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

Day Length–Thursday, February 12, 2015

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Dayphoto

Everyday the length is growing longer and longer. Such a huge relief to me.

Here, in our part of the world, the sun is rising close to 7–today 7:08. Of course it starts to get light earlier, around 6:40.

Then the sun sets at 5:45 with twilight lasting a spell.

The joys of a longer day! For us…10 hours and 38 minutes (today).

These longer days, coupled with the warmer weather is making February go fast.

Looking at the weather maps there is a huge line drawn straight down the United States, terrible cold and snow on one side, unusually warm on the other half. What a study in contrasts!

For now, though, I am enjoying the longer days and the beautiful skies!

Your Friend,

Linda

A Front Row Seat—Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Dayphoto

I really am not understanding this crazy warm weather we are having…70* yesterday with a wind out of the west.

Terry and I finished working on the fence around the place–it would not do to have cows moving beyond our farm, into someone else’s place or out on the road.

I also worked upstairs getting ready for company. Our kids and grandchildren are coming from Craig on Friday; they have a three day school break.

Plus it’s Tallin’s 7th Birthday! Tally wanted to come to Grammy’s and Grandpa’s for her birthday–‘because that is where we always celebrate our birthdays’ she said.

You know that has her Grandpa and I very pleased!

But back to this incredible light from the sky lately…one night we were surround in rose, then last night a golden light filtered through the wind driven clouds.

We loaded a trailer of hay as the sun started setting…during a break I rushed around taking photos to share with you. Rose to Gold sure is amazing.

We are concerned about this extremely warm weather we are having for February, it feels more like the second week in March. The skies (though) are showing colors of summer. There really isn’t anything we can do about it; just sit back and enjoy and trust that good will come for all.

Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,

Linda

A Spot of History—Monday, January 9, 2015

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Dayphoto

Before I move forward

The dome building behind the cows is someone’s house. Our farm is the edge of California Mesa, then it drops down into what the old-timers call ‘No-Man’s Land’. No-man’s-land is the flat land just before the next drop into Roubidoux Canyon. No-man’s-land is very poor ground, not fit for good farming back in 1882 when Delta was incorporated. Farming was hard enough in our area, although not so bad in the town of Delta and North Delta…they had water. Water the lifeblood of man.

Here you see the edge of the mesa better. You also see more of the flat land.

Today the flatlands have been subdivided allowing people to live ‘out in the country’. Also, water is available, which always helps any ground improve. I could go on and on about the history of our place, but I think I will stop here.

On a sidebar note—those gigantic transmission power lines are on the OTHER Side of Roubidoux Canyon…The blue/grey is the foot hills of the Uncompahgre Plateau, and the blue is The Uncompahgre Plateau.

I’m sure I’ve bored you long enough. I thank you for stopping by and asking questions. I love to go on and on about the history of this area, but…enough, really is enough!

Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,

Linda

Friday and Saturday’s Update—Sunday, February 8, 2015

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Dayphoto

Friday was so nice Terry and I decided to get the roof on the Tile House…this is a little house that was once used to bottle milk and then became Grandma Brown’s wash house for laundry. Over the years I’ve used it for many things, now it stores all my canning, food dryers, and the freezer plus just plain “stuff” that I really need to go through and sell or give away.

We are so warm here that Terry and I worked in our shirtsleeves, in fact it was down right hot for a little while. Very unusual for this time of year, but I’ll take it. I guess, I have to take it there is nothing else to do. 🙂

By Friday night we were done! DONE! Finished on the tile house roof…do a happy dance! And very tired!

Also, on Friday half of the cows arrived; I counted 60 soon to be Momma Cows!

They have made the rounds of the whole place checking everything out—here, there and everywhere. Not stopping, but for a mouth full of this or that. Today they have sorta settled down, picking one field, over by the barns, or by the other house and staying for several hours, then moving on to another interesting spot.

Boomer and I have taken a few walks out to see how they are doing…I just love being around cows.

Today promises to be just as warm as Friday and Saturday, the sunsets are still stunning in their summer-like colors (you are looking North toward Grand Mesa) , this is the day we take off, which is always nice.

I hope your Sunday is a good one, where ever you are! Thank you so much for stopping by for a visit.

Your Friend on a Western Colorado Farm

Linda

The Adventures of Boomer on Friday—Flat Stanley

Posted on February 6, 2015 by Dayphoto

“Hey, Boom! Wanta go to the mailbox with me?” Mom asked as she stopped by my dog house. I was taking in the sun, sound asleep.

