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

Where to Find Canada Geese—Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Posted on November 25, 2014 by Dayphoto

I find it interesting the Sandhill Cranes are taking over the farms and the Canada Geese

Are hanging out down in town by Confluence Park/Lake and the rivers.

Terry and I ran to town to see how long the line was at the Elevator (to unload the corn) and we ran into to masses of Geese

Masses! 🙂 It made me smile!

Look at all that fertilizer on the road….can you just imagine what the grass and banks of the river looks like?

We liked having them in the fields just for that reason. But now the Sandhill Cranes have come (I’m not complaining); and the Canada Geese have left—it is extremely rare to see the two species in a field together. If you are lucky enough to have those beautiful birds on your field I’m sure the fertilizer is just as much and just as big—if you want to know. 🙂

Thank Heaven for winter birds…they are a bright spot in rather dull days!

Linda

Storms and More Storms–Monday, November 24, 2014

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Dayphoto

The weather people were right…storms and more storms following each other right on each other’s heels…

Our neighbor got his corn field baled just at the miserable winds arrived. Although, the loose corn leaves would not have bothered us, it would have made a huge mess for the Church of the First Born on the corner by the corn field.

The the rain and the sleet descended blocking our view. That’s okay, the corn fields have blocked our view until just last week. 🙂

Then the flurries started bringing snow to the foothills of Grand Mesa, the Uncompahgre Plateau (Un-come-pah-gray), and the area of the Black Canyon, and rain to us.

Sunday was a good day to sit by the fire!

Last night the storm left and

another one arrived around 4 in the morning. The sunrise around 6:30 was a promise of more storms—which is true, it’s snowing as I write this.

Later on today we will travel out and gather more corn for sampling the moisture. A tedious routine now, but necessary. Just as soon as the meter hits 14% the combine will roar into the life and the big orange truck will find it’s way out to the proper field, waiting for the corn to be loaded into the back. As soon as the bed is full, the truck will head down to the Elevator…hopefully! That’s the plan anyway. Finger’s Crossed and Magic thoughts we can start again (I think I’ve said that at least two times before this time…shish!)

Your friend on a very cold western Colorado farm,

Linda

Checking it Twice—Sunday, November 23, 2014

Posted on November 23, 2014 by Dayphoto

Some of you have asked if the corn is tested at the elevator…for it looks like unscrupulous souls could just truck in wet corn and drive away laughing, if the workers at the elevator didn’t check.

You are so right!

The new combines all have computers in them—monitoring everything from the time the seed is put into the planter to when the corn is harvested. The operator knows what the moisture is when he puts it in the truck. BUT it doesn’t matter what the farmer says the moisture is…it matters what the workers at the elevator say the moisture is. They are the last word…it is their product once it goes out of the truck into the silos. Depending on the size of the truck probes are inserted into the load and samples of the each and every load is taken before the corn is approved for purchase.

YES! there are always those that try to slip in a wet load….but they always get caught and the word is out on them. Who wants that type of reputation?

Our combines are not computerized (at all); we use a moisture meter at the house. Sometimes Terry drives samples on down to the elevator, but mostly it’s done here.

The best time of the day to take the test is in the afternoon, before the sun starts to set and the air starts to chill down. We –Terry, Boomer, and I drive to all the different fields and get two or three cobs to test from each one in different locations of the field.

The cob is shelled and then dumped into the tester, if we get a consistent count (14%) we are good to go. (Dry corn will take on the moisture of wet corn raising the moisture content within the truck bed–so we aim for the 14%).

Still too high…now what?

We went shopping! (and lunch out)

Surprisingly just what he has been looking for was right there waiting for us to write a check.

Not bad for a Saturday trip to Grand Junction, Colorado!

Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,

Linda 🙂

The Adventures of Boomer—the Cats

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Dayphoto

Well, I guess it’s true. Fuzzy isn’t coming back.

After following Mom around for days and days until I got into a daze (TEE HEE) I decided hanging with Mom 24-7 is BORING!!!! If she is outside that’s okay, but if she is inside all that I can do is sleep. Right at first that seemed like a really good thing….then it hit me.

THIS IS BORING!!!

I tried whining at Mom, trying to get her to come outside and ‘DO SOMETHING’, but she would just reach down and pet me all over and give me a really nice leg shaking/scratching belly rub. Then she would continue dusting or whatever it was she was doing.

