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

The Adventures of Boomer on Friday—Hank Came

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Dayphoto

Hank came to visit!

Hank Puff Cake McCormick. Well, his whole family came to visit, but I was much more interested in Hank. Hank and I do lots of things together, he even sleeps on the back porch with me. Hank sleeps where Fuzzy slept and I sleep where I always sleep.

The first night here Hank kept going outside and doing naughty things. The first time Hank went out and barked at the cows…Mom got up and scolded Him and made him come back to bed.

Then around mid-night Mom smelled a skunk…getting up and checking on us she saw that Hank was NOT on his side of the porch… “HANK! You get in HERE!” She hollered.

Thankfully Hank has just gone out and was still standing on the back step when Mom called him. Back in he came, which was a good thing, because there really was a skunk out by the trash cans. (Hank is not known to ovoid skunks…just saying. I do—I got sprayed once. Once was enough, I make SURE to ovoid them at all costs now.)

The third time Hank barreled out the back door Mom was right behind him. Mom was up putting wood in the woodstove so Hank didn’t get too far out the door again. This time Mom locked the door. Just as she locked the door she saw the Fox move through the yard.

“Oh, Hank! What are we going to do with you? Stay IN!” There is too much trouble out there, for you to get into, and then have to travel all the way back to Craig.”

Hank looked at a very mad Mom, hung his head and settled in to sleep the good sleep.

The next two nights Hank was decent and didn’t barrel out the backdoor every two or three hours. Which is a good thing, because Mom was getting very tired of his barking all night stuff.

Still we had lots of fun in the daytime, but the most fun was when Mr. Davis and his three cow dogs came through the yard to check on the cows. Twice a day they drive through…morning and evening. Twice a day Hank and I barked them down the lane and hollered at the three cow dogs in the back of the pick-up.

Suddenly it was time for Hank to leave. The family packed up the van and loaded up Hank and drove down the road…sigh.

OH! Well! He will be back, until then I’ll bark Mr. Davis and his three cow dogs down the lane and through the farm yard!

Yes I will!

Boomer

Fire Roads—Thursday, February 19, 2015

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Dayphoto

Terry and I spent yesterday sprucing up the fire roads. We lived here for years and years and never had to have fire roads, but in 2012 all that changed.

Our neighbor two miles from us started a fire on one of his fields and left for lunch. Didn’t check or stay with it or, well, anything. From 11 in the morning until around 2 in the afternoon he didn’t even know what the fire was doing.

We did! We knew! And so did the other people in the path the fire. The whole thing was frightening. It took several fire departments to put out the blaze, which didn’t occur until evening…in the process we almost lost a barn and all the farm equipment. Thankfully, Mr. Davis’ cows and calves were okay. It was a nightmare day.

Guess what…the next year he sat his fire again…I just don’t get people who use fire to clear the farm ground….put it back into the soil…it’s better for the soil and the air. Not to mention safer.

After the first fire we built fire roads, because you see, this man STILL burns off his land every spring, he says he likes the results better. 😦

This is the tractor I drive, it has the loader. The loader and Terry’s has the blade, we make a good team. After years and years of hand signals, I think I am FINALLY figuring them out. 🙂

While up there we checked for calves, nothing yet. I think those girls are going to all pop at the same time! One day we will look out and see 60 babies on the ground. There are 80 cows out there, but surely not all 80 will lay down a calf as the same time. 🙂

Off today to look for a wood chipper and log splitter. I would like the wood chipper for the two yards for mulch and Terry is tired of splitting wood by hand. We may not find one we like but at least we will start the process of looking!

Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm

Linda

A Weekend Update—Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Dayphoto

I have returned! What a glorious weekend…first day we celebrated Tallin’s 7th Birthday! Everyone came and showered her with very fun things to make and ‘stuff’ to do AND a Diary with a Lock and TWO KEYS! (Guess what she played with the most…the Lock and the two keys! 🙂

Today I was starting to clean up the house when I found the two keys places in a very safe spot, under a beautiful plastic heart. Aren’t children fun? I need to gather all things left behind and mail them to them. The keys will be most missed, I’m sure she is frantic. 🙂

The next day (Sunday) we went to a Mardi Gras Party at our daughter and son-in-law’s in Grand Junction. There was tons of food, some ingredients they had shipped in just for the occasion–several different types of gumbos, budan, beans and rice, cray fish…I can’t even remember all the different dishes they had.