You see the sun had just made its way to shine fully into my doghouse warming up the interior and me!

I was stretched clear out having a good dream.

HUH! I woke-up in a flash. “I do!” I said with big grin as I trotted off behind Mom.

The walk to the mail box takes a little time; you see we have to go ‘down the lane’ to get on the main road. Once down at the road we have to walk a little way down the road to the mail box. Mom doesn’t want me on the main road so I hang back by the culvert until she gets back from the mail box.

Down we went…I sniffed here and there all the way down…Foxy and Red passed by—Pepper walked across the road and left a few smells for me.

Back home Mom sat down on the back step and started opening the mail! “Oh! Boomie, guess what? Rory and his second grade classmates from an Elementary School in the deep-south has made a Flat Stanley at the first of this year’s school year. Rory’s Flat Stanley has gone to several states then to a blog friend, Sara.– (http://morefavoritesheep.blogspot.com/) Sara has sent Flat Stanley to us.”

“Flat Stanley!!?”

“Come on, Boomer! You and Flat Stanley are going to have a great time.”

So off we went—first Flat Stanley took a ride on the 630 John Deere tractor, then he checked out the hay yard, after that we came in and had lunch. Mom took photos so she could send them back to Rory’s second grade class.

“It’s time to say good-bye to our little friend, Boomer.” I’m putting him in the mail to go visit a cotton farm in Littlefield, Texas on the next post.

I graciously said good-bye to Flat Stanley and wished him a great trip traveling here and there and everywhere.

Good-bye, Flat Stanley Mom and I hope Rory enjoys seeing the world through your eyes!

Boomer

We Finally Finished—Thursday, February 5, 2015

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Dayphoto

Finally Terry and I are done with the trees and the fences. What a huge intense mess we had for a spell. But now we are done! YAY!

Now the cows can come and I can enjoy them. It’s always fun to see the girls arrive–these are first year heifers and second year cows, which means this is the first year for the young cows to have a calf and the second year for last years heifers to calve out. The reality is these cows are 2 and 3 years old. They have spent their youth here on our place and/or calved out the first time here with us.

I delight when they come, they run here and there, grabbing bits of food, heading to old favorite spots AND coming over to visit us (in particularly the fenced off hay yard; one never knows if the hay yard just MIGHT not be fenced off.) It takes them a good 10 days to settle into a routine.

Uncle Spike posted a double Rainbow, he said I could link to him so you can see it also!

Even if there wasn’t rainbow right here on the farm, a beautiful sign of hope appeared in my inbox.

All is well!

Before I forget here is the skyline in full daylight. The only blight is the dead tree stump—which is 30 feet or so in air. We still might cut it clear to the ground, but this is the stump Misty wants to have Kelly make into a platform for the kids to play on. Our grandchildren are NOT afraid of height, their grandmother is.

Today I’m going to CLEAN my house! As you might know it is in dire need after the last several days of trees and fences. I also need to go buy a birthday present for a certain little granddaughter who will be 7 on the 15th of February.

Thanks to each and everyone of your for stopping by and reading about our Life on a Colorado Farm. I also appreciate all your comments and your support for the Sherlock Boomer story. I’m rather jazzed to see if I can actually create a full book.

The sun is shining here and we are heading up to 62* by this afternoon!

Life is Good!

Your friend on a Colorado Farm

Linda

The Skyline—Tuesday, January 3, 2015

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Dayphoto

We finished with all the huge, gigantic stuff yesterday. It took all three of us…the men on the tractors and me doing the ground work, but we made it!

There is such joy in those three words–WE MADE IT!!!

Here is a photo of the skyline—I almost forgot, which is why you are getting it in the evening.

You can still see the lightening struck tree (stump) in the back, but the front only looks a little thinner. I think I worried for nothing. Remember Misty wants that stumps to create another play area for the kids.

I will try to get a better photo today! I don’t think it will show a huge gaping hole–like I was afraid it would. (This is the one before the trees were cut)

Today we are building fences, so I must hurry and get myself down there–Terry is already there setting up the electric fencer. We begin in earnest, on the fences the second I arrive.

Your friend

Linda

Back to Work we go—-Monday, February 2, 2015

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Dayphoto

It’s cloudy here! Even foggy. And cold! So in this part of the world it looks like we are heading toward a early Spring!

YAY!!!! Doing the happy dance here! Spring is always a welcome arrival.

The heavy clouds made their way in last night, flowing toward us from the Durango area. Although, the Uncompahgre (Un-come-pah-gray) Plateau looked clear, the setting sun flung this amazing red and hot pink color upon the gathering storm clouds.

