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

Good News–Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Dayphoto

Kate, from New Zealand, sent me a lovely rainbow awhile back…with the losing of Fuzzy I am only just now getting it posted.

Although, I’m late her latest post tells that she is still in remission after two years from beating cancer! YAY! Kate! We all wish you continued good health.

Terry and I are starting to finally get a handle on that house down the way…he will work on some electrical wiring today and I will finish cleaning up the mess made from removing the old chimney.

Our grandchildren and their parents are coming this Friday, (YIPPEE) so we won’t turn off and drain the water until after they leave. There is still no furnace (although there is a wood stove)…we are fourth in line for the company to come out and install the forced air duct work…we already have the furnace. It would be foolish on our part to not winterize the pipes…it might be December before the duct work is completed.

The corn is drying down…still to high to start harvest (which is good so we can get that house under control), but should be able to start anytime now. The corn moisture was 15.4% yesterday—we need to get to 14% before we can begin. The polar express hit here last night with 21* but no rain or snow YET!!! I rather hope the moisture goes around us. I’ve heard from lots of my Colorado friends that snow is here in Colorado now. As soon as I can I’ll be visiting my blog friends to see how the polar vortex effected all of them.

The sunrise this morning was a promise of a clear day today so I’m going to take it. The tree that laughed at me on Sunday has decided to drop it’s leaves now. As I was cleaning yesterday afternoon, the wind came up and I heard a HUGE SIGH...’Good-bye until Spring’ the tree said and started gathering all it’s sap and sending it down to it’s roots. ‘GOOD-BYE…I’m rather sleepy now…see you…………zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz’.

As the lovely tree fell to sleep the wind pushed and pulled the leaves off the branches filling the back yard and our neighboring cornfield with the lovely golden orange leaves.

I went out and gave the tree a hug and high-fived the wind!

Your friend,

Linda

There is Always One–Monday, November 10, 2014

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Dayphoto

I think there must be a Law of Nature, or maybe of the Universe, or maybe a sort of contrary energy field that runs in a zig-zag instead of straight—-whatever it is there is ALWAYS ONE!

You know ‘that one’ — the kid that can never stay still in the classroom, or the employee who always, always marches to a different drummer, or a dog who just doesn’t ‘get’ whatever you have taught a million other dogs to understand.

If you’ve ever had a flock of sheep to move you know that often times the WHOLE flock will follow a goat…I have no idea why, but they will….just put a goat in the mix and the whole flock will head to wherever the goat wants to go (and you lead the goat)…except one. (Maybe two if you have a large flock and those two are a PAIN to get to the place you want them to be–enter the sheep dog..yup, works every time.) Most shepherds just use the sheep dog now a days.

That ONE exists everywhere—people, animals and PLANTS!!!!! GRRRRR

See that HUGE wonderfully full of leaves tree down at the other house? Yep! That’s the one. And it’s smack dab right in the middle of the whole back yard. You can’t tell it from the photo but it is. The clothes line stretches from it to another tree (devoid of all it’s leaves) at the edge of the yard.

I have every leaf raked and the lawn clean,; trying to get the ankle deep leaves up before the weather changes and I have a huge mess. Accept— I must wait for that tree! The One! The one that marches to a totally different rhythm.

“WHY!” I shouted at it yesterday. “WHY can’t you push off your leaves at the same time as all the others in the yard.

All I heard was a huge belly laugh followed by several snorts and a snorkle…”Because I don’t want too” the lovely tree replied, “I do it when I’m good and ready and not a minute before.”

I suppose so, I muttered to myself, I suppose so.

Your friend,

Linda

Wonder—-Sunday, November 9, 2014

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Dayphoto

Before I begin, Sara from http://myfavoritesheep.blogspot.com/ asked: “Could you post a dog/rescue charity that FuzzyDude Brown would like us to support?” I can. Back when I had more time I used to volunteer as a dog walker at CAWS in Delta, Colorado. I always hate to ask for donations, but if you are so inclined ……I thank you very much.

