Mountain Lion
Cool mountain lion sighting from this morning near Roxborough Park, in Colorado, sent in by Gnan P.
GNan sent me this photo that she shot out her bedroom window. She said I could share it will all of you.
Wildlife up close and personal!
It was posted on the Denver News …go here to see the whole video!
Your western Colorado Friend
Linda
I HAD COMPANY! WOO HOO! It was a great surprise!
Mom and Dad left and then when they came back they had a dog with them.
Mom let us get to know each other slowly. Mom introduced us…Sarah this is Boomer….Boomer this is Sarah. We stared at each other for a short time. Then we both had some good sniffs on each other. That went on for a little while…then Mom said. “Come on, Sarah, Boomer, lets go inside and let Sarah get used to the house and where she is going to sleep.”
That went really well…Mom gave Sarah Fuzzy’s side of the mud room, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD!!! Mom tried to get me to move over to Fuzzy’s side because she said it was much warmer over there—BUT I DID NOT WANT TO GO!
So GOOD! Sarah has my Best Friend’s spot and I don’t have to take it. GOOD!
Sarah stayed with us three days and four nights!
IT WAS A BLAST!
At first Mom kept Sarah on a leash, Mom was afraid Sarah would run away and go back to Rick’s house. Then Mom and I and Sarah would go for lots of walks so Sarah could get used to the farm and the farm buildings. By the beginning of the second day, Mom sat down and talked to Sarah telling her to stay close to me so she would know how to get back to our house—then Mom took off the leash!
WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE we had a great time. Sarah helped me look for squirrels and mice…Sarah KILLS MICE! Just like Fuzzy…pounce, bite, snap…all over for the mouse.
I don’t do that I just let the mouse run off. Sammy will get the mouse at some point, I figure.
Inside Mom was a little concerned because Sarah wanted to herd the cats! ALL THE TIME!
“No, Sarah! Those cats live here…you leave them alone!”
So Sarah did, but just barely. If either one of the cats decided to run Sarah said all bets were OFF!!!! (Just for the record neither cat ran…I’m thinking that was a very good thing.)
The only time I had to get on Sarah’s case was when Mom was sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace petting me…belly rub….aaaaaah sure was feeling good. Then Sarah came over and laid down RIGHT NEXT TO MOM! I jumped up and gave her the old one-two…she gave it right back. Mom was right in the middle, which I guess was a good thing, and grabbed both of us by the collar and told us to both sit down.
We did, but just barely.
Then Sarah said…That’s okay Boomer, I won’t take Mom, but I will hang out with Dad.
Dad? Hey! You do that and all is good—I said.
After all that we were friends and getting along just fine.
Then the next morning a big white truck drove up in the yard. A strange man got out of the truck…I sat up and warning bark and howl…Sarah leap to the door with me and started her warning bark when she stopped in mid-sentence.
What’s the deal I asked her?
That’s MY DAD!!! YAY! I haven’t seen my Dad for several weeks…he has been working somewhere far away!
YAY MY DAD! Sarah started dancing around and around. Then there he was, leash in hand and smile on his face.
“Hi, Girl! Come her, Sarah…let’s go home.”
HOME! Okay! GOOD! Let’s Go Home.
Come on Boomer! Come on MOM let’s go home!
Boomer?! Mom?!
Sarah was really sad when she figured out Mom and I were staying here. Mom bent down and gave Sarah lots of pets and loves and told her she could come visit again. Then she gave Sarah a KISS right on the nose! And told her Thank you for coming to play with me.
I watched Sarah jump into the front seat of her big truck and drive off.
HOWWWWWWWWWWWWWL I hollered! THANK YOU FOR COMING, Sarah! I had a great time!
Then Mom opened the door and we went inside to take a nap by the fire. Well, I took a nap, Mom did something else.
You know something….it was nice having company.
Boomer
We are wishing each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas this year of our Lord 2014!
I have enjoyed getting to know you through this very humble blog. The gift of your support and cheers through our struggle to get the corn in was always a hearting experience when I read your comments each day.
Your HUGE kindness when Boomer and I lost that most wonderful Dog–Fuzzy Dude—words can not say how much I appreciated your sympathy.
Thank you to those of you who also have blogs, and allow those of us who visit, a tiny peek into your lives. From here in Colorado, to England, Canada, the orient, Turkey, South America, Africa…the whole wide world—I am most grateful to know you!
Merry Christmas from the Brown Farm in Western Colorado!
Terry and Linda
The elevator called and asked if Terry wanted to bring in all the rest of his corn…they were a tad short and could use it—the catch was it has to be there before December 31st.
