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

Storm Heading In–Thursday, November, 20, 2014

Posted on November 20, 2014 by Dayphoto

Yesterday afternoon the clouds started to skim across the sky stretching and cooling down everything under them.

Gradually they thickened and thickened, long frontal cirrostratus(is that the correct name for snow producing clouds?) clouds giving Terry and I the feeling that snow was about to happen. Although, the weather people were saying not.

This morning we woke to clear skies and the ever present cold 17*. But a storm is predicted to be in here for the weekend.

Today we are bright and sunny! Still I can see those same frontal cirrostratus clouds being pushed toward us over the Uncompahgre Plateau. (Un-come-pah-gray—a Ute Indian word meaning: (take your pick; rocks made red by water, rocks that make water red, or just plain dirty water. 🙂 ) A winter storm is predicted to arrive here Friday night bringing with it snow for Saturday, Sunday and Monday. After that our daytime highs will shift down a notch from the mid 40’s to the mid 30’s. The slide into the long, dark days of winter has begun. And it’s early! Those of you getting slammed with snow are very aware of that —-winter has arrived; albeit several weeks early.

The corn is still checking out dry on the top end of the field and very dry in the middle, but the bottom end is W.E.T.! 17%. We continue to wait. If this snow goes around us and isn’t too wet (right here) possibly the ends of the fields will dry down enough we can start on Monday, or Tuesday, or Wednesday…hummm, next week sometime. 🙂

I thank each one of you for your continued concern and encouraging words and magic thoughts that soon, very soon, the corn dries down enough we can get this years harvest in.

Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,

Linda

A Very Strange Harvest —Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Posted on November 19, 2014 by Dayphoto

Yesterday there were 40 trucks in line to unload their corn. The wait was long, long, long. Most of the trucks are semi’s with belly dumps so it goes fast ONCE they get there.

BUT….the corn harvest has turned out to be another one of those terribly hard to ‘dry down the corn’ years. Everyone is struggling and frustrated. The joke is we will be doing corn in January —OH! LET US HOPE NOT!

A field will test dry then as they get to different area, within the SAME field, the moisture content zooms up and the harvest has to stop.

So we do what we can, then wait until the moisture drops and start all over again. Terry is out checking all the fields now…a sample here and a sample there…at the end of the field, in the middle of the field, in a random spot. You sure don’t want to combine wet corn, have it turned down at the elevator and then lose the whole load because it molds. We could get the drying granaries ready, but Terry much prefers to haul straight the elevator. Keeps the crop costs down (electricity to run the big dryer) and we don’t have to load the bins, then get back in and unload them. Unloading a grain bin is TONS of work—we’ve reached an age where back breaking work is something we don’t want to do anymore.

Yes we use a auger to get the corn out of the bin, but you still have to get inside and scoop out the last of of the corn.

Anyway…life goes on. The other house is done, until the furnace is put in; now we will need to look for a renter. But that process won’t start until we get the furnace in. It will be nice to find just the right person who would like to live in the country, take care of a lawn, and maybe enjoy an animal or two in the corrals…our daughter and family had goats.

Today I’m still setting up Christmas…I’m thinking the tree…it’s fake so I can set it up anytime and enjoy the lights. (It’s the lights I love). (Or I’ll be helping Terry…we will see)

Your friend on a western Colorado Farm,

Linda

Stunning Sundogs from Milan—Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Dayphoto

Look at these outstanding Sundogs!!!! Charlotte’s husband was on a fishing trip and shot these amazing photos of two sundogs.

Aren’t they just awe inspiring?

We are gradually warming up here. Which is a very good thing!

We got the house winterized….THANK HEAVENS!!!! Terry and I were really getting tired of that house and the pressure it was creating. YAY!!!!

Tomorrow we will begin to combine all over again. It will be nice to have the pressure of the house and the harvest overwith. Two more weeks….(I hope).

Well, off now to get something around here done…I think (I know it’s early) I will get my Christmas stuff out and start decorating…heck why not? I’m not having Thanksgiving Dinner (we will be going to our daughter and son-in-law in Grand Junction. 🙂 ) so I can start slowly decorating. Getting in the Sparkle of Christmas——– NICE!