I tried helping her cook—THAT didn’t work for sure.

So I said to myself—“WHAT CAN I DO?!?!??!” That’s when it hit me —I can make friends with the cats! Maybe we could do ‘stuff’ together!!

The first thing I had to do was to get Monkey-Cat to want to go outside. Monkey-cat never likes to go outside, but I whined and begged her until she finally said: “Okay, dog! Let’s go outside and see what so neat about being out there”!

Sammy-Sam grudgingly said Monkey-Cat and I could go out with him…BUT we could NOT get in his way. He said he has extremely important work to do on a twice a day basis and we were NOT to create havoc with his routines!

“YIPPEE!!!” I howled…”LET’S GO OUTSIDE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN SEE!”

First we had to get outside…I can go…I just put my head against the back door and I’m out. But the cats have to wait for Mom or Dad to open the door.

“To get outside, Monkey, you are going to have to sit at the door and meow and meow loudly”, I told Monkey.

Sammy turned a scornful eye at the both of us and said…”you just watch…I’ll get all of us out in a cat minute.”

Slowly he walked over to the door and sat down. He just sat there looking into the rest of the house waiting for Mom or Dad.

They never came.

It’s not working I fretted.

“Hang-on Dog I’m not done yet.”

“MEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWW!!! Screech, yowl.”

“Wow! You sure are demanding, Sam,” Dad exclaimed as he walked into the kitchen then onto the back porch. Dad pushed open the backdoor and Sam yelled—NOW. So we all bolted out the back door.

After a few minutes Mom and Dad came out! “YAY! We are all outside!” I bayed!

Dad headed over to the big truck where he is working on fixing the tail lights and Mom packed the trash to the trash cans.

“Come on, Monkey and Sam lets go see if there is any news at the canal.”

“SAY THIS IS FUN!” Monkey screamed as she zoomed by Sam, Mom and I…”first one up the Willow tree is Queen of the world!”

“Look at that cat go!” Mom laughed. “I think she has finally figured out being outside is fun!” Then Mom started loading up wood for the day.

“Come on Sam let’s see who has passed this way.”

Sniff, sniff…..”oh, Aanda’s big yellow and white Tom Cat.”

“GRRR, GROWL that neighbor cat is NOT welcome on this place….grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.” Sammy casted a malevolent eye toward the canal.

“What cat? Huh, what cat, Sam….how can you tell, are you sure…where did he go…huh, Sam? Sam….”

“Shhhhhhh, Monkey…just put your nose to the ground and follow the scent”…Sam glared at Monkey.

“Sniff, sniff…..oh, yeah, you are right, Sam, snuff, snuff…yep, right here…down this side of the canal…”

“COME ON…let’s see how far he went up the canal!” I invited as I slid down the side of the canal.

Down we all went- Sam, Monkey and myself.

“Oh! This is really fun!’ Monkey exclaimed…”look there are pockets of water trapped between the rocks and little hidey holes under the long grass along the canal bank…”

“Look for mice”, Sam said. “Don’t waste your time jumping on the rocks, Monkey…if you can find a mouse or two you can have a really nice snack.”

“You cats just go on and enjoy yourself, I think I’m going to hop up on the ditch bank road to smell what news is up here”…hummm,

deer…yes…buck and a nice buck.

Oh…yes…the mom and the fawn are in the corn….RACCOONS!!! A couple of big ones….snuff, sniffle…mice. “HEY! SAM THERE ARE A TON OF MICE IN THE CORN FIELD!!!”

“SAM!”

“Thanks, Boomer, yum, yum, swallow, slurp…I found a few down here.”

“BOOMIE!!! WHERE ARE YOU?”

WHAT! Mom’s calling. Maybe I’d better —————head ——————–home…but………..wait……….hummmmmmmmm…skunk…I think they are getting ready to hunker down for the winter.

“BOOMIE! YOU WANT TO GO TO TOWN WITH ME? BOOMER! DO YOU WANT TO GO!!!?”

GO?

GO” Town!?

“I’m COMING MOM!!! “

“I’m Coming!!!”

“Bye cats….I’m heading into town now. See ya when I get back!”

Boomer

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.