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

Corn Report–Thursday, December 17, 2015

Posted on December 17, 2015 by Dayphoto

We ~~pretended~~ decided to get ready one more time,

One field is very, very, close. By our moisture tester is says we are there. But the corn sample Terry took to the Elevator said it was still too high. The second field is still over-the-top wet.

No matter what your corn moisture tester says, it’s what the Elevator’s moisture testers reads.

Today, around noon, we will get different sample from the third field and take it to the Elevator…maybe this one will be good to go. Maybe.

Three fields waiting. We’ve checked them one by one.

December is flying by…what an amazing year for corn harvest. Although, to be sure, we are NOT the only ones with this problem. A few of the farmers have gotten ‘some’ of their corn in, but not many, and not a lot of their fields. Together we all wait.

Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,

Linda

A Frozen World—Wednesday, December, 16, 2015

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Dayphoto

After a day of snow and wind…mostly wind, we woke to snow scattered here and there in small little drifts.

Brown patches of earth scattered in the tattered and bunched snow.

But the sun came up all red and pink and gold, causing sparkles on the snow drifts, the brown frozen earth appears a softer brown than the melted dark mud will appear (if we warm up.)

The wind-snapped and bedraggled corn reflected the morning light, echoing the glow coming over the mountains, wherein lays Gunnison, Colorado, and a wee bit closer, the Black Canyon.

Terry is going out to check the corn, thinking maybe this cold has driven down the moisture. While he is doing that I will go sweep out the bed of the grain truck, then with the bed facing the rising sun we are hoping the wood will dry.

If this all comes together, maybe, just maybe…harvest can begin.

What a crazy time of the year to [still] be hoping to get the corn in.

Oh, well, it is what it is.

Wishing you a good one today,

Love,

Linda

It’s Snowing Here—Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Dayphoto

We woke up to a dark covered sky this morning. But as the day woke-up, the sky lightening into a white canvas, the snow has started falling.

Doing my chores the snow whispered around me and my footsteps silent in the crisp breeze.

They say once this snow has stopped the air will turn chillingly cold. But until then…..

I must admit I take a childish delight in being able to walk in virgin snow.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Time, Passing, Moving Forward, Always—Sunday, December 13, 2015

Posted on December 13, 2015 by Dayphoto

All of my life, even as a small child, I have felt there is something I am meant to do. Something. Not big, not amazingly over-the-top, but something.

To be honest, everything I tried didn’t seem to be whatever the ‘it‘ is. Although, I have enjoyed many, many things.

Here I am, almost 67 years old in one month, and I STILL don’t know what “it” is.

But I must admit that ‘it’ nags at me, causes a sorta ‘need to know.’

Terry and his family are all super talented, it seems there isn’t anything they can’t do or create or achieve. My brother and my family, also seem the same way, except for me…for some reason I can’t figure out what draws at my heart–what I am supposed to be doing —- while alive on the face of this earth.

Something that is niggling at the back of my mind saying: ‘time is starting to run out’. It will not belong to each of us forever. So I have decided if I haven’t figured out this—whatever it is—I’m probably not going too this late in the game.

Instead I’ll just enjoy each day that is given to me. My greatest and strongest wish I have is to experience joy in every fiber of my being, my mind, and my soul for whatever time I have left to me. And to do that…all I have to do is enjoy each and every moment of every day I have left on earth.

A great big sundog appeared in morning sky today. A major cold front is coming toward us. The weather people say it will be here Wednesday…yep, right on time. Sundog portends a cool down in three days.

Sometimes I look at the sky and wonder…most people only see the emptiness of the sky, for the those things that live upon the earth clang and jar with sound and the trials and troubles of everyday living, plus people thrum with their own energy; their own lives.

But if you will stop and listen you can sense the procession of time on the earth and in the sky–something is going on in that great silence beyond our own knowing.