Your friend,

Linda

A Gift from the Heart—Monday, November 17, 2014

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Dayphoto

A mighty wind continued to howl and scream giving the massive, heavy dark clouds a gigantic push all night Saturday night and into part of the day Sunday. Just to walk outside would take your breath away as the ❤⊱彡considerable strength of the wind shoved and pulled until the clouds and the ice storms moved on–heading toward the middle part of the United States.

Gradually the tail winds eased leaving behind a large arctic air mass, which will follow the rest of the vortex in an meandering sort of manner by the end of this week.

We woke up to 7* this morning…this is November, not even the end of November…with the day warming up to 30*….typical January weather.

BUT AT LEAST THE SUN IS SHINING!!! I can take most anything if I can see the sun.

Our son-in-law and the two oldest grandchildren left right after dinner yesterday. It was sad to see them go! It’s always sad to see them go, but with the going is the returning so I hang on that thought.

Today Terry and I will be winterizing the other house; blowing out the pipes and filling the drains with anti-freeze. If there was a furnace down there we wouldn’t be doing this, but there isn’t—not yet. Not for a spell.

We are both ready for a break from the upkeep and the maintenance of that house!

Finally, finally I am catching up with all your wonderful emails and comments since the passing of my Fuzzy Dude. I thank you so much for all your thoughts and your continued contact with me.

Linky left me a packet of wonderful little letters on my pillow….I’m sharing with you one of her drawings…

Checky is the grandchildren’s dog before Hank Puff. Checky and Fuzzy were very good friends, also. Checky is a doggy angel saying: Way to go Fuzzy! Fuzzy is also a doggy angel saying No, don’t rain on Dad’s corn. Under Fuzzy and a magic net to keep the water off Grandpa’s corn. The corn is happy and full of butterflies.

A small but perfect gift from the heart!

Your friend,

Linda

A Cold Bitter Sunday, November 16, 2014

Posted on November 16, 2014 by Dayphoto

It was 16* with a wind chill of 8* when I got up before first light. The wind is STILL whistling and howling and it cold. I know cold is relative, but for us…this is cold!

Yesterday was so miserable with spitting snow and rain and sleet blown in sideways (although it didn’t stick —just miserable) Terry said enough and parked the truck and the combine. Of course today we do nothing but what has to be done.

Two of our grandchildren and their Dad are here—JOY!!!! But will be leaving after lunch sometime today. Their weather showed -15* when I checked this morning….whew! That is cold!

We had another sadness in our fur pack–Balou, our oldest granddog joined Fuzzy ‘in the land-beyond’ this weekend. Balou had been with our oldest daughter for a long long time. It;s always, always, always hard to to lose a fur kid. Balou…a most kind and gentle Rottweiller!

Off now to gather in firewood and put a ham in the oven. I always like to send everyone back home with a good meal, and enough food for lunches for a couple of days. The little family will be back for two weeks at Christmas; it will good to have the house across the way full of life again. The corn will be gone by that time, so Hank can sit at the back fence and talk to Boomer, he might even ramble over for so good dog conversation. There will be lights on at night and a warm fire going…during the days I’m sure the kids will be with us off an on and even spend the nights. Just like old times. For two weeks it will feel ‘normal’ again.

Keep warm everyone—and if you are in the part of the world that has warmth…get out and enjoy the sunshine… my heart will be with you!

Your friend,

Linda

The Adventures of Boomer—Morning News

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Dayphoto

I had a bad dream last night. I woke the whole house going hooooooooooooooooooooo, whimper, whimper…whine.

Mom got up and sat with me for a while. Then she and I went for out for a mid-night walk….that helped. (We always walk around mid-night, Mom says it helps us sleep better—she and I.) I tried to tell Mom that I dreamed Fuzzy was gone, that I couldn’t find Fuzzy. When we went outside I looked in our doghouses, then I realized.

The walk helped.

On the walk I smelled the Momma Deer and her almost grown fawn.

They ran down the lane and into the barn yard. Darn! If I were outside I could have bayed at them!!!