Monday it was pack up and leave time, BUT before we said good-bye everyone went to the Shannon’s Salon (also in Grand Junction) for hair cuts, colors and whole new looks for the coming spring. I think the little family probably got back home to Craig, Colorado at 8 o’clock in the evening…a long day for them.

A cold front moved through yesterday, but we only received sprinkles and wind..Just enough wet to make the windows dirty!

Today I’m cleaning the house back up—you clean for the company then you clean after the company 🙂 –but everyone knows that.

Soon Terry and I will begin again on the winter farm projects–this time we will be hauling in dirt from one of the ‘settling ditches’ and building up our farm roads, dirt ditches and holes in the fields. Farming will start around the 10th of March, if the weather holds, so we must get the winter work finished.

I will be around soon to visit all of you!

Your Friend,

Linda

Dear Friends–Sunday, February 15, 2015

Posted on February 15, 2015 by Dayphoto

Dear Friends, my kids from Craig, Colorado are here today so I’m taking a small break. I will visit your blogs and answer all your emails and comments right after everyone leaves.

Thank you for understanding — these grandchildren are growing so fast…why just yesterday I noticed that our Grandson is almost as tall as I am. I suppose that is what happens when you get into Jr. High…you grow! Since I feel like I’m missing out on lots of stuff I want to hang out with them as much as possible.

Your Friend,

Linda

The Adventures of Boomer on Friday—Too Much IS Too Much!

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Dayphoto

“Let’s go, Boomer!” Mom said as she walked out the back door. “Time to go see if there are any babies.”

GO! I’m always ready for GO! I trotted right behind Mom, then I gave a little jump and hit my head on Mom’s left hand! I’m here, Mom! I’m ready!

Mom stopped walking and knelt down and gave me lots of rubs and pets. I smiled so big the sun didn’t seem so bright!

“Okay, Boomie-Boo, Dad’s already got the gate down and on his four-wheeler, let’s get ours and head out.”

Off-we-go

Mom lifted me up on back, ever since I blew my knee out, Mom won’t let me jump up on the back of the four-wheeler or the pick-up. She picks me up every time. ‘Your knee has healed, Boom-dog; it needs to stay that way’.

Off we went…first to the equipment area, then down into the bulrushes, which is by the alfalfa field —see the paths the cows are making. If one goes they all go the same way.

Then over to Coyote Hill, into all the fields, through the Rabbit Brush Jungle, over on the Rocky Point to look down into the Back Forty, then the Upper End; and onto Sage Brush field going past the pond. After which we drove the mile to home. It was a BLAST! (Since it’s been rather warm here the wind in my fur felt really nice!)

Anyway, no calves yet, but soon.

When we got home my oldest sister was there waiting for us with her pack: A Rottweiler–Rocky the Chaco Man, Houston (Houston can climb trees) she is a Mountain Cur Hound, Molly a Blue Tick Hound, Beauty a Black Lab and Etta and Shiloh, White Cloud Walker Hounds.

They are all hollering and yelling at me to go with them for a run down in the Rubidoux Canyon, I jumped up and put my paws on the truck, so Mom put me in the back with them.

Suddenly they all started screaming at me, hollering and baying and yelling…it was just toooooooooo much!

SO I JUMPED OUT!!!

Mom was highly alarmed that I hurt my knee again, but I didn’t. Which was good. I hid behind Mom and I hugged her legs. I AM NOT GOING WITH ALL THOSE LOUD DOGS, MOM! I pled with her. One or two at a time but not EVERYONE!!!

Mom reached down and petted me, “That’s okay, Boomer! You don’t have to go— sometimes too much company is just too much.”

Everyone gave me lots of pets and belly rubs.

Then Shannon got in her truck and drove off…all the dogs barking. I heard them baying as they passed the other house heading toward the canyon.

Whew I’m glad I didn’t have to go!

A very relieved,

Boomer the Beagle

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.