Our last of our company has left, but will return next weekend. This next time the whole family is coming, Momma, Daddy, and the three kids.

I’ve been raking leaves…here and at the other house.

Yesterday Terry and I started getting ready for the installation of the new furnace at the other house. Sadly we are having to tear out an old existing chimney, which has made a huge mess in the kitchen I just finished painting. It was necessary to fix the mess the other person made when he installed the propane furnace for Aunt Benita…the chimney was in the middle of the house therefore that spot is needed for the cold air intake. What a huge mess.

We will get all the prep work done…remove the chimney, restore the ceiling and floor and walls, clean up the tremendous mess (I hope I don’t have to re-paint, but if I do I will) and then we will have to crawl under the house and create (DIG) pathways for the installers to have space to work. I’m tired just thinking about it. The house was built in 1903, by Terry’s great grandfather…he was a master carpenter (although that term wasn’t coined at the time)–his work is outstanding. The house has been remodeled twice by Terry’s Aunt and Uncle who lived there after Grandpa and Grandma Hill passed. Terry purchased the house from the estate after Benita passed. All houses have their issues…we are just about to get this house’s problems completely solved. (Which will be a very good thing)

The corn is testing out at 15.6% We are very close now for the harvest to begin. Terry will have a selection of corn tested around noon tomorrow—hopefully we can start combining. Keep your fingers crossed.

The little kids loved playing in the corn tunnels—

But I’m really sure there will still be some corn still here when they come 🙂

Gradually, gradually we are starting to get caught up. I am so very thankful that we have this time (fall) to work on that other house…spring and summer are so extremely busy it would be hard to get everything done down there.

My mother would always say: “Everything works out for the best….if you just let it”.

She was so right.

Moving forward one-day-at-a-time,

Your friend on a Colorado Farm,

Linda

The Adventures of Boomer on Friday—Halloween

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Dayphoto

Well…what is there to say? It’s been hard. Life without my Bestest Friend in the Whole Wide World, Fuzzy. I sometimes sit right in front of Mom and whine to her that it is hard. I put up my paw and kinda paw at the air so Mom will understand what I’m trying to say. She always reaches down and gives me a big hug and lots of pettings.

It helps…sorta.

Friday, the day after….the day after Fuzzy talked to me about Life and he said good-bye…was a very long day.

I lay on the steps, put my head between my paws and sighed huge deep sighs. Dad came in from working on the corn combine and told Mom that I was having a hard time. He then asked me to come in and hang with Mom, since Mom was also having a hard time.

It helped…sorta.

Then Mom got a call from Shannon. I heard Mom telling Shannon I was super depressed. (Boy was that correct!) After a while Mom got off the phone and came over and sat by me and just petted me. It felt really good.

“Wait! I have an idea, Boomer” I just remembered something from your first Halloween here….hang on I’ll be right back. Out she went to the tile house…Now this sounded interesting so I followed her out the back door and into the tile house, where Mom was rummaging around in some of her big boxes out there.

“Here it is! Let’s go back inside, Boomer, and put this on.

I think you are going to dress up for Halloween and go for a ride!”

Dad laughed… “Look he seems to like it!”

I did it was a fun thing to do!

While I was sorta dancing around so Mom and Dad and the cats could get a good look at me we heard Shannon and her dog pack coming down the drive way!

OH! GOODIE! THE DOG COUSINS ARE HERE! I barreled out of the house and set up a loud welcoming bay!!!!

They were all here and THEY HAD ON COSTUMES ALSO! (That is me baying at Rocky–see if you can pick me out in the other photos…I didn’t move from this spot)

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

Shannon asked if Mom and I would like to go for a dog ride and dog walk! YES!!! I hollered.

Up I went into the back with the rest of the pack—four hunting dogs and two Rottweilers!

(OH! I forgot about those annoying puppies….right in your face, licking and licking and baying and hollering and climbing on me————–IT WAS A BLAST!