With much love, your friend,

Linda

The Adventures of Boomer on Friday—A Walk with Monkey the Cat

Posted on December 11, 2015 by Dayphoto

Every day, Mom, myself, Monkey cat and sometimes the really old, old cat, Sammy-Sam —Sammy is 15 that is ancient for a cat! —go for a walk.

Sometimes we go far, far, far, and sometimes not so far. Mom doesn’t like to walk far, far, far, with the cats, because cats can become FOOD! Also, Monkey doesn’t stay with Mom and I, she is here and there and everywhere. If we walk by the corn field, she runs into the still standing corn field.

Mom says the still standing corn field is a dangerous place for cats… fox like to live in the still standing corn field and the coyotes hide in the still standing corn field. Therefore, we don’t ever walk by the corn field if Monkey is with us. Sammy usually doesn’t walk as far as the cornfields anymore anyway, so Mom doesn’t worry about Sam.

Yesterday we all went for a walk…Sammy stopped by the equipment shed saying he was going to hang around there and search for mice. We all waved our paws good-bye, Mom gave Sam some really nice body rubs then we were off again.

This time we walked along the, now, dry canal…Monkey LOVES the canal. She likes walking in the canal looking for mice and other interesting things that hide in the grass.

I sometimes hop into the canal with her, but I much prefer sniffing along the bank and down the canal road.

We usually walk all the way up to the Cross-Over Pipe. Up there Mom lets us play on the pipe that crosses over the canal from one field to another field. I walk very, very fast over the pipe my toe nails clicking the whole way…I try to move fast, because, well, toe nails and metal make for some slippery sliding times.

Sometimes Mom walks over and back with us. We all laugh and have a great time. Monkey runs across and doesn’t even think a think about it.

I try to sniff in the pipe holes, but Mom and Dad always cover them up so the skunks, raccoons, fox and other critters who like to den up can’t hunker down in the pipes. Still I sniff, it’s interesting to see if anyone has tried to live in one of the pipes.

Then we walk back home, sometimes fast (if it’s getting dark and colder) sometimes we take our time. Either way, it works for me, and Monkey, just being outside with Mom is always fun.

Boomer

Storm Coming In—Thursday, December 10, 2015

Posted on December 10, 2015 by Dayphoto

They tell us a winter storm is coming in. With temperatures dropping to single digits.

It must be so. The last of yesterdays sunlight caught like cobwebs in the corn. The sky gradually filling with clouds from the west. Our storms always come from the west.

As the clouds thickened and gathered the sunlight

Splashed golden and yellow across our land.

This morning we woke up to a fully covered sky, full of thick clouds, which bespeak of snow.

Winter lays heavy on the land.

With much love, from a desperate to harvest but can’t, western Colorado farm,

Linda

OH! P.S. The header is a photo of a double sundog, sent to me from our daughter and son-in-law in Grand Junction. It’s stunning, don’t you think?

A Little Treat for your Dog—-Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Posted on December 9, 2015 by Dayphoto

Dog Cookies!!!

Boomer loves these! He won’t eat them in the house, always takes it outside to a ‘special’ spot. I guess he is afraid the cats will want a bite.

Cranberry Spinach Dog Cookies

Place 2 1/2 cups brown rice flour, 1/4 c chopped fresh cranberries, 1/4 cup chopped spinach thawed and drained, 3 large eggs, and 1 T olive oil. Mix together until it forms a ragged ball.

Turn out onto a floured (with brown rice flour) surface and knead until the dough is smooth. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill until firm—I let it set overnight.

Remove from the refrigerator and roll a generous thickness between two sheets of waxed paper. Cut out and place on baking pans, then back in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350*

Place baking sheets in preheated oven and bake 6 minutes then reduce the temperature to 325*. Bake until cookies are firm. Turn off the oven and leave the cookies to dry completely for 2 hours.

Remove and leave cookies on your counter at least overnight to continue drying. A perfectly dried cookie will snap and crumble when broken. Place in jars and seal.