This stunning HOT color is very unusual this time of year!

Normally the clouds are a pale wash of color; albeit still beautiful!

I have no idea WHY we are seeing this dark hue this time of year—it doesn’t matter because not matter what…I always love the sky!

Off now to haul more logs and to rake bark and twigs and chips…the cows come Wednesday or Thursday so we must get a move on!

Your Friend,

Linda

Good Morning Everyone! Sunday, February 1, 2015

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Dayphoto

Good morning everyone! Moving After two days of heavy gray clouds blocking the sun and sending life-giving moisture into our rather dry soil, we woke-up this morning to a very beautiful day.

Another blessing in the storm is it stopped our work on the removal of the wood from the two trees we had cut down. I think that was a good thing. It’s better to have a break in the work than to break something on your body (all three of us, Terry, Scott (our neighbor) and myself are over 65–just saying.) If the weather stayed nice we would not have stopped…we needed to stop. A three day rest is a good thing (we always rest on Sunday, only the things that MUST be done is ever accomplished on Sunday.)

Tree-work Our neighbor is taking the wood for his outside furnace so we don’t have to haul anything far. The wood from the front tree is way too wet to burn this year, but the wood from the lightening struck tree is dead. This is a win-win for Scott as he has dry wood to finish out the heating season and wood to start the next heating season. It’s a win-win for Terry and I because we have help cleaning up the mess AND we know that the wood is being put to good use instead of just dumped at the Upper End. The GIANT logs we are taking to the Upper End to make hollows for fox (or whomever) have a place to hide.

Scott and Terry both have tractors, Scott has forks on his and Terry uses the bucket.

This leaves me to do all the brush work, rake up all the chips, and to chain up the logs. We are making huge headway. As soon as the ground dries enough we should be able to finish up next week.

We better finish up next week, since Hank stopped and said he was going to be bringing in his first year heifers and his second year cows probably around Thursday.

I just about have the chips and bark and branches out of the corn field gate, which is a good thing…I wouldn’t want any of the cows to get something stuck in their hooves.

If we can get the big stuff and the field stuff done before the cows we can finish up the back yard after the fence is built. Lots of pressure right now to get stuff done.

THEN I told Terry it will be time to put the new roof on the tile house, after which we will be close, if not already started, on Spring farm work.

I think the time of February is going to fly by!

Many of you have emailed asking me to post a photo of the skyline with the trees gone. I shall…I want to have all the trash cleaned up before I do. Surprisingly (so far) it doesn’t look bad down there. Misty wants us to keep the lightening struck stump in the back for Kelly to build something for the kids to play in, so we will. Kelly built a tree house for the kids in one of the other trees; having something cool in this one will add to the fun of the back yard.

The front tree will be gone…I’m thinking I might put a planter where it was and fill it with something colorful. Maybe. It all depends on how it looks. I might just fill in the spot with grass. Grass is always nice on the eyes.

Look at this sunset last night as the storm broke up and left us! The colors are amazing for this time of year!

Thanks for stopping by!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

The Adventures of Boomer on Friday—Rocky/Chaco Man the Rottweiler

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Dayphoto

My oldest sister came over with my oldest nephew, Rocky Chaco Man the Rottweiler, for him and me to have some fun time together.

Shannon and Jason have lots of dogs—they are all hunting dogs, hounds and a lab! But Rocky doesn’t go hunting he guards their place. I don’t go hunting…I pretend guard the farm…so Mom and Shannon thought it would be nice if Rocky and I could have a play date on the farm.

A long (all the way around the farm—then back over the Back Forty, then to the Upper End then down by the alfalfa field) walk.

We had a great time…Rocky marked so many bushes that by the time we got to Back Forty, where the coyotes live, he was just lifting his leg for show– nothing else. I did much better, because after all I live here and I know I have to SAVE UP for the Back Forty so I can let those coyotes KNOW dogs live on the farm!!!

It must have been 300* out there, by the time we got back to the house Rock was foaming at the mouth. Black fur, no water to splash in along the way and not a cloud in sight wears a dog out.

When we got home Mom gave each of us a HUGE dish of water. Rocky slurped his down and then wanted to get in his Mom’s car and go home.

So they did. Shannon loaded Rocky up and drove away. I saw Rocky looking out the back window…he hollered at me that he had a great time and wanted to do it again!

I hollered back! “ANYTIME, Rocky! ANYTIME!”

Boomer