They also kept jumping out the truck and Shannon kept putting them back in and then they would jump out again….IT WAS WONDERFUL!!!)

Then we went for a short ride and fun run/sniff/walk it was delightful.

Mom and I have been going all sorts of places together, always together. She says we really need each other right now.

I agree. (Although, there has been tons of people here, Mom makes sure I’m okay. Sometimes I have bad dreams in my sleep and hallooooooooooo for Mom. She comes. I try to tell her I miss Fuzzy that I dream he leaves me. Then I wake up and I realize it’s true. Sure is sad.)

Otherwise Mom and I are taking it one day at a time; just like Fuzzy said to do. Sigh!

We are going to make it…the dog cousins’ help, and going for walks with Mom helps and going everywhere I can with Mom helps. Just one day at a time.

One day at a time.

Boomer

SHISH! Today is THURSDAY—November 5, 2014

Posted on November 6, 2014 by Dayphoto

I am so messed up…Fuzzy passed on Thursday not yesterday. Goodness…even though I wrote Wednesday it didn’t register. I think that was because his first stroke happened Wednesday morning, with the end on Thursday morning.

I was sent this lovely youtube video…. About the “Other Side”.

My other company came in last night. They will be here until Sunday. Maybe I’ll collapse on Monday. We will see. 🙂

Your Friend,

Linda

A Week Later— Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Dayphoto

It’s been a week (today at 11 a.m.) Life without the Fuzz Dude goes on. I still want to put two bowls of dog food out, or reach down and pet Fuzzy when I’m sitting somewhere.

Being distracted with others who need food, conversation, activity has helped. Although, it has made me really behind on answering my comments and emails. I have over 300 comments and emails combined that I need to respond too. I hope to get to everyone. Please know that I have appreciated your kind thoughts and comforting words….even those of you who wrote on my Pinterest pages.

Terry took a sample of corn down from all the fields…still too high…the lowest field was at 17% the highest at 18%. We continue to wait. Although, the huge dip in night time temperatures is sure to keep drying out the knerals, which is good.

Two huge stacks of hay has been sold, although, the buyer is leaving them here for a time. He took a third of them yesterday and will call when he is ready to come back out, maybe in a couple of days. Only a small stack is left (100 or so bales). The other 300 bales go to the Delta Elevator. Almost done with that crop…Excellent! What every one strives for to get their product sold.

Those really neat cows

Neighbors-Cows

I was so happy to see (at our neighbors) made the great escape and traveled into our Upper End by jumping the fence between us. It was only three, but three is too many. (with corn to be harvested…you can lose a cow in a corn field and the cow would make a mess and possibly bloat)

Terry and I (Boomer rode along) headed the cows down the hills and into the draw of the Back Forty where we could open the gate between our two farms and send them home.

We had them rounded up and in their home land in just about an hour. BIG SMILE 🙂

It was nice to have people to take evening walks with, Boomer and I enjoyed the company.

Anyway, please know how much your words have meant and that I WILL try to get everyone answered soon!

Your Friend,

Linda

Banks, Bullets and Bodies; A Failed Robbery in Delta, Colorado –Jim Wetzel Director and Author

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Dayphoto

It’s finally here! Jim Wetzel’s latest literary effort, a book titled, BANKS, BULLETS & BODIES; A Failed Robbery in Delta, Colorado, will be available for initial release on October 11th. It is the story about the 1893 robbery of the Farmers and Merchants Bank on Delta’s Main Street in which two members of the McCarty gang were killed by Delta hardware merchant, W. Ray Simpson, during their attempted escape to safety. During the robbery, bank cashier, Andrew Trew Blachly, was also killed by one of the outlaws

This book not only tells the story of the bank robbery, but provides lots of background details about the people who were caught-up in the event. In addition, Wetzel has disclosed many details never before provided in previous writings of this event. Finally, he offers strong evidence that there were more than three gang members involved in this robbery, leading the reader in directions never imagined.