From Boomer to Your fur children with much Love,

Linda

A Little Bit Every Day—-Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Dayphoto

Going for our daily walk, Boomer, Monkey the cat, and Sam-Sam our old cat, watched the night slowly come in….spreading it’s wings of brilliant color on the Paonia Mountains,

Brushing Grand Mesa with broad strokes of rose, and orange and a different shade of pink. Sky-6

The mountains and the Black Canyon around Montrose and Gunnison lite up in vast amounts of the same color.

The cold silence of darkness descended—darkness is coming faster and faster every day. Spreading night into the dips and hallows, filling in the rows of still standing corn, while the stars burn brighter and brighter as the evening gloaming grows stronger.

We walked to small point on the land where I can look over the tops of the corn to the south, west and north…enjoying the stunning vista. A small rises where the plateaus fall away below us, and we can see beyond our mesa, and beyond the Rubidoux Canyon into the next Canyons and the flat lands and more knobs and knolls, into a blue distance, hazed with the breath of the desert. (Looking toward Grand Junction, Colorado)

Turning around to the east the land is flat, devoid of corn crops, whereby the sunset was busy splashing masses of color on all the mountains.

Only a few more days [now] until December 21st and the winter Solstice! At 9:49 p.m. here in our part of the world.

I can’t tell you HOW READY I am!!!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

A Marvelous Sunrise—Sunday, December 6, 2015

Posted on December 6, 2015 by Dayphoto

Back when my computer was broken, and we had a snow storm, our oldest daughter and Jason captured this sunrise over the farm.

Since they now live in our other house, just across two fields, they have a nice view of our farm yard —right from their kitchen window.

Although the day was miserable cold, the sky leaden and heavy with grey clouds full of frost, the rising sun was able to cast it’s life giving rays through brightening the sky.

What a marvelous wonder to behold!

Your friend with much love,

Linda

The Adventures of Boomer on Friday—Not Yet

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Dayphoto

“Come on, Boomer! Let’s go with Dad and get a corn sample!” Mom patted her leg for me to follow them. Off we went into the corn fields. An ear here and an ear there…all through the three corn field.

“Be sure and get an ear in the down spot, it seems to take forever to dry.” Dad pointed so Mom would understand just where he wanted her to get a sample.

“Okay, I’ll head to the top corn field and get one from the down side of the big field.” Mom told Dad, as he headed to the front field—“Alright, and I’ll get one from the road side of the big field.

Back home we shelled the corn into cans to take to the elevator to have it tested. It doesn’t matter what YOUR tester says (if the corn is dry or not) it matters if the Elevators testers says it’s dry.

While Mom and Dad shelled I tasted out the knurls to see if they were hard or soft. I like to do MY part!

Then we all loaded up and headed to the elevator. We went in the car this time, it’s just too cold for me to ride (LIKE I LOVE TO DO) in the back of the truck.

At the elevator Mom and I sat in the car and waited while Dad walked the samples in. Waiting is OKAY BY ME!!! Mom rolls the window down and I sniff and smell all I want.

Then Dad was back and we were heading home.

“Not yet” Dad said. “Still too wet…15.9.” Dad gave a HUGE sigh. We wait some more.”

“Two weeks, do you think?” Mom asked.

“Who knows,” Dad replied glumly. “Who knows?”

“Well, I guess it is what it is.” I hear Mom say.

Then Mom said: “Hopefully the weather will dry and warm up, which should help. Also, if it will dry and warm up, Boomer and I can get out there and get all the siphon tubes, dams and other things picked up and stored for the winter. It’s just been too wet and cold to get the farm put to bed.”

Hum, I thought, I think the farm is already in bed, it’s just Mom hasn’t got the room picked up and straighten up for the company…meaning Mom needs to get the irrigation stuff picked up and brought into the farm yard so the COWS don’t ruin it!