“You bet’ya! And Thank YOU!” Terry replied and headed out the door.
We loaded up the truck in a bright (YAY FOR SUNSHINE) brittle cold, with a freezing wind straight off the snowbanks.
But who is complaining? This year’s crop all sold THIS year!
Thank you for your concern for Rick and his sister’s. It will be a hard Christmas this year for them. Yet, also a blessing—no longer is Rick in any pain. The funeral will be Monday.
Everything always works out for the best, my Momma used to say. And you know what? I do believe she is right!
Merry Christmas my friends!
Linda
Sarah’s human came and got her yesterday morning. She was very happy to see him, but didn’t want to leave here. Rather broke my heart. I’m sure she is having a terrible time of being flung here and there and everywhere. At least now she is with her human, which takes a load off my mind.
We went down to Saint Mary’s Hospital yesterday to see Rick in ICU. The prognosis is sad. When we left yesterday the two sisters were going to have to make the hard decision–the one that is only done in human kindness. Once that process is over everyone waits. I’m sure we will hear something sometime this morning where things are. Personally I think life in a wheel chair (he has (now) had a massive stoke on the left side to go with everything else) where you can’t get out and sit on a tractor would be horrible. If he pulls through we will still be there–friendships don’t change because the physical body changes.
Anyway, we move forward toward Christmas all the kids are coming home—YIPPEE! At least for Christmas day I will have all four of our children and their mates [here] and our three grandchildren and maybe –just maybe—our step-granddaughter!
I hope this post finds each one of you in a good place in life and the joy of the Christmas Season filling your lives with goodness!
Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,
Linda
Friday, we got a call for help from one of Terry’s friends. Rick is a middle-aged bachelor who lives a mile and half from us and was sick —- with what he thought was the flu.
To make a long story short we got him to the hospital where they operated and started treatment, he was doing much better when he developed pneumonia and then had a massive stroke. It’s been a rather long weekend of worry and concern here.
At the time of this writing he is in Grand Junction at Saint Mary’s Hospital surrounded by his two sisters.
I have Sarah. Sarah hates the camera so I haven’t been able to get a very good photo of her. Sarah is very stressed out, but adjusting to our way of life.
Boomer has had a great time running and playing with Sarah. The only thing Boomer doesn’t like is if Sarah gets too close to me…then he turns into a Jealous Jelly Bean of a dog. Meaning he WILL TAKE ON SARAH…which is NOT GOOD!
Sarah is a man’s dog, this has helped. She has enjoyed going and doing things with Terry and will always, always, go to him and give him the first welcoming kiss or her front paw.
But Sarah isn’t ours.
Rick was keeping Sarah for a friend who was out-of-town. Ken is back home now and will be coming out around 10:00 a.m. to take Sarah home.
It’s been rather fun for Boomer to have running and sniffing companion and someone to share walks with…it hasn’t been fun for the cats since Sarah LOVE TO CHASE CATS!
(Sigh)
My heart goes out to Rick and his family. I am pleased that Sarah will have her human back, although she adored Rick, even slept on the bed with him. I’m glad Boomer had a dog friend for awhile. I have this belief that the perfect dog, which Boomer likes and fits into our family complete with cats will show up.
Oh a brighter note I Thank Each and Everyone of you for your thoughts and well wishes on our Anniversary yesterday. You gave us a very bright spot in this rather gloomy time!
Your friend,
Linda
Today Terry and I were married 47 years ago!
Terry was working at Holly Sugar at the time. He was on the day shift with a long lay-over before he started grave yard; he was also working at Coors Elevator on the opposite shift with only 8 hours in-between to sleep.
I was going to college in Grand Junction and it was the end of the semester. We decided that now was the best time to get married.
What a thing to do to my parents and Terry’s parents…four days before Christmas! Geez, I think of that now a think what a rat-race we must have made for them.
After the wedding we headed to Alamosa, Colorado where Coors had another plant/elevator and a job opening. Terry was seriously thinking of applying for the job. We thought first we had better see what the country looked like, the housing market, and winter’s over there.
IT WAS COLD! Terribly cold. Icicles hung from the roof to the ground, snow was as deep as my knees.
Back home we decided that Delta was home and we would take our chances here.
As time moved on we purchased his grandparents’ farm from the estate, gradually acquired farming equipment and gradually adding four children to our family.
Our chances have turned out good—-Terry worked for Delta Montrose Electric Association for 37 years and farmed. I retired from the Delta- Montrose Technical College and helped him with the farm.
Here we are last spring when Terry turned 70. Much the same and then not at all. I’m sure the grandchildren look at us and think OLD, and maybe our children do also. Who knows. I just remember watching my parents age thinking every year how lucky I was to have them. I lost my Dad at 71 and Momma passed at 70 …they were just months apart in leaving us.