This book is the culmination of twelve years of research, and many hours of studying this event with the goal of correcting the written history of this story, so much of which has not been very accurate with regard to some details. As Wetzel says, “I question everything that doesn’t make complete sense, and that is very clear in this book.” Regardless of such questions, the stories surrounding the event make for fascinating reading, and this book tells it all.

The book retails for $16.95 and can be purchased at the museum or by mail.

MUSEUM DIRECTOR / CURATOR

Jim Wetzel MUSEUM: (970) 874-8721 deltamuseum@aol.com

Guest Post and Photo by Museum Director/Curator: Jim Wetzel Monday, November 2, 2014

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Dayphoto

This 1954 view of Delta’s Egyptian theater shows one of the three marquis changes which the theater has had over the years. The street lamp in this photo has long since disappeared, and now there are two street lamps, one on each side of the theater. There are a few other differences, as well. You won’t see bicycles parked like these any more.

Thank you all —Late Autumn—Sunday, November 2, 2014

Posted on November 2, 2014 by Dayphoto

A storm blew in yesterday…although the temperatures were warm…75*. The weather people are saying there is a strong possibly of (lots of) snow around the 8,000 feet by this evening and Monday morning.

(Which is good) it’s good to be busy.

I got the house completely finished painting on the inside of the house…HAPPY DANCE!

I will start on the trim on the outside of the house and the fence. Also, raking of the the leaves. The work is starting to end down there…(which is another good thing)

Tuesday Terry will check the corn again to see where the moisture content is…the ranchers are already combining their corn. They feed up the corn, as they combine, so they can use high moisture corn.

I wish to thank each and everyone of your for your heartfelt condolences about my Fuzzy. I hope to get each of you answered as time permits. Please know that I appreciate your thoughts and kind words. I know he was ‘just a dog’ but what A Dog he was!

Your friend on a Colorado Farm,

Linda

The Adventures of Fuzzy and Boomer—Fuzzy

Posted on October 30, 2014 by Dayphoto

I’ve been thinking, Boomer.

What, Fuzzy?

I’ve been thinking about life, Boomer. Life and all the good things that make up life.

I like to think about life also, Fuzzy. What are you thinking?

Just this—If I could give you the gift of my years I would tell you to:

Never turn down a ride in the back of the pick-up
- Oh! You are so right, Fuzzy. There is nothing like the wind in your ears and the ruffle of the air on your fur…like the ride in the back of the pick-up
Don’t forget riding with Mom on the four-wheeler. It’s the best. She goes slow enough we can always smell the smells and see the sights and….
- And Never worry about falling off, Fuzzy!
- Right, Boom, we are always safe with Mom.

Cats are okay….even if I like to keep Sam-Sam from eating out of my dog dish—I still pretty much like him.
- Me too, Fuzzy, me too!
The really fun things to do are barking the mailman and the FedEX man and the UPS man down the lane. Helps Mom and Dad know we are guarding the place and lets them know we are the boss.
- And all the trucks coming in for hay.
- Oh, Yes I forgot about the hay people. You are right!
Don’t forget helping Mom with the leaves…leaves are fun…it is fun to run and bark in the leaves while Mom works.
- It is Fuzzy, it is!

There is just so much I would like to tell you, Boom, but I think you know.

I think you know.

Please let Mom know also, Boom. It’s been wonderful here on the farm with Mom and Dad and you, my Buddy. My-Fuzzy-Dude-Brown

Oh, Fuzzy…How do Mom and I go on? How?

One day at time…that is all you can do.

Good bye- my Friend, Good Bye.

best-friends-for-ever-more-

Fuzzy passed away today, Thursday, October 30, 2014 at 11:00 am. He died in my arms with Boomer lying next to the dog bed. We are devastated. All of us… Terry, Myself, Boomer and the cats.

Thank-you for loving Fuzzy as much as we have. I will be back Sunday or Monday or Tuesday…I need some time right now.

Friday Adventures will continue with Boomer and myself, for life goes on, albeit much more lonely. Fuzzy 006