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

This Little Girl…Sunday, July 12, 2015

Posted on July 12, 2015 by Dayphoto

This little granddaughter (when the family moved to Craig, Colorado) had a horrible time adjusting to life in a subdivision (although a very spacious subdivision) and a life without the farm.

But the farmer and neighbor who lives just up the hill asked Linky if she would like to help gentle down his very special pigs. (Mr. Chapman raises pigs for shows and for breeding purposes only.)

Everyday Linkin would trudge up the hill to play and pet and love on the three pigs.

These are the pigs today. One of the piglets has a heart attack and died, but two are doing fine. Soon to be Momma’s. Linky told me one will farrow around the last week of July and the other the first week in August.

What more can a child ask for!

While we were there Linky and Mr. Chapman took us on a tour of the pig barns where we visited the boar, all the soon to be Momma hogs, the weiners and the various stages of pig lives.

Mr. Chapman is a very good and kind pig farmer. The pens are open, clean and spacious. The sows give birth in a natural environment, handled all the time so they are very gentle, and fed only the best of natural feeds. (They also have a pellet stove in each house and cooling fans in the summer.)

Next month it will be Linkin’s turn to spend a week with us. First we had Tallen, then Blade and last will be Linky.

Your friend on a western Colorado Farm,

Linda

The Adventures of Boomer on Friday—FOX

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Dayphoto

Boy do I ever miss Fuzzy!!

Every morning, when Freddy Fox would try (TRY) to walk through the farm yard Fuzzy and I would make a mad dash up to the grain bin and give him a good chase!

Pretty much Freddy and his family would wave their tails as us and scamper off—there is no way we could keep up.

Now I have to do it myself!

All by myself.

But I do it!

Sometimes Freddy comes by with his brothers, or his sisters, or his cousins, I’m not sure which…he stops by the grain bins and gives a huge yowl and barks at me!

Once I hear his call the CHASE is on!!!

It’s still fun…it just would be funner if Fuzzy was here to share in the adventure.

Oops!

There’s the call…gotta run!

HOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWL yip-yip bark!

Boomer

Storms —Thursday, July 9, 2015

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Dayphoto

All day the clouds shifted here and there. Sometimes dropping rain, moving on, gathering again, lashing out

thunder, lighting, wind… the violence of each passing storm was exhilarating!

The earth, our crops, even myself sighed with relief. Later in the night, well, actually early, early in the morning, the skies cleared and the stars came out.

We woke to a beautiful morning. Fresh, clean, clear…a feeling of lightness in air!

Your rejuvenated friend on a Western Colorado Farm,

Linda

A Relief—Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Dayphoto

We have a HUGE break in the triple digit weather…

It rained all night last night! Giant, luscious, rich drops of water.

Too much of anything is just too much! A break in the heat is lovely!

This moisture is in here until tomorrow then we slowly start the climb back into the heat. Until then…ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,

Linda

Quickly There and Now Here—Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Dayphoto

We took a very quick trip to Craig, Colorado.

Years and years ago Terry was a plumber. Also, he knows how to do house wiring from all his years in the Electrical trade…therefore, when Kelly called and asked if Terry would come up and help with a small remodel he was doing for their house.

The answer was: “Sure, I’ll put the water in the pasture and we will head up”!

(Jumping with Hank Puff and the guinea pig–Moe)

LUCKY LUCKY Terry and I!

Your friend,

Linda

A Walk Down my Little Path —Monday, July 6, 2015

Posted on July 6, 2015 by Dayphoto

Step into my little side garden and sit a spell with me.

I’ll bring out some iced tea, or if you prefer a Pepsi

We will talk about nothing really. Just sit and get to know each other–tell little stories of times gone by

We will share the garden with the Hummingbirds, the bumble bees and the honey bees, I hope you are not afraid of them…they rush tangibly here and there among the flowers

I’ll snip you some herbs–catnip for your kitties, or maybe some catmint, a small bouquet of lavender…or mondera for your tea.

Come sit in the garden with me.

Your friend,

Linda

WE MADE IT!—Sunday, July 5, 2015

Posted on July 5, 2015 by Dayphoto

After a horrible start to our farming season, rain, cold, rain…hard to get the ground worked up…too wet and cold to plant…we were very concerned the corn wasn’t going to make.

But here it is! More than knee-high by the 4th of July!

What a huge relief!

Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,

Linda

The Adventures of Boomer on Friday—Out on the Ditch Bank

Posted on July 3, 2015 by Dayphoto

Mom had to go help Dad over at the other place. She went on the tractor so I didn’t get to go! 😦

Mom and Dad won’t let me run alongside either, they say I’m too old (I’m eleven now) and it would be way too long of a run so I get—“No, Boomer! NO! You stay here”! Then Mom gives me a hug and a very stern look and off she goes.

BUT! I always meet Mom when she comes home! ALWAYS! I meet Dad, also, but I don’t run down the road as far. 🙂

The fox are coming into the yard. One had Sammy cornered. Mom heard the racket and came running out of the house just in time to see the fox and Sammy in a standoff at the grain ben. I chased the fox all the way to the upper end. Whew! Boy was I ever hot and tired when I got back. Mom gave me a big bowl of cold water and a dog cookie. I gobbled up the water and the cookie and took a Loooong nap. I sure needed it. (I might be old(er), but I can still do my job!)

Last night we scared Momma Deer and her Princess out of the corn field when we went up to change the water. (Dad was a little disgusted, but at the same time we ALL liked seeing the little baby!) Mom told me that today we will just take up more of the shelled corn and put it closer to where the deer are bedding down.

Everyone had a big laugh when I chased a mouse out of one of the siphon tubes. It ran toward me and I sorta jumped. BUT!!! No one jumped as much as Mom did when she put a siphon tube into the water and a vole rushed out of the end of the tube and over her hand!

Mom didn’t scream but she sure did lose the siphon tube in the ditch and run backwards for a short spell!!! 🙂

Early this morning we were just stirring around when the fox came back INTO THE yard and ran right by the kitchen window. Monkey started growling low in her voice, Sam jumped up on the window sill, Mom and I hurried out the back door and Mom said “Get!” to the fox. Which it did.

I didn’t chase the fox this time, he/she was going so fast there was no reason to give chase.

Well, there is my week. Doesn’t seem like much, but it sure is fun!
Boomer

First Light—Thursday, July 2, 2015

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Dayphoto

First-Light-2

Gradually, gradually the day starts to wake…the shadows of the night slowly lifting as the gray light filters in. First-Light-3

Tiny, as my thumb, the hummingbirds arrive at the feeders; their buzz and chirps blending in with the small melodious calls of the other birds who are shaking sleep off and welcoming in the day!

Morning, the beautiful beginning of another day!

Your friend,

Linda

Gratitude—Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Dayphoto

It was 92* (33.33c) last night at 9:30. But this morning it is only 86* at 9:30.

What a small joy cooling air is after too much heat.

As John Milton once said; “Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.”