Now I think how lucky Terry and I are to be healthy and actively still farming; still doing all those things we have always done.
47 years! A true gift in time!
Your friends on a Western Colorado Farm
Terry and Linda
I dreamed of Fuzzy last night. It was a good dream. We used to do lots of stuff together…Fuzzy and I.
As I was laying in the rather thin sunshine this morning I was thinking how Fuzzy used to tell me stories.
I miss his stories.
Since its Christmas time I got to thinking about the story Fuzzy told me last year…it went something like this:
Fuzzy and I were laying outside in our dog houses, sorta like I am right now. Suddenly Fuzzy asked, “Are you sleepy, Boomer?”
“No not really. Are you sleepy Fuzzy?”
“No. I haven’t done much today but sleep.”
You know, Fuzzy, I was wondering do you know anything about this time everyone calls Christmas?
Well, I know a few things—like our people always put up trees, and hang lights outside so we can see the best bushes to pee on. They go to town lots and come home with packages that Mom puts all over the place. Then she puts those packages under the tree and waits.
Then the big day comes and everyone is here to eat food and drop stuff on the floor and eat food and laugh and make an even bigger mess than we would EVER think of making!
Really, Fuzzy…that is all there is to this Christmas Thing?
Well….really ….Boomer, no…no that really isn’t what Christmas is really about…it’s so much more.
Gosh, that’s good Fuzzy, please tell me. I really want to know.
Okay, Boom…it goes like this—
When I was a little tiny pup many, many years ago my Momma told me this story. My Momma said her Momma told her and her Momma before that all the way back to when this story started.
This sounds really good, Fuzzy I’m all ears!
It’s called—How We Got Christmas
Oh! Good! Now I will know. Thank you, Fuzzy.
Well, a long, long time ago in a land far, far and away, a land full of sand and giant animals called camels.
Camels?
Yes, Boomer. But the story isn’t about camels.
Okay, Fuzzy…I’ll listen.
In this land of sand and camels and sun…there was a man and a woman traveling to a big city to pay their taxes for the year.
What are taxes, Fuzzy?
They are like, hummm—if you have five bones and Mom makes you give her one because she thinks you have too many, then that one bone you give Mom is a tax.
OH! I don’t think I like taxes. I’m really glad Mom doesn’t make us pay taxes, Mom gives us the BONES!!! J
Go on Fuzzy, I like this story.
Okay, the man and the woman were traveling to this big city; with lots and lots of other people. There were so many people that all the places where people sleep were full except where my great, great, great, great so many greats that I can’t remember them all, Grandmother Dog was living.
My many Greats Grandmother Dog was the guard dog of a place call an Inn. It was her duty to watch over all the travelers who came to stay with her Master in the Inn. She also watched out for all the animals that her Master kept.
Every day my many Greats Grandmother would go with her Master to feed and milk the cow that lived in the stable. It was this milk that her Master would feed to the people staying in his Inn. She also helped wake-up the many chickens that were roosting in the stable, and went with the Master to feed and water the donkeys that were resting there until their people were ready to leave again.
My many greats Grandmother had a wonderful job and she loved every minute of it. Most nights she would sleep in the inn, but when the inn was full she would sleep on an old blanket next to the door of the stable to keep guard over the many animals staying within its walls.
My many greats Grandmother Dog was just getting ready to go to the stable one evening, when a man and woman showed up at the door of the inn. Her Master greeted the couple and explained that his place was full, that he had no room.
The man then asked if the Master knew of any place, just any place at all whereby they could rest for the night. The Master said that he was embarrassed to say, but if they wanted they could bed down in the stable free of charge and rest.
Around the corner they all went, the donkey, the man, his wife and my many greats grandmother. Once there, and very close to the cow’s manger, the couple laid down their belonging and unloaded the donkey. My many greats Grandmother Dog said that the man had very kind eyes and a soft loving voice. He brushed the donkey down, gave all the other donkeys lots of pets, rubbed the cow’s ears and ASKED Grandmother dog to come sleep with them to keep them warm.
The lovely mother patted the blanket and called softly to Grandmother Dog and even offered her a small tidbit to eat.
Grandmother said it was the most peaceful time she had ever experienced in the barn.
It was just wonderful!
Gradually she fell asleep, lulled by the soft sounds of the other animals in the barn and the warmth of the man and the woman. It wasn’t long before Grandmother Dog was awaken and asked to go guard the door of the stable. Grandmother Dog didn’t question the command; going to the door and sitting up in a guarding stance.
Like this, Fuzzy?