Anyway, my folks get up at 5 a.m. The sky starts to just show light around 6:15 or so, as soon as it started to get light I barreled out the back door to see if the deer came into the yard.

Nope…a yellow and white tom cat…he belongs to the Lady across the street from the other house….a female teenaged kitten…which also belongs to the same lady (she doesn’t believe in keeping her cats inside—so of course they come a visiting).

Sammy and

Monkey stay inside at night…and most of the day (if you really want to know the truth) Well…Sammy goes out lots during the day—

He likes to hunt mice in the hay stacks! Mom says its best the cats stay inside, there are coyotes and fox who like to eat cats (and dogs) AND there are tom cats that fight, so staying inside and sleeping by the fireplace is a very good thing.

Hummm yes…deer and they, snuff, snuff, sniff go right through the barn yard and on down the closest corn field.

Mom and Dad are working on one of the sheds right now. They have to get out the air compressor so it can be ready to go with Dad.

Morning news….is a very good thing!

Boomer

We Have Begun–Thursday, November 13, 2014

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Dayphoto

The weather turned extremely cold—no rain or snow.

“Humm, I wonder if the moisture has dropped in the corn? I think I’ll run some down and have it checked” Terry said, heading out the door to the closest corn field.

“Okay, I’ll be down at the other house; I’m just about done down there.” I answered him.

“13.1% and there is a HUGE line down there, over 20 trucks waiting to unload.” Terry announced as soon as he got back. “The guy at the Elevator told me the number then laughed –‘No more sitting around watching T.V. for you!”

After he got the truck loaded, he backed it into the carport and we covered the bed with the blue tarp —- freezing our fingers off as we tied the flaps down so the corn would be safe inside, if the freezing wind decided to give us rain/snow/sleet to our area.

So far the bad weather is just around us…the mountains look like they are getting dumped on. Terry left this morning at 5:00 to get in line. The Elevator opens as 6, first come first serve…it’s 8:31 a.m. right now and he is still down there. Makes me wonder what he number was when he lined up. His parting words were—“See you at Noon!” Boy, I hope not.

The minute he gets back the combine will begin, (if the weather holds) the truck will fill up, and depending on the time, it will either head back down to the Elevator (doors close at 4:00, you MUST BE IN LINE at 4:00 to get in on that day…otherwise you are first in line for the next day.) If the truck is full after 4 we will back the truck into the carport and cover up the load. The next day will be a repeat of today. This will go on and on and on— every day until we have every last load down to the Elevator. (No working on Sunday–the Elevator is closed and we take it off also) BUT COME MONDAY……………………….!

It all begins again!

Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,

Linda

Huge Push and Insane Cold Wind–Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Dayphoto

We are making a huge push now to finish up the house and get it winterized for the winter. The wind that arrived around six in the morning is miserable and cold. It’s so cold it takes your breath away and feels like your skin is starting to frost bite. (I’ve read this wind is much worse in Wyoming and other places….brrrrrr.)

Terry and I wired the kitchen yesterday. We have some more electrical work today, then I will dust, mop and vacuum and wash the windows (maybe) and I’ll be done.

I still have the trim to paint on the west and the north of the house, but I got everything done on the east and south. I’m thinking that I’ll just have to wait to finish those sides of the house come spring…it’s for sure winter is here—EARLY.

As for the fence…we still have to work on the fence, but that will be after the corn is done and before the cows come in—the cows arrive sometime in January. There again I might not be able to get it painted, but at least we will have the places that need repair fixed…I’ll just have to wait on the paint for a warm day.

The weather is just too nasty to start combining…rain and snow are expected in here tonight to last until Sunday….Terry isn’t even going to even think about combining until this storm moves out. So far no one else has started here, only the ranchers, and they feed with high moisture.

Well, off I go now, Terry is warming up from getting the stuff ready to take to the other house, while I finish this up.

Sammy usually loves to be outside, but today he ran out did his business; then waited for me to come to the door and let him back in. He is toasting by the fire right now. 🙂

Sending all of you warm and toasty thoughts and wishes for a good day!

Your friend,

Linda

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