncles. Observing attentively I tried on their ‘ways’ for myself. Over time I took little pieces I could use, then looking deeply within I found things that I couldn’t find elsewhere, things that were uniquely mine.
Every year, as the grandchildren get older, I know they are inventing themselves. Just like each one of us.
Seeing my age-marked hand, there in the corner of Tally’s birthday photo, gave me a start. For a second I saw my Mother’s hands…no! wait! ….It was the hands of my grandfather, my mother’s father.
Ghosts of those we have loved and ghosts of those with whom we share DNA flit within us. If I look in the mirror I see Momma looking back, if I turn quickly and look out the corner of my eye my mother’s mother is there beckoning me to come sit by her. Just for a spell. In my dreams I see all them again, just like before. Standing solid in my life. Memories made of ghosts who still touch my heart.
The years have now join with my body producing hair of gray, wrinkles where youthful skin once was, my physical body still works as hard as it ever has, only it take me longer to do what I once did much faster.
Still every thing is good…this growing older, for it means there is still life.
With love, your friend always,
Linda
How lucky I am!! How lucky you are! Elaine sent me two photos from her mountain home in the Black Forest, Colorado.
The first is a photo of the mighty snow they have this year. She writes that their greenhouse has made it through, although, her husband has had to continually go out and sweep the snow off of it.
The just across the way she took a photo of Pikes Peak, looking south west from Shoup Road in the Black Forest. Pikes Peak, American’s Mountain.
The world is beautiful place!
Your friend,
Linda
I love looking for hearts in nature! I look for them where ever I might find myself.
When I find them it confirms that love always surrounds us—it’s up to us to ‘see’.
Love♥ comes from those we love, and from those who love us.
┊ ♥
♥
❤
But it also shows up in every single place we go. It waits for us…all we have to is look.
Hearts are always there, whether we notice them or not.
Undoubtedly there are hearts around you right now, too.
Nurturing love, through times of turmoil and transition.
It brings us to the next level of our lives. As we climb each level, love awaits.
No matter which path in the road we take, no matter where we stroll, no matter what journey we are on.
Love is there, traveling with us, sometimes running ahead to wrap us in protection and care.
It’s up to us to see. “All the windows of my heart I open to the day.”-— John Greenleaf Whittier once wrote.
Happy Valentine’s Day my Friends,
Love,
Linda
We have company!
Hank Marshmallow Puff Cake McCormick has arrived!
He brought his family…all of them…
Mom, Dad,
Blade,
Linkin and
Tallin.
I like having those people show up also.
I get lots of hugs and loves and pats and rubs! I even get laid-on and ran with! 
But the most fun comes with HANK! We do lots and lots and lots of things together…sniff out mice, (Hank digs in Mom’s flower beds and on the edges of the lawn-I don’t, but I do watch him), and long walks to see what is going on in the corn fields.
Although this year, Mom is making us stay in the yard because of the Sand Hill Cranes.
Heck! That’s okay by me…
HANKS! HERE!
Boomer
The very first thing this morning we had a load of gravel delivered. He had to come this early while the ground was still frozen.
The mud is so terribly bad we can’t get anything done. we can’t even walk out to the hay stack yard or even to the shops without sinking up to our ankles.
Although, we only graveled by the buildings
and down the long lane by the bridge,
it really should help.
NOW! Boomer and I can go for a walk to get the mail, instead of taking a wheeled-vehicle.
NOW! When the last loads of hay leave the yard they can GET it to get it! YAY!
It’s supposed to be 48* today! The sun is shining and the birds are singing. We have gravel covering up the mud…Life is Good!
Love,
Linda
We heat our house with a wood fire place—it is my job to either let the fire go out and restart it in the morning, or to keep the wood burning day and night. I have opted for keeping the wood going day and night. Because of that decision my body is tuned to the subtle sifts in the temperature of the house, as the wood burns down. That is one reason I’m awake in the middle of the night. (Although, that reason doesn’t work for the other seasons of the year.)
I think I’m a light sleeper. I always have been, even as a small child. I drove my parents bats, since they were heavy sleepers.
Last night I came awake quite suddenly. Laying in bed I could NOT figure out what had waken me. I checked the wood stove, all was good there, checked Boomer, okay, and all the cats. Terry was sleeping peacefully.
I have no notion what why…
Laying back down, turned so I could look out the window; I thought to myself how the air had stilled, there was the inward feel tof the small hours—even though it was still full dark.
I lay very still listening. An ember broke in the wood stove, with a crack then another with a muffled pop.
The night was undisturbed, waiting for the sunrise. I drifted off to sleep once more secure in the fact our nights are growing shorter and the days longer. In another month we will have a completely different feel to our winter weary world.
With much love,
Linda
It was a beautiful night last night. Boomer and walked around 1:00 in the morning. Our long lane was frozen solid, which was a good thing. Otherwise parts of it is so heavy with mud I don’t feel like walking down it to get the mail in the daytime.
The sky was thick with stars! They seem to be hung low and hugely bright. The moon is a very, very faint silver thread, which winds it’s way in the heavens sinking long before morning.
There is no storm brewing so the cows are all bedded down way across the way. If there was a storm in the making the cows would be out grazing.
I love the land! I also understand the enchantment of solitude. And I know there is healing in quiet places.
Morning arrived today on a stiff little breeze. Although, the breeze stopped around nine o’clock.
Beauty is truly there, surrounding us…if we just stop to see.
Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 