Yes, Boomer, just like that.
Well as Grandmother Dog sat in the opening of the stable door, an amazing light started to fill the sky. Then the light filled the whole stable! Grandmother Dog turned from the door and saw that the light seemed to be strongest right over the cow’s manager.
Walking toward the manger ever so slowly and carefully Grandmother Dog saw a tiny sleeping baby. The gentle Mother of the tiny baby called Grandmother Dog to come closer, to come see the tiny babe in the manger.
Grandmother Dog walked forward and stared at the tiny little bundle of human love and gave the sleeping child a HUGE WET DOG KISS right on its tiny little cheek!
When Grandmother Dog kissed this tiny human the child opened his eyes and smiled upon Grandmother Dog and she KNEW that this new human Loved Grandmother Dog clear through her soul.
Suddenly the light grew so large and bright that Grandmother Dog had to look up to see what was causing so much brightness…almost like the sun was in the stable!
WOW Fuzzy! Was it the sun? AT NIGHT? In a barn?
No, Boom, it was a person…a really beautiful shiny person! The person was so beautiful that Grandmother Dog had to sit down and stare.
This really beautiful person then talked to Grandmother Dog in DOG language!
Really, Fuzzy! A person can actually talk and understand dog language?
This person could Boomer, because this person was an Angel sent from above, to guide people to the stable. So the people could see the new little babe and to bring him gifts!
“Oh,” Grandmother Dog said. “I wish I could give this child a gift. If I could I would give him my protection for the rest of my life.”
The Angel then looked into Grandmother Dog’s eyes sending love and peace and wonder, filling Grandmother Dog’s heart near to bursting.
“That” said the Angel “Is what this day is all about…the love of this child is for everyone and everything in the whole world. You, Little Dog, understand that you are willing to give – out of pure love – to those around you — which is Christmas! Christmas is the celebration of the birth of this little babe and the gift of love! Then the lovely Angel reached down and gave Grandmother Dog a wondrous kiss right on HER nose!
This whole experience touched Grandmother Dog so much that she told every one of her children and admonished each child to pass this story down clear until this day and forever.
Now you know the story, Boomer, maybe someday you will be able to pass this story on to another dog. That way the gift of love from the little babe and the beautiful angel will never fade away.
Gosh, Fuzzy! That was something! I will…I will pass this on, someday, I promise.
Good Boomer, I’m a little tired now. Fuzzy said to me as he laid his head on his paws.
So here I am…just me. Fuzzy is there with the shiny angels. I’m keeping my word, My Best Friend Forever, I’m passing on this wondrous story, like you asked me too and like I promised you I would. That way the gift of love from the tiny baby and the sight of the beautiful angel will never pass away.
I thank you, my friend for this story. Merry Christmas, Fuzzy, wherever you are.
Merry Christmas to all of you too,
Boomer
It is raining here. It’s also snowing…the flakes are huge and beautiful and wet. We are warm for a snow storm so when the flakes make contact with something they burst into a wet drop.
KageDog a long-time blog reader, lover of Sandhill Cranes and all things Australia lives at the base of Grand Mesa in Cedaredge, Colorado. She sent me a beautiful photo from her deck showing the clouds covering all the basins between Cedaredge and Delta.
Among all the wonderful Christmas cards Terry and I have received, we also got this pretty cool
Black Guillemot in winter plumage at Bangor from Margaret Adamson.
Thank you each and everyone of you for all of your Christmas Cards and Good Wishes. We feel very lucky to have such wonderful blog friends in our lives!
Your friends on a Western Colorado Farm,
Linda
THANK YOU! THANK-YOU One and ALL!
The lady took the cat! I am so grateful and thankful for each of your prayers, magic thoughts and crossed arms, legs, toes, hands and fingers!! YIPPEE!!!
She also will take the female cat, if I can find her and trap her. Oh the joy of good friends and people who love animals!
As for the other cat…I can’t find her. I’ve been watching for her for three days now; she seems to have disappeared. It is possible she worked her way to some other house along our country road; searching for a male.
Or….this big bird took her for lunch.
I tried to blow up the photo to see what type of bird it is
It just turned fuzzy on me.
Does anyone have an idea. It looks heavy…is it carrying something I wonder.
IF this bird made lunch out of the very sweet little cat…there is nothing I can do about it.
Predators…another reason people really need to NOT DUMP ANIMALS!!! If it wasn’t a bird it could very easily be a fox or a coyote . I guess those who dump don’t really care…out of site out of mind. It’s gets eaten…Oh well, that’s how it goes.
I will keep looking for her, but I’m thinking I really don’t have to any more.
Your friend,
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 